The fact that this find comes mere days ahead of the 70th anniversary of regathered Israel on May 14th, 1948, and the fact that Elgon is a place where God chose to judge the Jews, makes this archaeological discovery amazing all by itself.
"And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD." Judges 3:12 (KJV)
Archaeologists digging at the Tel Eton site in Jerusalem have
made a fascinating discovery. They have unearthed what they believe to be the first evidence ever for the the existence of the biblical city of Eglon,
mentioned 13 times in the King James Bible. Their findings were published today as we read in this from the Daily Mail UK:
"The dig, which took place in the Judean Shephelah to the east of the Hebron hills, was led by Professor Avraham Faust of Bar-Ilan University. The site, Tel Eton, is an artificial mound that is made up of the built up ruins of ancient cultures that existed in the same spot for millennia. Some scholars say it is the site of the Canaanite city of Eglon, later listed in the bible as part of the Tribe of Judah. Now, the results of radiocarbon dating samples taken from the floors and foundations of a dwelling - until recently buried deep under the surface of the mound - have been published. They show it dates to around the same time as King David, who ruled in the highlands, and ties in to social changes in the region associated with the ruler."
source
Interestingly, all the news outlets running this story today attempt to tie in the discovery of Eglon with King David, but that is not what the Bible shows us at all. 9 of the 13 references to Eglon are found in the book of Joshua, the leader of Israel who succeeded Moses. The remaining four references to Elgon are found in the book of Judges. David, the boy who would be king over all Israel, is not born until the book of Ruth which follows Judges.
But the fact that this find comes mere days ahead of the 70th anniversary of regathered Israel on May 14th, 1948, and the fact that Elgon is a place where God chose to judge the Jews, makes this archaeological discovery amazing all by itself. Why, you ask? Because God is getting ready to judge the Jews one last time, and it will be the greatest time of trial and tribulation that this world has ever seen. The time of Jacob's trouble.
Jesus in Matthew 24 prophesies that in the last days, Israel having been scattered would be miraculously regathered again. But Jesus goes on to tell us that while His chosen people would have a physical restoration to the land, they would be regathered in unbelief and thus at odds with the LORD. In fact, they will wind up following Antichrist in the days after the Rapture of the Church. Jesus warns them to "flee into the mountains" of Selah Petra for safety where God will sustain them like He did in the Exodus.
"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Matthew 24:15-22 (KJV)
In the book of Joshua, the Jews were disobedient to the LORD and "did evil" in His sight. So God allowed the king of Moab, King Eglon, to take them captive for eighteen years until he sent the deliverer Ehud to free them. And this is where things get interesting in our present day tying in with May 14th, 2018.
THE REAL MEANING OF THE WORD SELAH AS FOUND IN THE KING JAMES BIBLE
The prophet Daniel tells us that, when the Antichrist swoops in to take control of Israel and nearly every country surrounding it, that a handful of cites will escape his grasp. Wanna guess who those cities might be? Take a look.
"And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape." Daniel 11:40-42 (KJV)
Antichrist grabs everything except for Moab, Edom and Ammon. Why does he fail to capture this cities? Because that's where the King's Highway, the route that King Jesus and His Church on horseback will return on, is
and it is also the home of the
red rock city of Selah, Petra, where Revelation 12 tells us is where the Jews, who were told to flee in Matthew 24, will escape to.
Let's listen to the prophet Isaiah put all the pieces into one basket for us:
“Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion. For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest,so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon. Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.” Isaiah 16:1-5 (KJV)
There you have Isaiah backing up Jesus in Matthew 24, John in Revelation 12, Daniel in chapters 9-11 and Jeremiah in chapters 29 and 30 regarding the Jews in the upcoming time of Jacob's trouble.
I feel that God has allowed this incredible discovery at Eglon at precisely this time to get us to fix our attention on Israel where, in our belief from the scriptures, God may just be getting ready to pay a visit to His chosen people the Jews, and to the city where He has placed His Name, Jerusalem.
"For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place."Jeremiah 29:10 (KJV)
