Tel Arad, Israel: Ancient Ruins, Life Lessons from King Josiah - Full Video in Description

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Location
1. Tel Arad is in the Negev about 16 miles (26 km.) east of Tel Beersheba, and 33 miles (54 km.) south of Jerusalem.
2. Tel Arad covers an area of about 100 acres (40 hectares) and is on the west side of Hwy 80.
3. Although this part of the Negev receives little rain, Arad is strategically situated on ancient trade routes.

Historical Background
1. Tel Arad has two major settlement periods, a Canaanite and an Israelite period. The lower part of the tel is from the Canaanite period and the upper fortress part is from the Israelite period.
2. The Canaanites were the original settlers of Arad and established a large city here around 3500 BC. It had an estimated population of approximately 2,500 residents.
3. Israel captured Arad in the conquest under Joshua. Later, in around 940 BC, an Israelite settlement was established here.
4. Because Tel Arad is so strategically located and important, it was destroyed and rebuilt 6 times from the 9th to the 6th centuries. It was most likely destroyed in 701 BC by the Assyrians and again by the Babylonians in 587 BC.
5. Over 100 pottery shards (Ostraca) were discovered at Tel Arad dating to the 7th and 6th centuries BC. Two of these are of great value as they mention two people from priestly families in the Bible, “Pashhur” from Ezra 2:38, and Meremoth from Ezra 8:33.
6. Two other pottery shards found at Tel Arad have written on them the name Arad, which confirms the identification of the city.

Places of Interest
1. Canaanite City
City walls
City gate
Temple
Palace
City Well
Homes

2. Entrance to Tel Arad

3. Upper parking – Easy access to the Fortress Mound

4.