The Broad Wall of Jerusalem: An Ancient Fortification from Almost 3,000 years ago
Originally published: July 2023 | Last updated: June 2025
The Broad Wall of Jerusalem, known in Hebrew as Ha’Choma Ha’Rechava, is an ancient defensive wall in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City.
Location
The Broad Wall is situated in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. The wall’s unbroken length, uncovered by archaeologist Nahman Avigad in the 1970s, runs 65 meters long.
A glimpse into the Broad Wall's history
For many years, the construction of the Broad Wall was widely attributed to the reign of King Hezekiah in the late 8th century BCE. This dating was supported by biblical accounts and the historical context of the impending Assyrian threat posed by King Sennacherib. Under this interpretation, Hezekiah’s motivation was clear: to fortify Jerusalem against invasion and protect its burgeoning population, which included refugees from the northern kingdom of Israel who had fled south after the Assyrian invasion in 721 BCE and settled outside the existing city walls to the west.
In response to this impending threat, King Hezekiah, guided by the prophet Isaiah, began preparing his capital city for the anticipated onslaught. In the lower city, known as the City of David, the Israelites undertook a significant engineering project, cutting a long water tunnel through solid rock to divert water from the Gihon Spring to a new inner-city reservoir. This strategic move was aimed at depriving the invading Assyrians of an abundant water source, as mentioned in Chronicles: “Why should the Assyrians come and find water in abundance?”.
Simultaneously, in the upper city, today’s Jewish Quarter, Hezekiah initiated a massive construction project. The Bible records that:
Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
However, recent carbon-dating in 2024 has introduced a new perspective, attributing the wall’s construction to an earlier monarch, King Uzziah, who reigned several decades prior in the early to mid-8th century BCE. If this dating proves conclusive, Uzziah’s motivation for building such a massive structure shifts to the rebuilding of the city after damage caused by a strong earthquake. This new research highlights the ongoing dynamic nature of archaeological interpretation.
Archeological Insights
The Broad Wall lives up to its name with impressive dimensions. It boasts a remarkable thickness, varying between seven meters (approximately 23 feet) and eight meters (26 feet), a characteristic that distinctly sets it apart and gives it its name. The unbroken length uncovered by Avigad’s initial dig stretched 65 meters (71.1 yards), with the exposed remains visible today measuring 213 feet long. While currently preserved in places to a height of 3.3 meters (3.6 yards), scholars estimate its original height may have exceeded 25 feet, possibly reaching 8 meters. Strategically built, the wall traverses the Central Valley and ascends onto the Western Hill, providing a formidable barrier
Additional Information
Circa 8th Century BCE (Early to Mid)
- Pre-Assyrian Invasion: The city of Jerusalem, traditionally confined to the City of David, expanded to include the hill west of the Temple Mount. Jewish refugees from the northern kingdom of Israel, overrun by Assyrians in 721 BCE, migrated to Judah and Jerusalem for protection, settling on the Western Hill outside the city walls.
Late 8th Century BCE
- Reign of King Hezekiah: The Broad Wall was historically believed to have been built by King Hezekiah as part of an ambitious plan to bolster Jerusalem’s defenses in anticipation of the Assyrian invasion.
- Defensive Measures: Hezekiah undertook major defensive engineering works, including building the Broad Wall and Hezekiah’s Tunnel (to divert the Siloam spring inside the city walls).
- Controversy and Destruction of Houses: The construction of the Broad Wall involved tearing down residential structures, as evidenced by foundations of houses found beneath the wall.
- 721 BCE: The Assyrians overrun the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to an influx of refugees into Judah and Jerusalem.
- Circa 701 BCE: Sennacherib’s campaign in Judah. Jerusalem, fortified by the Broad Wall and with secure water access, withstood the Assyrian siege. Accounts differ on the reasons for the Assyrian withdrawal.
- Religious Reform: Following Jerusalem’s survival against the Assyrian assault, King Hezekiah completed a religious reform that led to monotheism. Prophet Isaiah proclaimed the concept of the Messiah for the first time.
6th Century BCE
- 586 BCE: The Babylonian siege of Jerusalem results in the destruction of the city, including sections of its Iron Age fortifications like the Broad Wall.
20th Century CE
- 1970s: Nahman Avigad’s archaeological expedition unearths the foundations of the Broad Wall in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. This discovery provided definitive archaeological evidence that Jerusalem had expanded to include the western hill by the mid-First Temple Period, contrary to previous scholarly opinion. Avigad’s dig also uncovered the Israelite Tower.
21st Century CE
- 2021 (July): The Israel Antiquities Authority announces the discovery of the eastern section of Jerusalem’s Iron Age wall in the City of David Archaeological Park, which connects previously found sections, confirming Jerusalem’s heavy fortification during the Iron Age.
- 2024: New carbon-dating techniques lead to the re-attribution of the Broad Wall’s construction from King Hezekiah to King Uzziah.
Nearby Sites
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- Zion Gate: Also known as David’s Gate, Zion Gate is one of the seven open gates in Jerusalem’s Old City Walls. Just outside of it you can find Kind David’s Tomb, the Room of the Last Supper, and the Dormition Abbey.
- Jewish Quarter: This is one of the four traditional quarters of the Old City of Jerusalem. It is home to several significant sites, including the Broad Wall, the Western Wall, the Hurva Synagogue, and numerous yeshivas and synagogues.
- Hurva Synagogue: The Hurva Synagogue, also known as “The Ruin Synagogue,” is a historic site that has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries.
- The Roman Cardo: The Roman Cardo in Jerusalem was an ancient north-south thoroughfare, lined with columns and shops, serving as a major commercial hub in the city.
