Khirbet al-Ra’i is a multi-period archaeological site in the Judean foothills region. It is located on a strategic location overlooking the Lachish stream, 1Km south east of Kiryat-Gath intersection of highway #6. The site is excavated since 2015, headed by Y. Garfinkel and S. Ganor. Its peak settlement period was during the Iron Age I and II periods.

The archaeologists unearthed a rare finding of a 12th century BC Proto-Canaanite (Early Alphabetic) inscription, written in ink on a jar, bearing the Biblical name Yrb‘l (Jerubba’al). The name is mentioned in the acts of judge Gideon (Judges 6:32): “Therefore on that day he called him Jerubba’al, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar”.

The site was also suggested as an alternative identification of the city of Ziklag, where David took refuge while escaping from King Saul. 1 Samuel 30:1-3: “David and his men were come to Ziklag”.

More: https://www.biblewalks.com/alrai

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