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Tel Dan Sacred Precinct ('Jeroboam's High Place')

A monumental platform, altar and horned altar stones at Israel's northern shrine

Israel & Judah · temple / altar, city / site · Accepted by scholars · found 1966

Found 1966 — Avraham Biran, Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (excavations 1966–1999)

Where Tel Dan (Tell el-Qadi), northern Israel (Israel)

Dates from 10th–8th century BCE · Iron Age IIA–B · Divided Kingdom (Jeroboam I to Jeroboam II)

Now at In situ, Tel Dan Nature Reserve; horned altar and cult objects in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem and the Skirball Museum, Jerusalem

How Tel Dan Sacred Precinct ('Jeroboam's High Place') was found

Excavated in Area T at the north end of the tell beside the springs of the Jordan. Biran identified a large ashlar podium (bamah) with a monumental staircase, a walled courtyard with a central altar base, side rooms with cult objects, and a small horned altar.

What it is

A raised stone platform about 18 by 19 m built of fine ashlar masonry, enlarged in three phases (10th, 9th and 8th centuries BCE), approached by a broad staircase. In the courtyard below stood a large square altar of which one horn and a corner survive; nearby rooms held a small limestone horned altar, iron shovels, an incense stand and animal bones.

Why it matters for the Bible

1 Kings 12 says Jeroboam set up a golden calf at Dan and built 'houses of high places'. This is the only excavated royal Israelite sanctuary, and its three phases match the reigns of Jeroboam I, Ahab and Jeroboam II. No calf was found, but the altar, horned altar and priestly tools show organized sacrifice at Dan for two centuries — the 'sin of Jeroboam' the books of Kings condemn, going on in stone and ash.

The Hebrew word: bah-MAH

בָּמָה

בָּמָה is pronounced bah-MAH and means high place; raised cult platform (Strong's H1116).

People this discovery connects to

Places

Events

Jeroboam's golden calves at Dan and Bethel · Northern worship 'from Dan to Beersheba'

Tel Dan Sacred Precinct ('Jeroboam's High Place') in Scripture

1 Kings 11:26 First mention of Jeroboam in Scripture.

1 Kings 12:28-30 Jeroboam sets one golden calf at Dan; this precinct is the shrine where it stood.

1 Kings 12:31 He made 'houses of high places' — the bamah platform is a house of high places in stone.

Questions people ask

What is Tel Dan Sacred Precinct ('Jeroboam's High Place')?
A raised stone platform about 18 by 19 m built of fine ashlar masonry, enlarged in three phases (10th, 9th and 8th centuries BCE), approached by a broad staircase. In the courtyard below stood a large square altar of which one horn and a corner survive; nearby rooms held a small limestone horned altar, iron shovels, an incense stand and animal bones.

When was Tel Dan Sacred Precinct ('Jeroboam's High Place') discovered?
It was found in 1966 by Avraham Biran, Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (excavations 1966–1999), at Tel Dan (Tell el-Qadi), northern Israel.

Where is Tel Dan Sacred Precinct ('Jeroboam's High Place') today?
In situ, Tel Dan Nature Reserve; horned altar and cult objects in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem and the Skirball Museum, Jerusalem.

Which Bible verses does Tel Dan Sacred Precinct ('Jeroboam's High Place') relate to?
1 Kings 11:26, 1 Kings 12:28-30, 1 Kings 12:31.

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Sources

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