The site of et-Tell, thought by some to be the location of New Testament Bethsaida, has provided more evidence of being Old Testament Geshur, or a town of Geshur.
Maacah, one of David’s wives, was the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur (2 Samuel 3:3). Absalom, son of David and Maacah, stayed at Geshur for three years (2 Samuel 13:37-38).
Our photo shows the city gate of this Iron Age city. A sign in the courtyard says,
This is the heart of the ancient town. Here the public activities of the city took place. It was the center of commercial, judicial, and religious life.
And it includes a fitting text that illustrates the importance of the gate in a Biblical city.
Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall… (2 Samuel 18:24 ESV)
The Iron Age city gate at a town of Geshur. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
Notice the plain standing stones on either side of the gate. And notice the stylized figure of a horned bull on the right of the gate. The image is said to represent an Aramean (Syrian) god. There is a Biblical reference to such an image in 2 Kings 23:8.
For more information see these posts:
Ferrell's Travel Blog 
Great post. Is this et-Tell?
Olen, that was a story about the late Bargil Pixner. I recounted it here: https://ferrelljenkins.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/healing-of-the-blind-man-at-bethsaida/
Reblogged this on Bobertelliott's Blog.
Ferrell, Enjoy reading your posts and the tidbits of info that illuminate Biblical events, like the gates. I need for you to jog my memory… you told a story about a a previous researcher at Bethsaida, and a stone that he left at the entrance to the site (which is still there, I think). Who? Why? Olen