HEBRON - was King David's first capital city of Judah

HEBRON


The Upper Pool of David, from a 1937 photograph.
This may be the site of the 'pool of Hebron'
over which David hanged the assassins of Ishbosheth




According to the Bible, Hebron is the burial place of Abraham and Sarah. Genesis 23:17-21 tells the story of Abraham's purchase of a cave, the Cave of Machpelah, for a tomb in which he and his descendents could be buried. He paid an exorbitant amount, so that his descendants would have the right of burial there forever. And indeed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were laid there to rest; so were the matriarch Rebecca and Jacob’s wife Leah.

Recent excavations there have uncovered a 9ft-thick city wall and fortified tower that dated to the Middle Bronze period, circa 1700 BC. Scholars say this is about the time when, according to the biblical story, Abraham came to the city.

Between the tower and the city wall, archaeologists have unearthed two stone-walled rooms that they believe date back to the period of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whose 12 sons became the founders of the 12 tribes of ancient Israel. Artifacts found in the rooms include silver jewelry, bronze axe heads, two scarabs and the handle of a dagger.

Hebron was King David's first capital city of Judah (see David's story at BIBLE PEOPLE: DAVID. But some years after he came to power he established his new capital at Jerusalem, which was more centrally located and easier to defend.