| JerusalemJerusalem (Old City / City of David) | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 31.7772, 35.2350Ierusalem/Hierosolyma — Pleiades place 687928Claim checked | The earthquake in the days of Uzziah: Effects reported: flight (Zech 14:5, by implication from Jerusalem's vicinity); temple damage and landslide in Josephus; 8th-c. destruction layer announced from the City of David (association: proposed — possible)Nebuchadnezzar's campaign against Jerusalem in Jehoiakim's third year (Dan 1:1–2): Besieged city (Dan 1:1) (association: certain)The word to Jeremiah in Jehoiakim's fourth year, Nebuchadnezzar's first (Jer 25:1–14): Addressees (Judah and Jerusalem) (association: certain)Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem, Nisan of his twentieth year (Neh 2:1–8): Object of the decree (association: certain)Cyrus's proclamation permitting the return and the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 1; 6:3–5): Object of the decree (association: certain)The rebuilt Temple completed on 3 Adar of Darius's sixth year (Ezra 6:15): Object of the decree (association: certain)Darius I confirms Cyrus's decree and orders the Temple completed (Ezra 6:1–12): Object of the decree (association: certain)Daniel reads Jeremiah's seventy years and prays (Dan 9:1–19): The desolate city prayed for (association: certain)Artaxerxes' decree to Ezra in his seventh year (Ezra 7): Object of the decree (association: certain)The breach of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's capture at Riblah (9/IV of Zedekiah's 11th year): Breached city (association: certain)The final siege of Jerusalem begins (10/X of Zedekiah's ninth year): Besieged city (association: certain)Capture of Jerusalem and deportation of Jehoiachin (March 597 BC): Captured city (association: certain)Nebuzaradan burns the Temple and Jerusalem (5th month of Nebuchadnezzar's 19th year): City and Temple burned (association: certain)The deportation of Nebuchadnezzar's twenty-third year (Jer 52:30): Judah (place not stated) (association: proposed — possible)Cyrus returns the Temple vessels to Sheshbazzar; the first return (Ezra 1:5–11): Destination (association: certain)The Passover of Josiah's eighteenth year: Place of the feast (association: certain)Temple repairs and the finding of the book of the law (Josiah's 18th year): Temple where the book was found (association: certain)Josiah's covenant and the purge of Jerusalem and Judah: Temple, Kidron, Topheth, the Mount of Corruption (association: certain)Josiah killed at Megiddo by Necho II (609 BC): Burial; place of death in Chronicles and Josephus (association: certain)Josiah's delegation consults Huldah the prophetess: Huldah's residence (the second quarter) (association: certain)Josiah seeks God (8th year) and begins to purge Judah and Israel (12th year) — Chronicles: Purged city (association: certain)The altar rebuilt in Jerusalem and the Feast of Booths kept (Ezra 3:1–7): Altar on the Temple site (association: certain)The return of the exiles with Zerubbabel and Jeshua; the list of returnees (Ezra 2): Destination (association: certain)The foundation of the Second Temple laid (Ezra 3:8–13): Temple site (association: certain)Tattenai governor of Beyond the River inquires and writes to Darius (Ezra 5:3–17): Building inspected (association: certain)Haggai and Zechariah stir the people; the Temple work resumes (Darius's second year, 520 BC): Temple site (association: certain)Opposition from the people of the land; the Temple work ceases until Darius's second year (Ezra 4:1–5, 24): Temple site (association: certain)Accusations to Ahasuerus and the Rehum–Shimshai letter to Artaxerxes; the city's rebuilding stopped (Ezra 4:6–23): City whose walls were being rebuilt (association: certain)The returned exiles keep the Passover after the Temple's dedication (Ezra 6:19–22): Temple (association: certain)Haggai's oracles of 24/IX, Darius year 2: "from this day I will bless you"; Zerubbabel the signet: Temple site (association: certain)Haggai's oracle on the latter glory of the house (21/VII, Darius year 2): Temple site (association: certain)Zechariah's night visions (24 Shebat, Darius year 2; Zech 1:7–6:8): Object of