The Old Testament refers to many different groups of people who have long since disappeared – the Amorites, Hivites, Jebusites, and so on. Millenia after those Biblical references were written, archaeology is finding the material evidence for many of them.
A good example from the 20th century were the Hittites. Frequently appearing in the Bible, they have a presence in the land of Canaan from the time of Abraham to the united monarchy of King Solomon. Their disappearance from historical records led some to attribute their presence in the Old Testament to myth and legend.
In 1880, archaeological excavations in modern day Turkey led Archibald Henry Sayce to announce the discovery of the remains of the Hittite civilisation. Their writings, architecture and sculptures proved not only their existence, but the extent of their unique culture. From 1906 an entire library of Hittite cuneiform tablets began to be excavated. The Hittites were very much back from legend into the realm of historical studies. But it is the Old Testament that had preserved their memory.
The Geshurites
Another ancient people who play an important role in the Old Testament are the Geshurites. They appear sometime in the 11th century BC in the region we now call the Golan Heights, near Galilee, referred to as Bashan in the Bible. The Geshurites did not last very long as an independent state and disappeared with the rise of Assyria in the eighth century BC. However, during that time they are significant allies for the Israelites. King David marries the daughter of the King of Geshur, Absalom flees there during a time of political unrest, and they provide a supportive neighbour for the Israelites when other nations were hostile.
Over the past 20 years archaeological excavations have brought the Geshurites back from obscurity. Their unique culture and cities have been rediscovered and we are just at the beginning of understanding what light this will cast on our reading of the Old Testament. Interestingly, the people of Geshur seemed to blend together religious practices from Egypt and Syria along with dietary rules not unlike that of the Israelites.
New light on old cities
The capital for the Geshurites is now identified with the ancient, fortified city at et-Tell, which is also acknowledged as the New Testament town of Bethsaida. We covered the story of the discovery of the city gate from the time of King David last year. Now, we can add that more Geshurite settlements are coming to light.
In 2020 the Israeli Antiquities Authority announced the discovery of a Geshurite fortress, also on the Golan Heights, at Hispin. The fortress is substantial, built of large basalt boulders, and dates to the same period as the earliest stage of the development of the site at et-Tell. Strikingly, a carved icon shows a very similar design of a horned figure to that which was found at et-Tell in 2019. This icon helps to link these sites together and begins to show the extent of the Geshurite Kingdom during its brief period of history.
So the stories of David and Absalom, with their references to a neighbouring kingdom of Geshur, are set in a period that is gradually resurfacing. This is only the beginning. What is certain is a clearer picture of the Geshurites will build up in the years ahead. As another lost kingdom emerges from obscurity, it is worth remembering that the Old Testament preserved their historical record all along.
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