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City of David....
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The City of David was very narrow; about 80-100m wide. The east side has a steep slope of about 60 degrees.
Though smaller, steeper and more difficult for construction than the Western Hill, the City of
David was chosen because of its water source, the
Gihon Spring. |
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This is a typical Israelite four-room house (above right) The outside stairway presumably led to the flat roof. The outside of Ahiel's house was badly preserved, but the western side on the hill was well preserved. Inside the house were found cosmetics and house wares all from the
ruins of 586.
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Four toilets have been found in the City of
David - two in Shiloh's excavations and two earlier. One found by the Parker Expedition was saluted as the throne of
Solomon. Father Vincent said, “I fear its actual destination was at once more private and naturally necessary….” Another was found by Kenyon only a few yards from Area G. |
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However, when King David was looking for a fit place to build his new capital, he saw its potential. The ridge had its own water resource, the Gihon spring in the
Kidron Valley, and the steep valleys on three sides made a natural defense. Moreover, it was unclaimed by any Israelite tribe and thereby clear of the danger of civil strife. Its location was on the border of
Judah and northern Israel. The fact that the city was already inhabited, did not trouble David. Historians still do not know how David took the city, by an organized siege or by lucky stealth. II Samuel 5:6-16 and I Chronicles 11:1-9 tell the story, in which the impression is raised that
David's men, Joab first, crept through the city's
water system.
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