Evidences for The Historicity of the Faith does not mean believing what you know is not true!

G.P. Hugenberger 12/01 December 18, 1995 TIME YetYet manymany scholarsscholars TIME doubtdoubt thatthat thethe earlyearly ISIS THETHE heroesheroes ofof thethe Bible,Bible, BIBLEBIBLE suchsuch asas AbrahamAbraham oror FACTFACT oror FICTION?FICTION? ,Moses, everever existed.existed. TheThe followingfollowing isis aa comprehensivecomprehensive listlist ofof everyevery archaeologicalarchaeological discoverydiscovery thatthat conclusivelyconclusively disprovesdisproves thethe accuracyaccuracy ofof thethe Bible:Bible: 1)1) That’sThat’s right!right! ThereThere havehave beenbeen NONO suchsuch archaeologicalarchaeological discoveries!discoveries!

ThisThis isis notnot toto suggestsuggest thatthat everyevery factualfactual detaildetail ofof thethe BibleBible hashas nownow beenbeen confirmed.confirmed. AnAn enormousenormous numbernumber ofof suchsuch details,details, however,however, havehave hadhad archaeologicalarchaeological confirmation.confirmation. December 18, 1995 SomeSome scholarsscholars TIMETIME complaincomplain thatthat nono inscriptioninscription hashas everever ISIS THETHE BIBLEBIBLE beenbeen foundfound thatthat FACTFACT oror mentionsmentions .Abraham. FICTION?FICTION? Should archaeologists expect to find something like the following inscription ? Dear Sarah:

I think you’re gorgeous, even though you’re 90! Happy birthday.

Hugs and kisses, Abraham ♥♥ In fact, there have been many archaeological discoveries that support the ’s account of Abraham and the other . ! According to the Bible Abraham came from Haran about 2000 BC. But some critical scholars assume that the story of Abraham was invented about 1000 BC. Is this likely?

Haran

1 WhatWhat aa “coincidence”!“coincidence”! ArchaeologistsArchaeologists havehave confirmedconfirmed thatthat HaranHaran Haran waswas aa majormajor commercialcommercial centercenter atat thethe timetime ofof AbrahamAbraham (2000(2000 BC),BC), butbut itit waswas unoccupiedunoccupied fromfrom 18001800 BCBC toto 700700 BC!BC! What’s in a name?

• How many folks do you know by the name of Asa, Capability, Hephzibah, Ichabod, or Patience (popular English names in the 18th and 19th centuries AD)? • Just as in the modern world, in the ancient world proper names went in and out of fashion. Abraham’s name

• Although no one has found an inscription signed by Abraham himself, archaeologists now know (based on 19th-18th century BC examples) that the name “Abraham” existed in the general period when the Bible says that Abraham lived.

2 Other names in Genesis • names that begin in English with a “j” or an “i” often represent what scholars call “Amorite Imperfective” names (in Hebrew these begin with “y”) . Examples include Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. • Names of this type outside the Bible are well- attested only in the early 2nd millennium BC and before — exactly when the Bible reports that these patriarchs lived!

3 ■AmoriteAmorite imperfectiveimperfective namesnames areare wellwell attestedattested inin thethe 3rd3rd millenniummillennium BCBC atat EblaEbla,, butbut nono studystudy hashas yetyet beenbeen donedone toto establishestablish theirtheir relativerelative frequency.frequency.

? % of Amorite Imperfective names

Destruction3rd of the mill Temple BC 1800 BC 1300 BC 1st mill. BC

K.A. Kitchen, review of H. Shanks (ed.), Ancient : A Short from Abraham to the Roman , in Themelios 15:1 (October 1989) 25-28. ■ BasedBased onon aa studystudy ofof overover 6,0006,000 namesnames fromfrom aboutabout 18001800 BC,BC, 16%16% areare AmoriteAmorite imperfectivesimperfectives (55%(55% ofof allall namesnames beginningbeginning withwith i/y).i/y). 16%

? % of Amorite Imperfective names

Destruction3rd of the mill Temple BC 1800 BC 1300 BC 1st mill. BC

K.A. Kitchen, review of H. Shanks (ed.), Ancient Israel: A Short History from Abraham to the Roman , in Themelios 15:1 (October 1989) 25-28. ■ BasedBased onon aa studystudy ofof 4,0504,050 namesnames fromfrom aboutabout 13001300 BC,BC, onlyonly 2%2% areare AmoriteAmorite imperfectivesimperfectives (30%(30% ofof allall namesnames beginningbeginning withwith i/y).i/y). 16%

?

