The Sacrificial Altar at Tel Dan
Excavations at the site of Tel Dan, near modern-day Israel’s northern border, uncovered a cultic precinct. It consists of a massive stone platform with an associated area for sacrifices and storage rooms. The dates of construction and destruction are derived from biblical and Assyrian texts.
King Jeroboam likely built the precinct in the 10th century BCE as seen in the book of 1 Kings chapters 12 to 29. It was later destroyed by the Assyrian army under Tiglath-Pileser III in 734 BCE.
Overview
In the Bible
1 Kings 12:30
The people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.
מְלָכִים א' י"ב:ל'
וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ הָעָ֛ם לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֶחָ֖ד עַד-דָּֽן: כְּדֵי לְהִתְפַּלֵּל לִפְנֵי אֶחָד הָעֲגָלִים...
Life lessons
Humor
Advocacy
Fun fact
Antisimetism
