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Is The Government Of Israel Hiding A Major Bible Era Find Out Of Fear It Could Lead To Demand For The Third Temple And The Return Of The Jewish Messiah? Is The Ark Of The Covenant And Solomon's Treasures Inside An "Entire Temple" Found Buried Beneath The Ground?

The capital – which is the decorated stone at the head of an ancient column – dates back to the Biblical era, according to Field School Director Yaron Rosental. Only 30 such capitals have been found in Israel so far, and only five of them were found in areas in which Biblical-era kings lived. Unlike all of the other proto-aeolic capitals found in Israel – this one is not separate from the column but connected to it. The weight of the column and capital are estimated to be about five tons. "For reasons that are not completely clear," the newspaper writes, "several authorities in Israel have decided to silence the find, which may mark a breakthrough in the perception of the period of King David and his son, Shlomo [Solomon], and of the entire Judean kingdom." The capital "apparently indicates that an entire temple of castle is buried beneath it," the newspaper adds. However, when Rosental contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority to inform them of the find, the person he spoke to simply said – "Yaron, good for you. You found it, but we already are aware of it. Now forget about the whole thing and keep your mouth shut."

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Is the State Hiding a Major Bible Era Find?

Makor Rishon says authorities are keeping lid on what may be a royal

castle from David's time.

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By Gil Ronen

First Publish: 4/20/2013, 10:24 PM

(illustrative) Tekoa in eastern Gush Etzion

Israel news photo: Flash 90

For unknown reasons, Israeli authorities are keeping lid on an

archaeological find that may turn out to be a royal castle from David's

time, reports Makor Rishon newspaper. The newspaper did not give

any details that might identify the exact location of the find.

According to the paper, the site was identified by Binyamin Tropper,

of the Kfar Etzion Field School. As he descended into a cave in the

area of southern Jerusalem, he identified what professionals know as

"a proto-aeolic capital" connected to a column.

The capital – which is the decorated stone at the head of an ancient

column – dates back to the Biblical era, according to Field School

Director Yaron Rosental. Only 30 such capitals have been found in

Israel so far, and only five of them were found in areas in which

Biblical-era kings lived.

Unlike all of the other proto-aeolic capitals found in Israel – this one

is not separate from the column but connected to it. The weight of the

column and capital are estimated to be about five tons.

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"For reasons that are not completely clear," the newspaper writes,

"several authorities in Israel have decided to silence the find, which

may mark a breakthrough in the perception of the period of King

David and his son, Shlomo [Solomon], and of the entire Judean

kingdom."

The capital "apparently indicates that an entire temple of castle is

buried beneath it," the newspaper adds. However, when Rosental

contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority to inform them of the find,

the person he spoke to simply said – "Yaron, good for you. You found

it, but we already are aware of it. Now forget about the whole thing

and keep your mouth shut."

Rosental said that he later found out that the IAA had known about

the side for 18 months. He said that no digging has taken place since

then, and that even steps like cordoning off the area to prevent

damage to the rare find, have not been taken.

Rosental calls this "a scandal" but says that no less worrisome is that

the state appears to have plans to move the separation fence between

Israel and the PA in a way that will leave the site in the PA's hands.

However, there is still time to alter the route of the fence by 100 yards

and leave the cave in Israeli hands. He expressed the wish that the

authorities cordon off the site and keep it in Israeli hands until it has

been thoroughly excavated, whereas he would not mind Palestinian

Arabs running the site later on and profitting from the fees charged to

visit it.

According to Rosental, excavation of the site has potential for

uncovering a complete castle and possibly an entire neighborhood

from the Judean kings' period, for the first time ever. "We appear to

have a complete castle here," he said. "Those who lived here after it

did not know of its existence and thus, instead of using its stones to

build a new building as was the usual practice, left it intact." The

details found inside could be "amazing."

The IAA confirmed to Makor Rishon that the find is an important one

that appears to date to the period of Judean kings. However, the IAA

added, the subject is "sensitive" and "requires serious and responsible

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handing." They added that they hope to be able to explore the

findings.

The IDF said that it offered the IAA "the full assistance needed" in

order to remove the capital and column from the site.