the visions (association: certain)Crowns made from the exiles' gifts and set on Joshua; the oracle of the Branch (Zech 6:9–15): Crowning and memorial in the temple (association: certain)The Bethel delegation and the question of fasting; Zechariah's answer (4/IX, Darius year 4): Temple where the question was put (association: certain)Ezra's caravan from the Ahava to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:7–10; 8): Destination (association: certain)The mixed-marriages crisis: Ezra's confession, the assembly in the rain (20/IX) and the commission (Ezra 9–10): The square before the house of God (association: certain)Nehemiah arrives, inspects the walls by night and calls for rebuilding (Neh 2:9–20): Walls and gates inspected (association: certain)Hanani's report at Susa and Nehemiah's prayer (Chislev, Artaxerxes's 20th year): The city reported on (association: certain)The rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall and gates, section by section (Neh 3): Walls and gates rebuilt (association: certain)Mockery, threats and the armed builders (Neh 4): Building site under threat (association: certain)The debt crisis and the remission of pledges (Neh 5:1–13): Jerusalem (association: certain)Plots against Nehemiah: Ono, the open letter, Shemaiah (Neh 6:1–14): Jerusalem (association: certain)Nehemiah's first governorship: twelve years, 20th–32nd year of Artaxerxes (445–433 BC): Jerusalem (association: certain)The wall completed on 25 Elul after fifty-two days (Neh 6:15–19): Jerusalem (association: certain)Jerusalem guarded under Hanani and Hananiah; the registry of the first returnees found (Neh 7:1–5): Jerusalem (association: certain)Ezra reads the Law on the first day of the seventh month (Neh 7:73b–8:12): Jerusalem (association: certain)The Feast of Booths kept "as it is written" (Neh 8:13–18): Jerusalem (association: certain)The sealed covenant to keep the law and support the temple (Neh 9:38–10:39): Jerusalem (association: certain)The fast of the twenty-fourth day and the Levites' confession (Neh 9): Jerusalem (association: certain)Nehemiah's return and second-term reforms (Neh 13:4–31): Jerusalem (association: certain)Jerusalem repopulated: one in ten by lot (Neh 11): Jerusalem (association: certain)The dedication of the wall of Jerusalem (Neh 12:27–13:3): Jerusalem (association: certain)The priestly and Levitical registers to the days of Jaddua (Neh 12:1–26): Jerusalem (association: certain)The first "burden" of Zechariah 9–11 (undated oracle collection): Jerusalem (Zion) (association: certain)The second "burden" of Zechariah 12–14 (undated oracle collection): Jerusalem (association: certain)Malachi's disputations with priests and people (Mal 1–4; undated, mid-fifth century BC): Jerusalem and its temple (association: certain) |
| GezerTel Gezer | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 31.8598, 34.9210Gazara (Gezer) — Pleiades place 687904Claim checked | The earthquake in the days of Uzziah: Proposed archaeological evidence of mid-8th-c. earthquake damage (city wall) (association: proposed — possible) |
| GathTell es-Safi / Tel Tzafit | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 31.7020, 34.8474Gimtu (Gath, Tell es-Safi) — Pleiades place 889522884Claim checked | The earthquake in the days of Uzziah: Earthquake destruction c. 760 BCE reported by the excavators (Area F) (association: probable) |
| HazorTel Hazor | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 33.0192, 35.5668Tel Hazor — Pleiades place 779967430Claim checked | The earthquake in the days of Uzziah: Proposed archaeological evidence of mid-8th-c. earthquake damage (Stratum VI) (association: proposed — possible) |
