Aren Maeir , The Official (and Unofficial) Weblog of the Tell es-Safi/Gath Excavations, May 22nd, 2006, At the same time,
we excavated on the tell, evidence of an extensive destruction level,
which based on typological and radiometric analyses could be dated to
the late 9th century BCE.
Based on the similar
dating, we have suggested that the siege trench and the destruction
level are related to the same event, and we have suggested connecting
it to the conquest of Gath by Hazael of Aram Damascus, as briefly mentioned in II Kings 12:18. This ties into an interesting point which I discussed not long ago in an article in Vetus Testamentum (Maeir, A. 2004. The Historical Background and Dating of Amos VI 2: An Archaeological Perspective from Tell es-Safi/Gath. Vetus Testamentum 54: 319-34). In this study, I discussed the verse in Amos 6:2 in which the destructions of Calneh and Hamath the Great (both in Syria) and Gath of the Philistines are mentioned. Although Amos is thought to have lived in the early/mid-8th century BCE, in the past scholars suggested that this passage is a later addition, added on in the late 8th or early 7th century, and relating to the Assyrian conquest of these three sites.
In the article (and I
suggest you all take a look at it ...), I argued that all three sites
were in fact destroyed by Hazael of Aram, and in fact, the passage
dates to the early 8th century BCE, soon after the
destruction of these sites. In fact, as far as Gath of the Philistines
is concerned, it can only date to this stage, since subsequently, as
can be seen both in the historical and biblical sources, but from the
archaeological remains as well, Gath of the Philistines looses its
importance, and for all intents and purposes ceases to serve as an
important Philistine center. In fact, at any later period the role of
Philistine Gath (as portrayed in this passage) would not be relevant.