Page 26 - HaMizrachi #7 Purim

Places in Israel

Chana Koren

BEHIND ISRAEL'S

Walled Cities

ost Israelis read the Megillah ones are Tel Be’er Sheva, Tel Hazor and occurrence in similarly dated ancient
on the 14th of Adar, except Tel Yizra’el. Others, such as Gezer, Tel cities. Sha’arayim is the earliest dated
M those living in walled cities Beit Shemesh, Lachish and Sha’arayim, city with organized urban planning. The
from the time of Joshua. If we are not which have been excavated, are less casement walls surrounding the city are
sure whether a city was walled at that visited. Each of these sites provide an very apparent and give the visitor an idea
time or not, its inhabitants must read insight into how people lived in ancient of its size and shape.
the Megillah on both the 14th and 15th. times – their material culture, possible
Today this includes Jaffa, Lod, Akko, social structure, trade and architectural Gezer
Tzfat, Haifa, Beersheva and Hebron. styles. With Tanach in hand, one can
The Megillah is also read on both days visit these walled cities today and step Gezer is a very large site located in
in Tiberias, even though it definitely had back in time. All four of these sites are the lowlands of Judea (Shfela). The
walls in Joshua’s time. 1 not too far apart, making it possible to site is identified as predating the days
visit some or all of them in one day. of Solomon, who received the city as
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Why the days of Joshua? a gift from Pharaoh. The al-Amarna
Says the Rambam: “And why did [the Tel Beit Shemesh letters of Egypt include several
exchanges between the Gezer kings and
Sages] make [the date on which a given Tel Beit Shemesh is being more the Egyptian authorities. The letters
city read the Megillah] contingent on the extensively excavated today. It gives us include requests for supplies and other
days of Joshua? – In order to apportion a deeper understanding of the dynamics assistance. This site has been positively
honor to the Land of Israel which was of the border with the Philistines. The identified by stone inscriptions, which
desolate at that time, so that they would wealth of artifacts recovered from the denoted the border of the agricultural
read [the Megillah] as did the denizens site allows archeologists to understand fields surrounding the city in
of Shushan; thus [the cities of the Land the culture and social aspects of the Hasmonean times.
of Israel] would be considered as if peoples who settled here over the
they were fortified cities surrounded millennia. One can see the ancient water The above sites are open to the public
by walls, even though they were system, the gate, and enjoy an impressive free of charge with easy access by car.
currently desolate, because they had vantage point over the new excavations. They are suitable for all ages, without
been surrounded by walls in the days of strollers.
Joshua. Thus there would be a reminder Lachish
of the Land of Israel in this miracle.” 2 1 Tiberias is located on the Sea of Galilee
Lachish is mentioned several times in (Kinneret). Thus, it was protected from invaders
Let us ‘visit’ some other once-walled the Tanach and was one of the most by walls and sea. If we define a walled city as one
cities in Israel today. The largest is of completely surrounded by walls, Tiberias does
course Jerusalem. But those ramparts important cities in Judea, originally not qualify. If a walled city is one protected from
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are only 500 years old and partially built fortified by King Rehoboam. On site invasion, it does. Since the jury is still out, they
upon earlier walls (which were in situ in you can explore the towers, a palace, a read on both days.
the days of Joshua). ramp built by the Assyrians during the 2 Laws of the Megillah and Chanukah 1:5.
siege, the writing room and much more. 3 Items have been dated from that time. See
Although there are no other cities in It is partially wheelchair accessible. Lachish National Park website.
Israel definitely walled from Joshua’s 4 Kings 1 9:16.
time – or even standing from the 4th Hirbit Qeiyafa (Sha’arayim)
century BCE (the Purim story) – there Chana Koren is a licensed guide/driver
are still many ancient walled sites that Now identified as Sha’arayim from
can be referenced from the Tanach. Samuel 2 (17:52) – Qeiyafa is not too specializing in family tours. She is a
far from Beit Shemesh. This city has two member of the Mizrachi Tour Guides
For example, three of the better-known gates (thus the name Sha’arayim), a rare Bureau touringwithchana@gmail.com

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