| BabylonBabil (ruins near Hillah) | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 32.5373, 44.4250Babylon — Pleiades place 893951Claim checked | Training of Judean youths at the Babylonian court (Dan 1:3–7, 17–20): Royal court (implied) (association: probable)Nebuchadnezzar's campaign against Jerusalem in Jehoiakim's third year (Dan 1:1–2): Seat of Nebuchadnezzar's god; destination of captives (association: probable)Nebuchadnezzar's dream and Daniel's interpretation (Dan 2:1–45): Royal court (association: probable)Daniel appointed over the province of Babylon (Dan 2:46–49): Province of the appointment (association: certain)Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great tree and Daniel's interpretation (Dan 4:4–27): Royal palace (association: probable)Nebuchadnezzar's boast, madness and restoration (Dan 4:28–37): Royal palace; the boast (association: probable)Belshazzar slain; Darius the Mede receives the kingdom (Dan 5:30–31): Place of the king's death (as narrated) (association: probable)Belshazzar's feast and the writing on the wall (Dan 5:1–29): Royal palace (as narrated) (association: probable)Fall of Babylon to Cyrus (October 539 BC): City captured (association: certain)Darius appoints 120 satraps and three chief officials (Dan 6:1–3, 28): Seat of the kingdom (implied) (association: proposed — possible)Daniel reads Jeremiah's seventy years and prays (Dan 9:1–19): Probable place of the prayer (not stated) (association: proposed — possible)Evil-merodach (Amēl-Marduk) releases Jehoiachin (561 BC): Place of captivity and release (association: certain)Capture of Jerusalem and deportation of Jehoiachin (March 597 BC): Destination of the deportees (association: certain)Cyrus returns the Temple vessels to Sheshbazzar; the first return (Ezra 1:5–11): Where the vessels were kept (association: certain)The return of the exiles with Zerubbabel and Jeshua; the list of returnees (Ezra 2): Place of exile (association: certain)Zechariah's night visions (24 Shebat, Darius year 2; Zech 1:7–6:8): "The daughter of Babylon" from which the exiles must flee (2:7) (association: certain)Crowns made from the exiles' gifts and set on Joshua; the oracle of the Branch (Zech 6:9–15): Origin of the donors (association: certain)Ezra's caravan from the Ahava to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:7–10; 8): Origin (Babylonia) (association: certain) |
| CarchemishKarkamış / Jarablus | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 36.8294, 38.0149Carchemish — Pleiades place 658465Claim checked | Battle of Carchemish (605 BC): Battle site (association: certain)Jehoiakim submits to Nebuchadnezzar for three years, then rebels (2 Kgs 24:1–4): Background: Babylonian victory over Egypt (association: certain) |
| TaymaTayma | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 27.6219, 38.5500Thaima (Tayma) — Pleiades place 814739Claim checked | Nebuchadnezzar's boast, madness and restoration (Dan 4:28–37): Where Nabonidus stayed (Nabonidus hypothesis) (association: proposed — possible)Belshazzar's feast and the writing on the wall (Dan 5:1–29): Nabonidus's residence in the regency years (association: probable) |
| Susa (Shushan)Shush | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 32.1899, 48.2535Susa/Seleucia ad Eulaeum — Pleiades place 912936Claim checked | Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat at Susa (Dan 8): Where Daniel saw himself in the vision (physical presence disputed) (association: proposed — possible)Hanani's report at Susa and Nehemiah's prayer (Chislev, Artaxerxes's 20th year): Where Nehemiah received the report (association: certain)Mordecai uncovers the plot of Bigthan and Teresh (Esth 2:19–23): Susa (Shushan the citadel) (association: certain)Ahasuerus's third-year feast at Susa and the deposing of Vashti (Esth 1; 483/482 BC): Susa (Shushan the citadel) (association: certain)Esther made queen in Tebeth of Xerxes's seventh year (Esth 2:1–18; winter 479/478 BC): Susa (Shushan the citadel) (association: certain)Mordecai mourns; Esther resolves to go to the king (Esth 4): Susa (association: certain)Esther before the king; the first banquet; Haman's gallows (Esth 5): Susa (association: certain)Haman casts pur and the decree against the Jews (Esth 3; Nisan 474 BC): Susa (association: certain)The sleepless king; Mordecai honoured by Haman (Esth 6): Susa (association: certain)The institution of Purim; Mordecai second to the king (Esth 9:20–10:3): Susa (association: certain)The Jews defend themselves on 13–14 Adar (Esth 9:1–19; 473 BC): Susa (association: certain)Mordecai's counter-decree of 23 Sivan (Esth 8; June 474 BC): Susa (association: certain)The second banquet; Haman hanged (Esth 7): Susa (association: certain) |
