Zev Orenstein

My name is Zev Orenstein, and I'm the Director of International Affairs here at the City of David, which is the biblical site of ancient Jerusalem, the place where Jerusalem began. 2005, all this is underground. One morning, an archaeologist by the name of Eilat Mazar, she comes into our visitor center, says, you need to move your offices. We ask her why.

My name is Zev Orenstein, and I'm the Director of International Affairs here at the City of David, which is the biblical site of ancient Jerusalem, the place where Jerusalem began. 2005, all this is underground. One morning, an archaeologist by the name of Eilat Mazar, she comes into our visitor center, says, you need to move your offices. We ask her why.

My name is Zev Orenstein, and I'm the Director of International Affairs here at the City of David, which is the biblical site of ancient Jerusalem, the place where Jerusalem began. 2005, all this is underground. One morning, an archaeologist by the name of Eilat Mazar, she comes into our visitor center, says, you need to move your offices. We ask her why.

She says, beneath your feet, you'll find the palace of King Deid. What do you do with that, right? So, you know, we asked her why. So she shows us something. It's in the Israel Museum today, found 60 years ago. You have over here, Royal Phoenician capital. So if you look at these columns over here, imagine a column. This is sitting on top of the column.

She says, beneath your feet, you'll find the palace of King Deid. What do you do with that, right? So, you know, we asked her why. So she shows us something. It's in the Israel Museum today, found 60 years ago. You have over here, Royal Phoenician capital. So if you look at these columns over here, imagine a column. This is sitting on top of the column.

She says, beneath your feet, you'll find the palace of King Deid. What do you do with that, right? So, you know, we asked her why. So she shows us something. It's in the Israel Museum today, found 60 years ago. You have over here, Royal Phoenician capital. So if you look at these columns over here, imagine a column. This is sitting on top of the column.

This proves that where we're standing is the location of King David's palace. What's the connection? In 2 Samuel 5, verse 11, it says, King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. The Phoenicians are the ones who the Bible says built David's palace. We find here the royal Phoenician capital. Why?

This proves that where we're standing is the location of King David's palace. What's the connection? In 2 Samuel 5, verse 11, it says, King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. The Phoenicians are the ones who the Bible says built David's palace. We find here the royal Phoenician capital. Why?

This proves that where we're standing is the location of King David's palace. What's the connection? In 2 Samuel 5, verse 11, it says, King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. The Phoenicians are the ones who the Bible says built David's palace. We find here the royal Phoenician capital. Why?

Well, because the Phoenicians were the ones who built David's palace. They start to dig. They find, to the north, to the east, walls about eight meters thick. It's clear there's a massive structure here. The question is, from what time period? They find pottery and other organic material at the base of the walls that Dr. Mazar dates to 3,000 years ago, to the time of David.

Well, because the Phoenicians were the ones who built David's palace. They start to dig. They find, to the north, to the east, walls about eight meters thick. It's clear there's a massive structure here. The question is, from what time period? They find pottery and other organic material at the base of the walls that Dr. Mazar dates to 3,000 years ago, to the time of David.

Well, because the Phoenicians were the ones who built David's palace. They start to dig. They find, to the north, to the east, walls about eight meters thick. It's clear there's a massive structure here. The question is, from what time period? They find pottery and other organic material at the base of the walls that Dr. Mazar dates to 3,000 years ago, to the time of David.

Other people date it to about 100 years after David. So the debate is not what this area was. This was the original Capitol Hill, the royal government viewing center of the Davidic dynasty. And the other thing that we have over here is two clay seals, right?

Other people date it to about 100 years after David. So the debate is not what this area was. This was the original Capitol Hill, the royal government viewing center of the Davidic dynasty. And the other thing that we have over here is two clay seals, right?

Other people date it to about 100 years after David. So the debate is not what this area was. This was the original Capitol Hill, the royal government viewing center of the Davidic dynasty. And the other thing that we have over here is two clay seals, right?

In ancient times, before you had encryption and encoding and whatever, you'd write your letter, then you would roll it up, tie it up, and before you'd hand it to the messenger, you'd take your ring, stick it into the clay, and now on your ring, and now on the clay is your name and the son of your father's name. She's digging here, and she finds two seals just like this one.

In ancient times, before you had encryption and encoding and whatever, you'd write your letter, then you would roll it up, tie it up, and before you'd hand it to the messenger, you'd take your ring, stick it into the clay, and now on your ring, and now on the clay is your name and the son of your father's name. She's digging here, and she finds two seals just like this one.

In ancient times, before you had encryption and encoding and whatever, you'd write your letter, then you would roll it up, tie it up, and before you'd hand it to the messenger, you'd take your ring, stick it into the clay, and now on your ring, and now on the clay is your name and the son of your father's name. She's digging here, and she finds two seals just like this one.

This is what Hebrew used to look like. And on the seals, there are names. Two of the four ministers that made up the security cabinet of King Tzedekiah, the last king of the Davidic dynasty, right before the Babylonian destruction. I mean, these are real people.

This is what Hebrew used to look like. And on the seals, there are names. Two of the four ministers that made up the security cabinet of King Tzedekiah, the last king of the Davidic dynasty, right before the Babylonian destruction. I mean, these are real people.