% of Amorite Imperfective names 2%

Destruction3rd of the mill Temple BC 1800 BC 1300 BC 1st mill. BC

K.A. Kitchen, review of H. Shanks (ed.), Ancient Israel: A Short History from Abraham to the Roman , in Themelios 15:1 (October 1989) 25-28. ■ BasedBased onon aa studystudy ofof 5,0005,000 namesnames fromfrom thethe 1st1st millenniummillennium BC,theBC,the periodperiod whenwhen manymany scholarsscholars assumeassume 1 thethe patriarchalpatriarchal storiesstories werewere invented,invented, fewerfewer thanthan //4%% 16% areare AmoriteAmorite imperfectivesimperfectives (only(only 1.6%1.6% ofof allall namesnames beginningbeginning withwith i/y)!i/y)! ?

% of Amorite Imperfective names 2% 1 /4% Destruction3rd of the mill Temple BC 1800 BC 1300 BC 1st mill. BC

K.A. Kitchen, review of H. Shanks (ed.), Ancient Israel: A Short History from Abraham to the Roman , in Themelios 15:1 (October 1989) 25-28. ■ ThereThere areare 2424 majormajor descendantsdescendants ofof AbrahamAbraham inin GenesisGenesis 16-50.16-50. 44 ofof thesethese havehave namesnames thatthat areare AmoriteAmorite imperfectives:imperfectives: Ishmael,Ishmael, Isaac,Isaac, Jacob,Jacob, andand Joseph.Joseph. 16% CriticsCritics assumeassume thesethese namesnames werewere ? inventedinvented inin thethe 1st1st mill.mill. BC.BC.

% of Amorite Imperfective names 2% 1 /4% Destruction3rd of the mill Temple BC 1800 BC 1300 BC 1st mill. BC

K.A. Kitchen, review of H. Shanks (ed.), Ancient Israel: A Short History from Abraham to the Roman , in Themelios 15:1 (October 1989) 25-28. ■ WhatWhat aa ““coincidencecoincidence””!! TheThe proportionproportion ofof AmoriteAmorite imperfectimperfect namesnames isis exactlyexactly whatwhat oneone wouldwould expectexpect forfor thethe periodperiod ofof thethe patriarchs!patriarchs! 16%

?

% of Amorite Imperfective names 2% 1 /4% Destruction3rd of the mill Temple BC 1800 BC 1300 BC 1st mill. BC

K.A. Kitchen, review of H. Shanks (ed.), Ancient Israel: A Short History from Abraham to the Roman , in Themelios 15:1 (October 1989) 25-28. ? ■ ManyMany scholarsscholars havehave claimedclaimed thatthat thethe mentionmention ofof domesticateddomesticated camelscamels atat thethe timetime ofof AbrahamAbraham Picture Credit: Copyright (c) Grolier Interactive Inc. (2000 BC) in Genesis 12:16 and elsewhere in the Pentateuch is impossible. Supposedly camels were not domesticated until about 1100 BC.

4 Camel Camels? ■ WhatWhat aa ““coincidencecoincidence””!! WeWe nownow havehave evidenceevidence ofof thethe earlyearly domesticationdomestication ofof camelscamels Picture Credit: Copyright (c) Grolier Interactive Inc. inin aa texttext fromfrom AlalakhAlalakh (18th(18th cent.cent. BC),BC), inin OldOld BabylonianBabylonian lexicallexical listslists fromfrom thethe samesame period,period, andand inin aa SumerianSumerian texttext fromfrom NippurNippur,, whichwhich mentionsmentions thethe useuse ofof camelcamel’’ss milk!milk! AsAs ifif thisthis werewere notnot enough,enough, camelcamel bonesbones Megiddo havehave beenbeen foundfound inin contextscontexts thatthat areare plausiblyplausibly domesticdomestic atat eacheach ofof thethe Ta‘anach followingfollowing sitessites (those(those withoutwithout datesdates areare approx.approx. 18001800 BC):BC): el-Jisr Jericho Gezer

Be’er Resisim (1900 BC) Arad (2900 BC) CameVariousl sites in Egypt (2900 BC)

Mari (2500 BC)

Cf. P. Wapnish, “Camel,” in The Oxford Encylopedia of Archaeology in the Near East; “Camel,” Encyclopedia Judaica; Picture Credit: Copyright (c) Grolier Interactive Inc. J. Zarins, “Camel, ” in The Anchor Biblie Dictionary; K.A. Kitchen, Israel and the Ancient Orient; and N. Sarna, Genesis. Inflation

