THE STELE OF DAN

The Stele of Dan

Fragments of a large basalt stele(an upright stone slab or pillar with inscription) from 858-824 BC  were found in front of the city gate at Dan. The language on the stele is ancient Aramaic, and thirteen lines of the original inscription have been partly preserved. This is the Tel Dan Stele, and it is important in the study of biblical archaeology because it mentions the House of David. 

It was created against a backdrop of war and violence. The 9th century BCE and the beginning of the 8th century BCE saw savage conflicts between the kings of Israel and the expanding kingdom of Aram-Damascus. (1 Kings 15:20)

Dan's Entrance Gate

One of the Aramean kings of Damascus - we do not know which one - carved this stone to mark the capture of Dan. It was propaganda, recording a moment of sweet victory. Before the world of newspapers and mass media, this was how you let everyone know how lucky they were to have you as their king.

But the important thing for biblical scholars is that in lines 7-8 two kings of Israel and Judah are mentioned:

• Jehoram, king of Israel
• Ahaziah, king of Judah.

We know from the Bible that these two kings were allies. We also know they were defeated by Hazael, king of Aram-Damascus. (2 Kings 8:7-15, 28; 9:24-29). The Stele of Dan is concrete evidence to back up the Bible's story.

The stele was found in fragments. Someone had deliberately smashed it to bits. This was probably Jehoash, king of Israel, who fought the Arameans three times and defeated them (2 Kings 13:25), recovering the city of Dan. Re-installed in Dan, he smashed the stele erected by his enemy Hazael. 

THE END

Tiglath Pileser III

When the fearsome Assyrian Tiglath-pileser III invaded in 732BC, Dan disappeared from sight. 

The people who lived there probably suffered much the same fate as the people of Lachish - see LACHISH - THE BATTLE for images of the terrible fate of captives.

Those who survived were banished together with the other northern Israelites (II Kings 15:29). Where they went is unknown. The Assyrian kings at that time had a policy of assimilation, and the Danites became one of the Lost Tribes of Israel.

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