Archeology and the Bible

Archeology is like looking at a history book underground. You start with the most recent "chapters" then dig yourself deeper. The further you go down in the earth, the earlier the history, so that the deeper you go, the further back in history you go to. What Archeologists, Anthropologists, and Historians continue to uncover in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and in Europe, are artifacts that are specifically mentioned in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

About every two years, we find another significant find. Besides the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls (1947), the famous Moabite Stone (1868) and the Black Obelisk (1845), there are actually hundreds of artifacts that match precisely what is in the Bible. If you include all of the archeological finds that we have collectively, I could not possibly fit these into one book, even if I wanted to. It is more than fair to say that this is a treasure trove of archeological finds. Dr. Zeliko Gregor mentions a Galilean fishing boat, and dozens of other artifacts that are associated with Jesus. [1]

The most documented Biblical event, world-wide, is the flood described in Genesis 6-9. Flood legends exist in nearly every known culture, people-group or even isolated island nations. Ancient civilizations such as China, Babylonia, Wales, Russia, India, South and North America Indians, Hawaii, Scandinavia, Sumatra, Peru, and Polynesia...etc., all have their own versions of a giant flood.

More confirmation of a global flood is from the discovery of a number of Babylonian documents. These Sumerian writings describe, it seems, the same flood that Noah and his family went through. The Sumerian King List, for example, lists each king who reigned, and for what periods of time. Then....a cease of kings. Only a mention of a great flood that came. It was clear from the Sumerian King List that the Sumerian kings ruled for much shorter periods of time after the flood. This very same thing is found the Bible.

What you will notice on this list is that no one is living to be hundreds of years old anymore. Noah lived to be nine hundred fifty years (Gen. 9:29). But after they flood, the Bible records no one with such a long life span again. This pattern of long life before the flood and shorter life spans after the flood, are also part of many worldwide cultures, nations and people groups handed down by written or oral traditions.

The 11th tablet of the Gilgamesh Epic is a great example. It speaks of an ark, animals taken on an ark, birds sent out during the course of the flood, the ark landing on a mountain, and a sacrifice being offered after the ark landed. The Story of Adapa tells of a test for immortality involving food, similar to the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Turkey also is replete with ancient history and was a perennial world-power, which revealed itself as the expansive capital city of the Hittite Empire. The ancient capital of the Babylonian Empire, covers nearly 3,000 acres about 55 miles south of current-day Baghdad in Iraq. The ruins include the famous ziggurat structures (ex., the Tower of Babel), the Palace of King Nebuchadnezzar, which was also recorded in the Scriptures. [2]

David's was one of the single most writers of the Old Testament. In 1994, written references to "The House of David" were found in both the Hebrew and Aramaic languages. The Aramaic writings could very well indicate that they might have been used during the time of Christ and during the early period of the church. This is especially true since Aramaic was spoken widely then, even by Jews of that time and in Jerusalem. This is quite reasonable since Aramaic would have been the language they spoke and read at that time. Dr. Avraham Biran's team of archeologists, working in the Upper Galilee region commented that, "This is the earliest archaeological mention of King David". [3.] The inscriptions also mention part of the Royal lineage of Israel and other Jewish Kings mentioned in the Old Testament [Daily Mail Reporter, June 29, 2009].

In excavations near Jerusalem, Archeologists uncovered what they believe to be a part of a much larger network of quarries used by Herod in the city. The Associated Press reported in the magazine, Israel Travel, on July 7 (2009), Israeli archaeologists uncovered an ancient quarry where they believe King Herod extracted stones for the construction of the Jewish Temple 2,000 years ago, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Monday. The archaeologists believe the 1,000-square-foot quarry was part of a much larger network of quarries used by Herod in the city. Herod was the Roman-appointed king of the Holy Land from 37 B.C. to 4 B.C. and was known for his many major building projects, including the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. This same Herod is mentioned in Matthew. [2]

After leaving the Temple, the disciples said to Jesus (Mark 13:1-2), "Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!". What was Jesus' response? Did He compliment the Temple's splendor and construction? No, Jesus was not impressed, saying, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (KJV). He did not reflect on the Temple's impressiveness, only on it's size. He stressed the coming tribulation and trials and signs of His coming as of far greater importance. Not when He would return, but that He would return after "these things" in Matthew 24.

The fact is not lost that Jesus' words came precisely true, saying "Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down" when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD.

The oldest known manuscripts to the date of this publishing, are from the seventh century B.C. These were found in 1979 while excavating a burial site just southwest of Jerusalem. Archeologists unearthed three pieces of silver which turned out to be miniature scrolls. Even though it took three years to unroll them and read them, they contained Numbers 6:24-26 directly from the Bible. [3]

It is by far, the oldest reference to God that has ever been found by any Archeological team. This did was done by a team lead by Dr. Avraham Biran. Dr Biran is considered Israel's foremost expert archeologist. What they discovered in 1993 was an inscribed stone, which was part of a larger monument. [4]

With over 45,000 digs at 25,000 different locations, each providing supporting evidence of the Bible's historical recorded, ie. Belshazzar is mentioned by name, King's Darius and Cyrus, and discovering remains of the Hittite's and Babylonian's civilizations, it should be clear that the connection between the Bible and Archeology is evident. Archeology supports what the Bible records, and more archeological treasures seem to arrive every year now.

There is more Archeological evidence being held today, than any one person could ever contain in one book. And, if the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt never happened, then why have the Jews annually celebrated three great festivals, in commemoration of their Exodus (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles), for over thirty five hundred years? That in itself is a testimony of ancient Israel's tumultuous beginnings and in clear remembrance in her name, which means, "The Prince that prevails of God". And this same Bible says that "It will be without end" (Isaiah 9:6-7).Bible Archaeology actually began with the early cities of Abraham and the Patriarchs in the early 1800s. The initial Archeology occurred closest to Abraham's ancestral home of Ur, which at one time, was a powerful city-state of southern Mesopotamia. This great city-state is mentioned four times in the Old Testament. It is presently located in modern Iraq. Ur has been excavated on and off since the 1800s and has already revealed a wealth of information about the pagan culture of Abraham's time and as described in the book of Genesis. 　

1. Gregor, Zeljko (Ph.D., Andrews University) is a specialist in Biblical Archeology. He recently wrote several articles for Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (1997). His mailing address: 4766-1 Timberland; Berrien Springs, MI 49103. full article at: http://dialogue.adventist.org/articles/09_3_gregor_e.htm

2. http://www.allaboutarchaeology.org/bible-archaeology.htm

3. http://www.biblicalarcheology.net/index.php?s=gezer

4. Schmitt, David R. Blessed For Life. Fenton, MO . Copyright, 2009. CTA, Inc. 2009. (p. 6). ISBE 978-1-933234-81-6

An excerpt from Chapter Four of "Blind Chance or Intelligent Design?, Empirical Methodologies and the Bible" available at: https://www.createspace.com/3395557