Astonishing? — YES!
The original JERUSALEM has been buried for centuries!
But today, on that very site, 3,000 years of buried history is coming to life.
Here is the first eye-opening report on Jerusalem's history-making BIG DIG!
THE ORIGINAL JERUSALEM was known also as the City of David. There King David of ancient Israel built his palace and his throne. On that very site a tremendously important and exciting archaeological excavation is under way on a major scale.
Most Intriguing Site
Ambassador College has been given the great honor and responsibility of JOINT PARTICIPATION with Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Israel Exploration Society, in this important scientific project. We are now actively engaged in uncovering 3,000 years of history.
The site of this, the present "big dig," is that of the original Jerusalem. Our excavation begins from the South Wall of the Temple Mount, extending south from that wall.
Both Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple, later called Herod's Temple, were built on Mount Moriah. This was immediately north of the City of David. In Herod's day the top of Mount Moriah was leveled off and walled in. It is known today as the Temple Mount.
The ancient temples undoubtedly were located at the general site occupied today by the Moslem mosque, called Dome of the Rock. Most of the present Jerusalem extends north and west of the Temple Mount. It is significant that few buildings now stand on the multiple-acre area of the original Jerusalem, now being excavated.
To Answer Many Questions
Some of the most valuable contributions to knowledge are being made today through archaeology. Many questions may be answered by the present project. Is it possible that this uncovering of life as it was lived 3,000 years ago may demonstrate whether the human race has advanced in basic intelligence and ability as far as we have supposed?
This is only one of many exciting, intriguing questions suggested by this joint project.
It is well to realize the machine age has brought vast changes in civilization's mode of living. It has made minds and living patterns more complex of detail. We are prone to evaluate progress in actual intelligence and ability by the criteria of mechanical and technological development, and cumulative knowledge acquired. But these are additive. Is it, then, possible that they have misled us into a false assumption that basic ability and intelligence have advanced in the same degree? As we dig out the facts — as well as the artifacts — many interesting discoveries may be expected. Knowledge of history may be corrected. We may learn more about development and advancement of the human family.
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Why Jerusalem?
But before we explain what is already being found in Jerusalem, you need first to know some of the background facts.
There have been other important archaeological projects in Israel. Among them, Masada, Hazor and Jericho. Other digs, too, have stimulated great scientific interest. Why, then, should this Jerusalem project attract the greater popular interest of the general public?
There are many reasons.
Jerusalem is a chief focal point of world news just now. The eyes of the world are on Jerusalem.
It is regarded as a holy city by three great religions — Jewish, Moslem, and Christian. It is the chief geographical center of Biblical interest for both Jewish and Christian religions, and also to some extent for Moslems.
For example, Biblical history refers to Jerusalem as the city which Israel's God chose as his capital city (I Kings 11:13, 32, etc.), to become eventually the capital of the whole world. The Biblical record states further, however, that when He removed the Jews from their land (beginning 604 B.C.) " . . . the LORD said, 'I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen" (II Kings 23:27). It is further recorded that Israel's God turned his back on Jerusalem, and that it would be "trodden down of the Gentiles." This did occur.
It is exciting to follow through other Biblical statements that bear direct connection with this present excavation!
Jeremiah records Israel's God saying: "And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of jackals . . . " (Jeremiah 9:11). The Hebrew word as originally written for "heaps" means heap after heap on ruins. This is repeated in Jeremiah 26:18 and Micah 3:12.
It is interesting to note that it is the original Jerusalem, called the City of David, that has been made "heaps."
After nearly two millenniums of desolation and Gentile occupation, however, it is stated: "The LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem" (Zechariah 1:17). It is repeated thus: "And the LORD shall inherit Judah His portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again" (Zech. 2:12).
These significant statements in the Book preserved through the centuries by the Jewish people provide exciting background for this present scientific excavation. But, even more exciting, the same writings make a startling prediction for the future — quite evidently the very near, almost immediate, future: "At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all nations shall be gathered unto it" — that is, ruled from it! (Jeremiah 3:17)
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A PERSONAL MESSAGE
from the Director of the Excavation
By Prof. Binyamin Mazar
Archaeologist and former President, Hebrew University
EARLY IN 1968, the Israel Exploration Society and the Hebrew University's Archaeological Institute decided to put through a wide-ranging program of systematic archaeological excavations in Jerusalem.
I considered it a notable privilege, when I was asked to head the expedition responsible for carrying out the first venture in this program, which was to uncover the open areas in the Old City, south and west of the walls of the Temple Mount. I launched this archaeological venture — so fraught with difficulties and so pregnant with prospects — on 28 February, 1968, with the aid of archaeologist Meyer Ben Dov, and the late architect Emanuel Dunayevsky.
The work has carried on ever since, without interruption. The team is mainly composed of graduates and students of the Hebrew University's Archaeological
Faculty. The manual work is mostly done by students, and by laborers supplied to the expedition by the Israel Government's Labor Ministry, as well as by overseas and Israeli volunteers, and Israeli high school pupils doing their annual National Service stint. We appreciate the students and faculty members that are coming from Ambassador College to assist in this work.
The special conditions at the site have made it possible to do the job efficiently and on a considerable scale. Thanks are due for the great assistance in the form of financing and technical aid supplied to the expedition by public and government agencies, as well as by various Israeli and overseas institutions and personalities, sympathetic towards the venture. The Honorary Secretary of the Israel Exploration Society, Mr. Yosef Aviram, also helped a great deal in the organizational sphere.
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Startling Predictions
These same Jewish-preserved Scriptures make further startling predictions. Notice this one — with a direct connection with the present archaeological project: "For unto us {the Jewish people) a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the THRONE OF DAVID, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:6-7).
How REMARKABLE that this & scriptural prediction says plainly that the messianic future world ruler — long, long looked for by many if not most Jews — is to reign ON THE THRONE OF DAVID!
Notice how significant!
The exact spot of that throne lies buried beneath, at the very site of our present project! It lies under these very "heaps" — buried by layer upon layer of the decay of buildings of generation after generation.
When the construction built by King David became old and in decay, it was not removed. Instead, new pavements and buildings were constructed on it. When that construction went to decay a later generation built on top of that. This procedure was repeated, layer after layer. Today the remains of the original City of David lie many feet underneath.
Advance News Reports?
The Hebrew Bible gives other statements that the Messiah shall reign from this spot — ruling all nations in a super world government! One is Isaiah 24:23: ". . . the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously."
Others are Isaiah 33:20-22; Micah 4:7 and 4:1-3; Obadiah 21; Zechariah 14:1, 3, 9; Isaiah 40:5, 9-10; Isaiah 11:1-4; Daniel 2:44 and 7:22, 27.
Are these mere uninspired predictions, or actual advance news reports?
There are other predictions of interest to adherents of the Christian religion. New Testament writers represent Jesus of Nazareth as the coming Messiah. Of him Luke 1:32-33 says: "He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
IF the spot of the original throne of David is, in fact, to be the coming seat of world government, then all that accumulated debris of century after century must be cleared off before that event can occur! Exciting? Beyond words to describe, it is!