• Saving for retirement? Inflation is not just an invention of the 21st century. It’s been around for millennia! $ $ 5 The Price of Slaves 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50

Shekels 40 30 Akkad 20 10-15 shekels 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC K.A. Kitchen, “Genesis 12-50 in the Near Eastern World,” in He Swore an Oath,, R.S. Hess, et al. eds. (Cambridge: Tyndale House, 1993) 67-92, at 79-80. The Price of Slaves 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50

Shekels 40 30 Ur III

20 Akkad 10 shekels 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of Slaves 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 Old Babylonian Shekels 40 (Hammurapi & Mari) 30 20 shekels Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of Slaves 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 Nuzi Shekels 40 30 shekels 30 Old Babylonian Old Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of Slaves 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 Ugarit Shekels 40 Nuzi 30 shekels 30 Old Babylonian Old Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of Slaves 120 110 100 90 80 70 Assyria 60 50-60 shekels 50

Shekels 40 Nuzi 30 Ugarit Old Babylonian Old Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of SlavesPersian 120 90-120 shekels 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 Assyria

Shekels 40 Nuzi 30 Ugarit Old Babylonian Old Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of Slaves 120 Persian 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 Assyria

Shekels 40 Nuzi 30 Ugarit Old Babylonian Old Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of Slaves 120 Persian 110 Joseph sold for 20 shekels (Genesis 39:28). 100 Critics assume Genesis 39 was 90 composed about 900 BC 80 70 60 50 Assyria

Shekels 40 Nuzi 30 Ugarit Old Babylonian Old Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of Slaves 120 What a “coincidence”! The 20 shekel price for Persian 110 which Joseph was sold (Genesis 39:28) is 100 exactly what would be expected for the 90 period when Joseph was alive. 80 70 60 50 Assyria

Shekels 40 Nuzi Ugarit 30 Joseph Old Babylonian Old Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of Slaves 120 Persian 110 The price of slaves at Sinai is 30 shekels 100 (Exodus 21:32). Critics assume that 90 Exodus 21 was composed about 1000 BC. 80 70 60 50 Assyria

Shekels 40 Nuzi 30 Ugarit Joseph Old Babylonian Old Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of Slaves 120 Persian 110 What a “coincidence”! The 30 shekel price 100 for slaves at Sinai (Exodus 21:32) is exactly 90 what would be expected for the period of Moses. 80 70 60 50 Assyria Sinai

Shekels 40 Nuzi 30 Ugarit Joseph Old Babylonian Old Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of Slaves 120 Redemption from slavery by Menahem, 110 King of Israel, required 50 shekels Persian 100 (2 Kings 15:20). Critics assume that 90 2 Kings 15 was composed about 620 BC 80 (or perhaps as late as 560 BC). 70 60 50 Assyria

Shekels 40 Nuzi Ugarit 30 Sinai Joseph Old Babylonian Old Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen The Price of Slaves 120 What a “coincidence”! The 50 shekel price Persian 110 for redemption from slavery by Menahem, 100 King of Israel (2 Kings 15:20) is exactly what 90 would be expected for the period of Menahem. 80 70 60 Menahem 50 Assyria

Shekels 40 Nuzi Ugarit 30 Sinai Joseph Old Babylonian Old Ur III 20 Akkad 10

2250 BC 2000 BC 1750 BC 1500 BC 1250 BC 1000 BC 750 BC 500 BC

based on K.A. Kitchen Details of Israel’s Worship

• Critical scholars assume that the cultic details of Israel’s worship did not come from the time of Moses (about 1400 BC), but were invented much later (perhaps as late as 600 BC).

Cf. Moshe Weinfeld, “Old Testament — The discipline and its goals,” in Congress Volume, Vienna 1980 6 Supplements to Vetus Testamentum, 32, J. A. Emerton, ed. (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1981) 423-434, at p. 429. Feast of Trumpets • So, for example, many scholars suppose that the required offerings at the Feast of Trumpets in Numbers 29:2f. came from about 600 BC, rather than from the time of Moses (1400 BC): “one bull... seven lambs... one goat... a meal offering

andMerino sheep wineMerino libation sheep ”Merino sheep

Merino sheep Merino sheep Picture Credit: Copyright (c) GPicture Credit: Copyright (c) GPicture Credit: Copyright (c) G

Merino sheep Merino sheep Picture Credit: Copyright (c) GPicture Credit: Copyright (c) GAngora goat

Picture Credit: Copyright (c) GPicture Credit: Copyright (c) GPicture Credit: Copyright (c •• ButBut whatwhat aa ““coincidencecoincidence””!! AA HittiteHittite texttext fromfrom thethe mid-2ndmid-2nd millenniummillennium BCBC (the(the timetime ofof Moses)Moses) hashas beenbeen discovereddiscovered thatthat specifiesspecifies thethe exactexact samesame sequencesequence ofof offeringsofferings asas inin NumbersNumbers 29:2f.:29:2f.: oneone bull...bull... sevenseven lambs...lambs... oneone goat...goat... aa mealmeal offeringoffering andand winewine libation.libation.

