February 23, 2010 | 10:49 am

Evidence of Solomon’s kingdom found in Jerusalem

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

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Every now and then we get some amazing archeological news from Israel.

Remember a tomb with a Jew? Or how about the claim that the Dead Sea Scrolls never existed? Or this ancient tablet? Or Google Earth capturing the parting of the Red Sea?

Well, the latest news should be a lot more encouraging to Bible-believers. (CBS News gave it this awkward headline: “Scholar: Bible History May Be Correct.” Right, because everyone knows the Bible isn’t true ... )

Here’s what Jonathan Tobin of Commentary had to say about excavations in East Jerusalem that revealed an ancient wall from the time of King Solomon:

The significance of this extraordinary find is that it provides new proof of the existence and power of the Davidic monarchy, the Israelite state that it led, and the more than 3,000-year-old Jewish presence in Jerusalem. These new discoveries, along with those of a previous dig in a different area of the city of David, contradict contrary Palestinian claims that the Jews have no claim to the area. They also debunk the assertions of some Israeli archeologists who have sought to portray the kingdom of David and Solomon as an insignificant tribal group and not the regional empire that the Bible speaks about. Indeed, Mazar believes that the strength and the form of construction required to build these structures correlates with biblical passages that speak of Solomon’s building of a royal palace and of the Temple with the assistance of master builders from Phoenicia (modern-day Lebanon). Moreover, contrary to those who speak of the Jewish presence in the city as a passing phase in ancient times, the discovery of Jewish seals, which speak directly of an Israelite state, proves that what Mazar has found are not the remains of a Jebusite fort conquered by the Jews but rather of a great city built by David and his son Solomon.

More on the discovery from Haaretz