BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

New Location Proposed for Jerusalem’s King’s Garden

Bible and archaeology news

A new study of ancient Jerusalem’s topography suggests that the Biblical “King’s Garden” (Nehemiah 3:15) is not to be found near the lower end of the City of David as long thought,^* but rather along the route of Emek Refaim, one of modern Jerusalem’s trendiest streets. According to Tel Aviv University scholars Oded Lipschits and Nadav Na’aman, Emek Refaim runs along a flat, level valley that would have provided fertile ground for ancient Jerusalem farmers. Many of these farms, according to their study, would have supplied produce and taxes to the royal Judahite administrative center of Ramat Rachel,^** which overlooks Emek Refaim from the east. In their reconstruction, the King’s Garden would therefore be located somewhere between modern Jerusalem’s Liberty Park and the city’s old railway station.

A new study of ancient Jerusalem’s topography suggests that the Biblical “King’s Garden” (Nehemiah 3:15) is not to be found near the lower end of the City of David as long thought, but rather along the route of Emek Refaim, one of modern Jerusalem’s trendiest streets.

** See Gabriel Barkay, “Royal Palace, Royal Portrait?” Biblical Archaeology Review, September/October 2006.