Merino sheep Merino sheep Merino sheep

Merino sheep Merino sheep Picture Credit: Copyright (c) GPicture Credit: Copyright (c) GPicture Credit: Copyright (c) G

Merino sheep Merino sheep Picture Credit: Copyright (c) GPicture Credit: Copyright (c) GAngora goat

Picture Credit: Copyright (c) GPicture Credit: Copyright (c) GPicture Credit: Copyright (c The Ark of the

Was the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25) invented by some later tradition, or does it come from the time of Moses (1400 BC)?

Image from http://www.wyattmuseum.com/ark-of-the-covenant.htm •• WhatWhat aa ““coincidencecoincidence””!! ThisThis portableportable woodenwooden arkark waswas foundfound inin thethe tombtomb ofof PharaohPharaoh TutankhamunTutankhamun (1350(1350 BC).BC). ItIt isis thethe onlyonly suchsuch objectobject toto survivesurvive fromfrom antiquity.antiquity.

Image from Treasures of Tutankhamum (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1976) plate 7 ThisThis smallsmall gildedgilded shrineshrine andand pedestalpedestal isis similarsimilar toto thethe HolyHoly ofof Holies,Holies, waswas alsoalso foundfound inin thethe tombtomb ofof PharaohPharaoh TutankhamunTutankhamun (1350(1350 BC).BC). Interestingly,Interestingly, thethe pedestalpedestal hashas clearlyclearly markedmarked footprints,footprints, asas ifif anan invisibleinvisible imageimage werewere standingstanding onon it.it.

Image from Treasures of Tutankhamum (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1976) plate 9 Covenant Forms

• Since the discovery and first publication of a few Hittite treaties, or covenant documents, in the 1920’s, some 57 treaties from the ancient Near East have now been discovered and published (about a dozen of which are fragmentary).

7 K.A. Kitchen, “The Patriarchal Age: or History?,” Review 21:2 (1995) 48-57, 88-95 Covenant Forms Mari & Leilan Hittite Later Hittite Sfire Assyria

witnesses title title title title historical prologue witnesses witnesses oath witnesses

curses stipulations stipulations stipulations stipulations

witnesses stipulations oath

curses curses curses curses blessings early 2nd mil BC mid-2nd mil BC late-2nd mil BC 1st mil BC based on K.A. Kitchen Covenant Forms

• The Bible gives a fairly complete record of three covenants involving the patriarchs: • Abraham and Abimelech of Gerar in Genesis 21 • Isaac and Abimelech of Gerar in Genesis 26 • Jacob and Laban in Genesis 31 • Where in the progression of covenant forms do these covenants belong? Covenant Forms

God, in Gen 21:23 witnesses a mound of stones and pillar in Gen 31:44-52 • The following oath Gen 21:23; 26:28; 31:53 elements, with minor variations in order, Gen 21:23, 30; 26:29; 31:52 seem to characterize

the patriarchal stipulations covenants

K.A. Kitchen, “Genesis 12-50 in the Near Eastern curses Gen 31:53 World,” in He Swore an Oath,, R.S. Hess, et al. eds. (Cambridge: Tyndale House, 1993) 67-92, at 74-77. Critics assume that the patriarchal covenants were composed in the 1st mil. BC

Mari & Leilan Hittite Later Hittite Sfire Assyria

witnessestitle title witnesses title title historical prologue witnesses witnesses oath witnesses oath

curses stipulations stipulations stipulations stipulations stipulations

witnesses stipulations oath

curses curses curses curses blessings curses 1st mil BC early 2nd mil BC mid-2nd mil BC late-2nd mil BC based on K.A. Kitchen What a “coincidence”! The patriarchal covenants most resemble what is known of early 2nd mil. BC covenants. Mari & Leilan Hittite Later Hittite Sfire Assyria witnesseswitnesses title title title title historical prologue witnesses witnesses oath oath witnesses

curses stipulations stipulations stipulations stipulations stipulations

witnesses stipulations oath

curses curses curses curses curses blessings 1st mil BC early 2nd mil BC mid-2nd mil BC late-2nd mil BC based on K.A. Kitchen Covenant Forms

