Archeologists believe that they’ve discovered proof to confirm the location of the winery of Jezreel as found in the books of Kings in the Old Testament. The winery was initially found in 2013 and further excavations found installations and structures that were carved into the bedrock, and provided further proof that aligns with the Biblical account. exposed in several seasons of excavations in following years. It presents several installations carved into the bedrock.
1 Kings 21:1-3 “Sometime later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.” But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”
The archeologists involved in the excavation found that the type of installations of this winery are similar in type to the other wineries unearthed in the Jezreel valley from that time period. The wine-making techniques involved people crushing grapes with their soles of the feet, not involving more than four people at a time.
As we read in the BIble, Ahab did lay hold of the vineyard with the help and deception of his wife Jezebel, after accusing innocent Naboth of sinning against God and they subsequently had him killed. In turn God’s wrath was unleashed against Ahab and his descendants, exactly as the prophet Elijah had declared God’s judgment on him.