1. LARGE SOCKET STONE

This hard limestone socket served as one of six lower sockets (all recovered) in the four-chambered KeM gate complex. It dates to the MB III/LB I horizon (ca. 1500–1400 BC). Joshua 7–8 prominently mentions the gate of Ai. This object is on loan from the KAMAT.

2. SMALL SOCKET STONE

This hard limestone socket served as one of six upper sockets in the four-chambered KeM gate complex. It dates to the MB III/LB I horizon (ca. 1500–1400 BC). The gate of Ai is prominently mentioned in Joshua 7–8. This object is on loan from the KAMAT.

3. Juglet

This complete MB II (ca. 1750–1650 BC) juglet with a trefoil rim comes from Jerusalem’s City of David. Jebusites controlled Jerusalem in this period between Abraham and Joshua. The juglet belongs to the TBS collection.

4. Jug 

This complete MB II/III biconical jug with a ring base was large enough to store liquids but small enough to serve as table ware. This object is on loan from the Horn Museum.

5. PYXIS

This small pyxis with monochrome (red) paint dates to the LB II (ca. 1400–1200 BC).

It is part of the TBS collection.

6. SCARAB

This small steatite scarab dates to Egypt’s 18th Dynasty in the reign of Thutmose III, the likely pharaoh of the oppression. A swirl border surrounds Thutmose III’s cartouche. The scarab is on loan from the Dorsey Museum.

7. SCARAB

This small steatite scarab dates to Egypt’s 18th Dynasty in the reign of Amenhotep II, the likely pharaoh of the exodus. Christianity Today recognized this as the #1 find in Israel in 2013 since it proved the occupation of KeM at the time of the conquest (ca. 1406 BC). TBS graduate Destry Jackson excavated the scarab. It is on loan from the KAMAT.

8. SCARAB

This small steatite scarab retains its gold skirting. Gold likely adorned all scarabs, but the precious metal rarely escaped the grasp of looters. This scarab is on loan from the Hoefling collection.

9. SCARAB

This small steatite scarab with a swirl and reed pattern dates to Egypt’s 16th Dynasty during the Hyksos period. The scarab is on loan from the Dorsey Museum.

10. Sling Stones 

Excavations in the Bronze Age KeM gate yielded these four LB IB (ca. 1450–1400 BC) sling stones. They are on loan from the KAMAT.

11. Cosmetic Bowl Lid 

This almost intact marble lid for a cosmetics bowl from El Amarna, Egypt dates to the 18th Egyptian Dynasty in LB IIA (ca. 1370–1340 BC). Akhenaten/Amenhotep IV embraced monotheism, primarily worshipping Aten, the sun disc. He transferred Egypt’s capitol from Thebes to Amarna. A series of correspondence (382 letters) on clay tablets, written in cuneiform script, record the pleas of Pharaoh’s Canaanite vassals for protection from the Habiru (=Hebrews) who were systematically overthrowing Egypt’s colonies. The lid belongs to the TBS collection.

12. Storage Jar Rim Sherd

This sherd from Hermopolis, on the border between Lower and Upper Egypt, served as part of a storage jar’s rim. The pie-crust pattern is typical of the IBA (ca. 2350–1950 BC) which was the time of Abraham. It belongs to the TBS collection.

13. Storage Jar Base

This sherd is from Lachish. It served as the base of a flat-bottom storage jar in MB II/III

and belongs to the TBS collection.

14. PENDANT

This small, rectangular, alabaster LB IB (ca. 1450-1400 BC) pendant, with two holes to fasten to a necklace, came to light through excavations near the KeM gate. It is on loan from the KAMAT.

15. PENDANT

This small ivory pendant with six concentric circles and two holes is typical of jewelry in the MB III/LB I horizon (ca. 1600 - 1400 BC). It is on loan from the KAMAT.

Time of the Judges

16. JAR

This KeM jar dates to the MB III/LB I horizon (ca. 1600–1400 BC). Mourners removed the jar’s bottom to insert a deceased neonate in the typical burial custom of that period. Items 17–19 were part of the burial. Excavators recoveredmost of the infant’s bones. This discovery

established that women lived at the Ai fortress as indicated byJoshua 8:25. It is on loanfrom the KAMAT.

17. DIPPER JUGLET

This KeM dipper juglet dates to the MB III/LB I horizon (ca. 1600–1400 BC). The juglet’s handle and rim are missing. It likely played a role in the burial rites of a neonate and was found near items 16, 18, and 19. It is on loan from the KAMAT.

18. Cult Stand Base

This KeM cult stand base dates to the MB III/LB I horizon (ca. 1600–1400 BC). The top of the stand is missing. It likely played a role in the burial rites of a neonate and was found near items 16, 17, and 19. It is on loan from the KAMAT.

19. Incense Vial

This KeM incense vial dates to the MB III/LB I horizon (ca. 1600–1400 BC). The vial’s rim is missing. It likely played a role in the burial rites of a neonate and was found near items 16–18. It is on loan from the KAMAT.