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Let’s Visit Biblical Gezer

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by

Nosson Shulman
in


Let’s Visit Biblical Gezer

“Pharaoh, King of Egypt, had come up and conquered Gezer and burnt it in fire, and killed the Canaanite who lived in the city. He gave it as a wedding present to his daughter, Solomon’s wife, and Solomon then build up Gezer (1 King 9:16)” 

Today we visit Tel Gezer, an exciting biblical site that tourists seldom visit.  From afar it seems to be a non-descriptive desolate hill, but those who choose to enter this historic wonder are immediately treated to an abundance of stunning Biblical archeology!

Although Tel Gezer looks like a barren hill, the walking trails seen in the picture are filled with wonderful examples of archeology as far as the eye can see. The panoramic views at this site, including the skyscrapers of faraway Tel Aviv, are pleasing to the senses! Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Although Tel Gezer looks like a barren hill, the walking trails seen in the picture are filled with wonderful examples of archeology as far as the eye can see. The panoramic views at this site, including the skyscrapers of faraway Tel Aviv, are pleasing to the senses! Photo Credit: Shutterstock

In Canaanite times, Gezer was a major city-state with its own King.

The remains of a 4000-year-old, Canaanite Guard tower, one of 25 which guarded the city. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
The remains of a 4000-year-old, Canaanite Guard tower, one of 25 which guarded the city. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Gezer’s importance was largely due to its location on an important trade route junction.

Gezer, circled in yellow, was situated on both the Port of Jaffa-Jerusalem Road and the most important international highway (red line), which connected Egypt and Mesopotamia (Iraq), the two leading ancient super-powers. Photo Credit: JewishVirtualLibrary.org
Gezer, circled in yellow, was situated on both the Port of Jaffa-Jerusalem Road and the most important international highway (red line), which connected Egypt and Mesopotamia (Iraq), the two leading ancient super-powers. Photo Credit: JewishVirtualLibrary.org

The city’s infrastructure was quite advanced for its day, including a sophisticated water system.

Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Mboesch – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Mboesch – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
Entrance to the ancient water system. If you look carefully, you can see stairs in the picture (which were built into the structure thousands of years ago, to allow the Canaanites to enter) Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Entrance to the ancient water system. If you look carefully, you can see stairs in the picture (which were built into the structure thousands of years ago, to allow the Canaanites to enter) Photo Credit: Shutterstock

When the Children of Israel entered into the Holy Land after 40 years in the desert, they waged war with the 31 Canaanite city-states. The King of Gezer and his army fell in battle against Joshua, though they failed to capture the city (Joshua 10:33), which was designated a Levite city (Joshua 21:21).  The city remained in Canaanite hands until the times of King Solomon.

Remains of one of the largest Canaanite cultic sites. This type of worship (erecting a pillar) is explicitly forbidden according to Torah (Hebrew Bible) law (see Leviticus 26:1). Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Remains of one of the largest Canaanite cultic sites. This type of worship (erecting a pillar) is explicitly forbidden according to Torah (Hebrew Bible) law (see Leviticus 26:1). Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Many generations later, Pharoah (not the same one from Exodus) conquered Gezer and destroyed the city by fire.  When his daughter married King Solomon, Pharoah gave Gezer to his new son in law as a wedding gift . Solomon rebuilt and fortified Gezer (and many other cities) making it a regional capital.

Artist rendition of Solomon's Gezer
Artist rendition of Solomon’s Gezer

Several hundred years later during the Assyrian invasion of Tiglath-Pileser , Gezer was captured and destroyed.

During the Hellenistic wars against the Jewish Maccabees (of Chanukah fame circa 167-142 BCE) Gezer was rebuilt as a fortress and utilized by the Hellenists as one of their main military headquarters.  This was until the Maccabees captured Gezer and ultimately won the 25 year war, declaring Jewish independence in Israel once again (which lasted until the Romans seized the country in 63 BCE).  During this time Gezer became a small, insignificant farming town and eventually abandoned.

Since the early 1900s, several major archeological excavations took place, which yielded important finds including the “Gezer Calendar”, the oldest (according to some historians) Hebrew inscriptions ever found anywhere!

The “Gezer Calendar” is inscribed with perhaps the world’s oldest Hebrew inscriptions.
The “Gezer Calendar” is inscribed with perhaps the world’s oldest Hebrew inscriptions.

Although few visit this site, the tourists I have brought here very much enjoyed seeing it!  I highly recommend including it on your itinerary for your next visit!

For a sample tour itinerary which can include visiting Tel Gezer, click here

Nosson Shulman is a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here. To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here. 

Nosson Shulman - Private Israel Tour Guide

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