Show Notes
The biblical city of Ai was one of three cities that met a fiery demise when the Israelites conquered the Promised Land: “So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap …” (Joshua 8:28). Over the years, archaeologists have proposed a few sites as being biblical Ai. One such site is Khirbet al-Maqatir.
Al-Maqatir was excavated by the Associates for Biblical Research for 14 seasons. This small site conforms with a number of key parameters for Joshua’s Ai.
In today’s interview, which was recorded in May, Let the Stones Speak co-host Christopher Eames speaks with Abigail Van Huss, one of the site’s excavators, about the history of the site and its identification as Ai. Jericho, Ai, Hazor: Investigating the Three Cities ‘That Did Joshua Burn’
Et-Tell: Joshua’s Ai After All?
More from Let the Stones Speak
Less than 100 meters from the southern wall of the Temple Mount, the Ophel Excavation is currently underway in one of the most important locations in all Israel. The joint project by Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology seeks to uncover the monumental remains from the late Second Temple Period (2,000 years ago) and even earlier. On today’s episode of Let the Stones Speak host Brent Nagtegaal speaks on-site in Jerusalem with excavation co-director Prof. Uzi Leibner about what has been uncovered so far and what this season’s excavation could reveal. 2026 Ophel Excavation Begins in Jerusalem
Host Brent Nagtegaal interviews Let the Stones Speak contributor Christopher Eames about his article in the May-June 2026 magazine, proposing the identity of this elusive queen on the scene some 3,000 years ago. https://armstronginstitute.org/1495-interview-has-the-queen-of-sheba-been-found
On today’s program, Dr. Van Huss explains the three areas of excavation, including further indication that an emerging monumental structure may indeed be the biblical tabernacle. https://armstronginstitute.org/1492-unearthing-the-tabernacle-site-at-shiloh-interview-with-dr-abigail-van-huss
Brand-new archeological evidence he discovered at Tel ‘Eton in southern Israel supports the biblical case for King Hezekiah’s reform. On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal explains the new evidence in the context of the biblical narrative. https://armstronginstitute.org/1483-new-archaeological-evidence-of-king-hezekiahs-religious-reform
A personal retelling of the discovery of seal impressions discovered on Dr. Eilat Mazar’s excavations https://armstronginstitute.org/1470-discovering-the-seal-impressions-of-the-prophet-jeremiahs-captors