The Tel Dan Stele provides the first non-biblical evidence for the existence of King David. Learn how this 1993 discovery changed history.
In July 1993, archaeologists working in northern Israel uncovered a broken slab of black basalt inscribed with ancient Aramaic. This artifact, now famously known as the Tel Dan Stele, dates back nearly 3,000 years to the Iron Age. It contains a boastful inscription from an enemy of ancient Israel that explicitly mentions the House of David, offering scholars a rare historical connection to the monarchy.
This video explores the context of this archaeological discovery and why it remains the most significant piece of physical evidence regarding the biblical king. We examine the translation of the text and how it challenged previous academic skepticism about the historical accuracy of the Davidic dynasty. Understanding this basalt slab helps clarify the political landscape of the Levant during the 9th century BCE.
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