Ancient quake evidence supports Biblical Jerusalem accounts
Scientists suggest that approximately 2,800 years ago, Jerusalem, specifically the City of David, may have been affected by a powerful earthquake. This event is described in the biblical Books of Amos and Zechariah, but until recently, researchers lacked evidence to support these accounts.
As noted in the Book of Zechariah (14:5): "You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him."
Discovery related to the Bible
During excavation work, a team of archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered a layer of destruction dated to around the 8th century BCE in the area of the City of David National Park. This timeframe coincides with the reign of King Uzziah, also known as Azariah or Ozias, as mentioned in the Bible.
In this layer, archaeologists found a row of broken vessels, such as bowls, kitchen utensils, and jars, which were destroyed by the collapse of building walls. However, they found no traces of fire, leading researchers to doubt the possibility of an invasion as the cause of the destruction.
Traces confirm the biblical story
Additionally, the discovery of similar destruction in the region supports the idea that about 2,800 years ago, a large earthquake could have occurred in the southern Levant. Researchers believe that these findings may provide evidence for the historicity of the biblical stories.
Archaeologist Joe Uziel from the Israel Antiquities Authority, in an interview with Live Science in 2021, suggested that although Jerusalem was not the epicenter of the earthquake, the event significantly affected it. He believes the biblical account illustrates the dramatic impact of this event on the people at that time. The discoveries also indicate that the inhabitants later managed to rebuild the city, including its walls and buildings.
