From Eliyahu

Have you ever had that feeling that you did something wrong, but you don't know what it was? That can be a very nagging feeling to have. Even worse is embarrassment you feel when you realize that you may have inadvertently said or did the wrong thing and possibly offended someone, maybe even Elohim. Have you ever wondered how YHWH wants us to handle such inadvertent unintentional sins? Since we didn't know or didn't mean it can't we just forget it, and move on past it? If not, why not? Questions like these are answered for us in the Book of Leviticus. In fact, Leviticus excels at defining right and wrong as YHWH sees it, as well us giving us a clear path to make things right with Him and with others whom we may have offended. This sort of information was and is vital for Yah's nation to get along with one another and with Him. Leviticus helps to get everyone on the same page - His page! In our latest Midrash we look at Leviticus 4+5 as we learn more about unintentional sin than we you have ever thought there is to know. Join us as for this valuable adventure in Leviticus, on Tsiyon Road, this Sabbath.

Blessings and Shalom!

Eliyahu ben David
www.tsiyon.org

PS - More and more is being discovered from King David's kingdom. Below is a newspaper article from just last week reporting the latest find.

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King David's citadel 'discovered' in Jerusalem

Daniel Estrin
Published: May 7, 2014 - 6:06AM

Jerusalem: An Israeli archaeologist says he has found the legendary citadel captured by King David in his conquest of Jerusalem, rekindling a longstanding debate about using the Bible as a field guide to identifying ancient ruins.

Eli Shukron, who excavated at the site for nearly two decades, says he believes there is strong evidence that it is the legendary citadel captured by King David in his conquest of Jerusalem. The claim joins a string of announcements by Israeli archaeologists saying they have unearthed palaces of the legendary biblical king, who is revered in Jewish religious tradition for establishing Jerusalem as its central holy city — but who has long eluded historians looking for clear-cut evidence of his existence and reign.

Mr Shukron, who excavated at the City of David archaeological site for nearly two decades, says he believes strong evidence supports his theory. Photo: AP

"This is the citadel of King David, this is the Citadel of Zion, and this is what King David took from the Jebusites," said Mr Shukron, who said he recently left Israel's Antiquities Authority to work as a lecturer and tour guide. "The whole site we can compare to the Bible perfectly."

Most archaeologists in Israel do not dispute that King David was a historical figure, and a written reference to the "House of David" was found in an archaeological site in northern Israel. But archaeologists are divided on identifying Davidic sites in Jerusalem, which he is said to have made his capital.

Mr Shukron's dig, which began in 1995, uncovered a massive fortification of five-ton stones stacked 6 meters wide. Pottery shards helped date the fortification walls to be 3800 years old. They are the largest walls found in the region from before the time of King Herod, the ambitious builder who expanded the Second Jewish Temple complex in Jerusalem almost 2100 years ago. The fortification surrounded a water spring and is thought to have protected the ancient city's water source.

The fortification was built 800 years before King David would have captured it from its Jebusite rulers. Mr Shukron says the biblical story of David's conquest of Jerusalem provides clues that point to this particular fortification as David's entry point into the city.

In the second Book of Samuel, David orders the capture of the walled city by entering it through the water shaft. Mr Shukron's excavation uncovered a narrow shaft where spring water flowed into a carved pool, thought to be where city inhabitants would gather to draw water. Excess water would have flowed out of the walled city through another section of the shaft Mr Shukron said he discovered — where he believes the city was penetrated.

Mr Shukron says no other structure in the area of ancient Jerusalem matches what David would have captured to take the city. The biblical account names it the "Citadel of David" and the "Citadel of Zion."

Ronny Reich, who was Mr Shukron's collaborator at the site until 2008, disagrees with the theory. He said more broken pottery found from the 10th century BC, presumably King David's reign, should have been found if the fortification had been in use then.

Mr Shukron said he only found two shards that date close to that time. He believes the reason he didn't find more is because the site was in continuous use and old pottery would have been cleared out by David's successors. Much larger quantities of shards found at the site date to about 100 years after King David's reign.

Mr Reich said it was not possible to reach definitive conclusions about biblical connections without more direct archaeological evidence.

"The connection between archaeology and the Bible has become very, very problematic in recent years," Mr Reich said.

Critics say that some archaeologists are too eager to hold a spade in one hand and a Bible in the other in a quest to verify the biblical narrative — either due to religious beliefs or to prove the Jewish people's historic ties to the land. But other respected Israeli archaeologists say recent finds match the biblical account more than naysayers claim.

Mr Shukron, a veteran archaeologist who has excavated a number of significant sites in Jerusalem, said he drew his conclusions after nearly two decades exploring the ancient city.

"I know every little thing in the City of David. I didn't see in any other place such a huge fortification as this," said Mr Shukron.

The biblical connection to the site is emphasized at the City of David archaeological park, where the "Spring Citadel" — the excavation's official name — has been retrofitted for tourists, including a movie projected on a screen in front of the fortification to illustrate how it may have looked 3800 years ago. The City of David — located in east Jerusalem — is one of the most popular tourist sites in the holy city, with 500,000 tourists visiting last year.

"We open the Bible and we see how the archaeology and the Bible actually come together in this place," said Doron Spielman, vice president of the nonprofit Elad Foundation, which oversees the archaeological park. He carried a softcover Bible in his hand as he ambled around the excavation.

Original of this abridged story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/world/king-davids-citadel-discovered-as-politics-and-archaeology-collide-in-jerusalem-20140507-zr5yd.html

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