Archaeologists have discovered new evidence at the ancient city of Megiddo in northern Israel, including artifacts from ancient Greek and Egyptian origins, offering fresh support for biblical accounts of a battle between an Israelite king and an Egyptian ruler more than 2,600 years ago.
The findings center on pottery fragments unearthed in a layer dating to the late seventh century B.C., when historical texts describe King Josiah of Judah confronting Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt at Megiddo in 609 B.C. While the discovery does not confirm Josiah’s presence at the battle, it provides evidence that Egyptian forces occupied the site during his reign.
Israel Finkelstein, an archaeologist at the University of Haifa and Tel Aviv University, led a study detailing the discovery, published Jan. 28 in the Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament. In an email to Live Science, he said researchers found many Egyptian pottery fragments alongside Greek pottery pieces.
The discovery of Greek artifacts is significant, as Egypt often employed Greek mercenaries during this period. By analyzing the pottery’s clay composition and stylistic features, researchers determined that the fragments originated from Egyptian and Greek sources, reinforcing the likelihood of an Egyptian military presence at Megiddo.
A biblical battle and unanswered questions
The biblical account of Josiah’s encounter with Necho II is recorded in two books, presenting contrasting narratives. Assaf Kleiman, an archaeologist at Ben-Gurion University and a study co-author, noted that the Book of Kings describes Josiah’s death as an execution. The Book of Chronicles portrays it as a decisive battle.
During this summer excavation season, archaeologists have been digging up at the foot of Tell Megiddo a Roman military amphitheater. This arena, situated in a steep oval basin carved out of the bedrock, was painted blood-red. The Roman legion camp stationed here was home to more… pic.twitter.com/LHDJSW0oO9
— Ticia Verveer (@ticiaverveer) August 1, 2023
Kleiman told Live Science in an email that the Josiah-Necho event at Megiddo in 609 B.C. is described in the Bible twice: as an execution in a short chronistic verse in Kings and as a decisive battle in Chronicles.
He explained that The Book of Kings was written closer to the time of the events, making its version more historically reliable. In contrast, The Book of Chronicles was compiled centuries later, possibly shaping the narrative to fit later theological perspectives.
While the newly discovered artifacts confirm Egyptian control over Megiddo during Josiah’s time, they do not directly answer how the king died. Some interpretations suggest he was wounded in battle, while others propose that he was executed as a vassal under Egyptian rule.
Josiah’s death later became a symbolic event in biblical history, with some interpretations linking it to the eventual fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. That year, Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II led his forces to conquer the city and destroy the First Temple, also known as Solomon’s Temple.
Megiddo’s strategic importance and lasting legacy
Now a national park, the ruins of Megiddo lie about 30 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of Haifa. The city once stood at the crossroads of key trade and military routes, making it a sought-after stronghold for various civilizations, including the Canaanites, Israelites, Assyrians, Egyptians, and Persians.
Due to its long history of warfare, Megiddo has been the site of numerous battles throughout the centuries. Its name later inspired the term Armageddon, which appears in The Book of Revelation in the New Testament.
Originally referring to a final battle prophesied to take place at Megiddo, the word has since come to symbolize the concept of an apocalyptic end to the world.
The latest findings add another layer to Megiddo’s rich history, bridging ancient texts with material evidence and offering new insights into a critical period of biblical and Near Eastern history.