Aantekeningen bij de Bijbel:

Onderwerp

Kalne

Literatuur

John J. Bimson , Encyclopedie van Bijbelse plaatsen, , [2007], p. 231-232,
Aren Maeir , The Official (and Unofficial) Weblog of the Tell es-Safi/Gath Excavations, May 22nd, 2006, At the same time, we excavated on the tell, evidence of an extensive destruction level, which based on typological and radiometric analyses could be dated to the late 9^th century BCE.
Based on the similar dating, we have suggested that the siege trench and the destruction level are related to the same event, and we have suggested connecting it to the conquest of Gath by Hazael of Aram Damascus, as briefly mentioned in II Kings 12:18.
This ties into an interesting point which I discussed not long ago in an article in Vetus Testamentum (Maeir, A. 2004. The Historical Background and Dating of Amos VI 2: An Archaeological Perspective from Tell es-Safi/Gath. Vetus Testamentum 54: 319-34). In this study, I discussed the verse in Amos 6:2 in which the destructions of Calneh and Hamath the Great (both in Syria) and Gath of the Philistines are mentioned. Although Amos is thought to have lived in the early/mid-8^th century BCE, in the past scholars suggested that this passage is a later addition, added on in the late 8^th or early 7^th century, and relating to the Assyrian conquest of these three sites.
In the article (and I suggest you all take a look at it ...), I argued that all three sites were in fact destroyed by Hazael of Aram, and in fact, the passage dates to the early 8^th century BCE, soon after the destruction of these sites. In fact, as far as Gath of the Philistines is concerned, it can only date to this stage, since subsequently, as can be seen both in the historical and biblical sources, but from the archaeological remains as well, Gath of the Philistines looses its importance, and for all intents and purposes ceases to serve as an important Philistine center. In fact, at any later period the role of Philistine Gath (as portrayed in this passage) would not be relevant.