| Ulai (Eulaeus) | Proposed identificationconfidence: possible | 33.4705, 47.3431Saimarreh/Eulaeus?/Ula(ya)? (river) — Pleiades place 903109Claim checked | Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat at Susa (Dan 8): River by which Daniel stood in the vision (association: proposed — possible) |
| Ulai (Eulaeus) | Verified identificationconfidence: probable | 32.7150, 47.8035Karkheh/Eulaeus?/Ula(ya)? (river) — Pleiades place 912877Claim checked | Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat at Susa (Dan 8): River by which Daniel stood in the vision (association: proposed — possible) |
| Tigris (Hiddekel)Tigris (Dicle, Dijlah) | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 34.9238, 43.7123Tigris/Diglitus (river) — Pleiades place 912964Claim checked | Daniel's vision by the Tigris in the third year of Cyrus (Dan 10:1–11:1): Where Daniel stood when he saw the vision (exact place unknown) (association: certain)The closing dialogue by the river: the oath, the numbers and Daniel's dismissal (Dan 12:5–13): The river of the vision (unnamed in ch. 12; assumed from 10:4) (association: probable) |
| RiblahRibla | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 34.4321, 36.5491Rablê (Riblah) — Pleiades place 431124909Claim checked | The breach of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's capture at Riblah (9/IV of Zedekiah's 11th year): Babylonian headquarters; judgment of Zedekiah (association: certain)Nebuzaradan burns the Temple and Jerusalem (5th month of Nebuchadnezzar's 19th year): Executions (association: certain)Necho II deposes Jehoahaz and installs Jehoiakim (609 BC): Where Necho held Jehoahaz (2 Kgs 23:33) (association: certain) |
| JerichoTell es-Sultan (ancient site), near Ariha | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 31.8710, 35.4441Jericho — Pleiades place 687917Claim checked | The breach of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's capture at Riblah (9/IV of Zedekiah's 11th year): Where Zedekiah was overtaken (its plains) (association: certain)The rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall and gates, section by section (Neh 3): Home of builders (3:2) (association: certain) |
| Mizpah (in Benjamin)Tell en-Nasbeh (proposed) | Verified identificationconfidence: probable | 31.8854, 35.2165Tell en-Nasbeh (Mizpah in Benjamin?) — Pleiades place 666067876Claim checked | Gedaliah governs from Mizpah and is assassinated (2 Kgs 25:22–26): Seat of Gedaliah (association: probable)The rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall and gates, section by section (Neh 3): Home district of builders (3:7, 15, 19) (association: probable) |
| MegiddoTel Megiddo (Tell al-Mutesellim) | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 32.5838, 35.1837Magidû (Megiddo) — Pleiades place 26356565Claim checked | Josiah killed at Megiddo by Necho II (609 BC): Place of the battle and of Josiah's death (Kings) (association: certain)The second "burden" of Zechariah 12–14 (undated oracle collection): Valley of Megiddo (comparison, 12:11) (association: certain) |
| BethelBeitin | Verified identificationconfidence: probable | 31.9283, 35.2383Beitin (Bethel) — Pleiades place 260940008Claim checked | Josiah desecrates Jeroboam's altar at Bethel and the high places of Samaria: Jeroboam's altar and high place (association: probable)Josiah's covenant and the purge of Jerusalem and Judah: Ashes carried to Bethel (23:4) (association: probable)The Bethel delegation and the question of fasting; Zechariah's answer (4/IX, Darius year 4): Home of the delegation (if a place-name) (association: probable) |
| JoppaJaffa (Yafo) | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 32.0531, 34.7499Ioppe (Joppa) — Pleiades place 687931Claim checked | The altar rebuilt in Jerusalem and the Feast of Booths kept (Ezra 3:1–7): Port for the cedar (association: certain) |
| Ecbatana (Achmetha)Hamadan | Verified identificationconfidence: certain | 34.8056, 48.5164Ecbatana / Hagmatana / Achmeta (Hamadan) — Pleiades place 903021Claim checked | Darius I confirms Cyrus's decree and orders the Temple completed (Ezra 6:1–12): Archive where the memorandum was found (association: certain) |