Gezer
Gezer, or Tel Gezer (Hebrew: גֶּזֶר), in Arabic: تل الجزر – Tell Jezar or Tell el-Jezari is an archaeological site in the foothills of the Judaean Mountains at the border of the Shfela region roughly midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It is now an Israeli national park. In the Hebrew Bible, Gezer is associated with Joshua and Solomon.
For the kibbutz in Israel, see Gezer (kibbutz). For the region in Israel, see Gezer Regional Council.Alternative name
The archaeological site of Tel Gezer rises to an elevation of 229 metres (751 ft) above sea-level, and affords a commanding prospect of the plains to the west, north and east.
Gezer became a major fortified Canaanite city-state in the first half of the 2nd millennium BCE. It was later destroyed by fire and rebuilt. The Amarna letters mention kings of Gezer swearing loyalty to the Egyptian pharaoh.[1] Its importance was due in part to the strategic position it held at the crossroads of the ancient coastal trade route linking Egypt with Syria, Anatolia and Mesopotamia, and the road to Jerusalem and Jericho, both important trade routes. In Roman and Byzantine times, the site was sparsely populated. Later, In the modern era, Tel Gezer was the site of the Palestinian village of Abu Shusheh, the residents of which were expelled by Israeli forces during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
Sources[edit]
Ancient Egyptian sources[edit]
Gezer is mentioned in the victory stele of Merneptah, dating from the end of the 13th century BCE.[2]: 26
Biblical conquest under Joshua[edit]
The biblical story of the Israelite conquest of Canaan under their leader Joshua mentions a certain "king of Gezer" (Joshua 10:33) who had gone to help his countrymen in Lachish, where he met his death. Gezer is listed in the Book of Joshua as one of the cities allotted to the tribe of Ephraim, as well as a Levitical city, one of ten allotted to the Levite children of Kehoth – the Kohathites (Joshua, ch. 21). Eusebius (4th century CE), describing the biblical Gezer of his day, writes:
History[edit]
Chalcolithic[edit]
The first settlement established at Tel Gezer dates to the end of the 4th millennium BCE during the Chalcolithic period, when large caves cut into the rock were used as dwellings.[15]
Early Bronze Age[edit]
At the beginning of the Early Bronze Age (early 3rd millennium BCE), an unfortified settlement covered the tell. It was destroyed in the middle of the 3rd millennium BCE and subsequently abandoned for several centuries.[15]
Archaeologist or student with large, numerous massebot
Excavations at Tel Gezer
High place with "cup holders", cave mouth
Courses of stone in old tower at Gezer
recessed olive presses look similar to the cup holders at the same site, in a polka dot pattern
Approach to Tel Gezer (seen in distance)
![Figurine discovered at Gezer.[80]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Teraphimandtongueofgold1.png/76px-Teraphimandtongueofgold1.png)