• The Bible gives a very full account of two covenants from the time of Moses: • the covenant at Sinai (the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20) • the covenant renewal in the plains of Moab (Deuteronomy) Covenant Forms

1) Title: Exod. 20:1; Deut. 1:1-5 title 2) Historical Prologue (past relations reviewed): historical Exod. 20:2; Deut. 1:6-4:49 prologue 3) Stipulations General: Exod. 20:3-11 (or 20:3-17); Deut. 5:1-11:32 stipulations Specific: Exod. 20:12-17 (or 20:21-26 and 21:1-23:33); Deut. 12:1-26:19 4) Sanctions Blessings: Exod. 20:6, 12; Deut. 28:1-14 Curses: Exod. 20:5; Deut. 28:15-68 blessings curses Critics assume that the Mosaic covenants were composed in the 1st mill. BC patriarchal Mari & Leilan Hittite Later Hittite Sfire Assyria

witnesseswitnesses title title title title title historical historical prologue prologuewitnesses witnesses oath oath witnesses

curses stipulations stipulations stipulations stipulations stipulations stipulations

witnesses stipulations oath

curses blessings curses curses curses curses blessings curses

early 2nd mil BC mid-2nd mil BC late-2nd mil BC 1st mil BC based on K.A. Kitchen What a “coincidence”! The Mosaic covenant forms in Exod. 20 and Deut. match almost exactly the standard covenant form of the late-2nd mill. BC, when Moses lived! patriarchal Mari & Leilan Hittite Later Hittite Sfire Assyria

witnesseswitnesses title title title title title historical historical prologue prologue witnesses witnesses oath oath witnesses

curses stipulations stipulations stipulations stipulations stipulations stipulations

witnesses stipulations oath

curses blessings curses curses curses curses blessings curses

early 2nd mil BC mid-2nd mil BC late-2nd mil BC 1st mil BC based on K.A. Kitchen Later Hittite Mosaic

title title

The omission of the normal section historical historical prologue prologue of “witnesses” in the Mosaic covenants is only to be expected. This is so because this section listed the names of various pagan gods who were supposed to be witnesses to the terms of the covenant. stipulations stipulations

witnesses

curses blessings blessings curses

late-2nd mil BC Regarding .... Since ancient Egyptians never recorded their defeats (they left no record of the 200 year period of Hyksos supremacy from 1786-1550 BC) and invariably exaggerated their victories, it should not be expected to find Egyptian records of the Exodus confirming their humiliating defeat before runaway slaves.

8 Nevertheless, it is sometimes claimed that one reason the Exodus did not happen as the Bible records is that Dibon is mentioned in Numbers 33:45 as one of the places through which Israel passed. Dibon B A O M Based on archaeological digs at Dibon in 1950, 1952, 1952-53, 1955-56, and 1965, it is claimed that Dibon was unoccupied from 1500 BC through 900 BC. (the Exodus took place about 1400 BC). ?Dibon B A O M WhatWhat aa ““coincidencecoincidence””!! ItIt turnsturns outout thatthat DibonDibon isis mentionedmentioned inin contemporarycontemporary topographicaltopographical listslists foundfound atat KarnakKarnak fromfrom PharaohPharaoh ThutmoseThutmose IIIIII (1450(1450 BC)BC) andand PharaohPharaoh RamsesRamses IIII (1250(1250 BC).BC). Dibon B A O M

Karnak InIn fact,fact, thethe topographicaltopographical listlist fromfrom PharaohPharaoh ThutmoseThutmose IIIIII (1450(1450 BC)BC) n

a

parallelsparallels exactlyexactly thethe listlist ofof placeplace namesnames inin d

r

NumbersNumbers 33:45-50:33:45-50: IyyimIyyim,, DibonDibon...,..., o J Abel,Abel, Jordan.Jordan. Abel Dibon Iyyim

Karnak

from C.R. Krahmalkov, “Exodus Itinerary Confirmed by Egyptian Evidence,” Biblical Archaeology Review, Sept.-Oct. 1994. This incontrovertible evidence serves to demonstrate an important archaeological principle: “the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.” The Conquest of Canaan • It would ideal to be able to confirm the conquest of Canaan at the time of . • One way to do this would be to look for destruction levels at each of the cities that Israel took from the Canaanites.

9 It must be remembered, however, Hazor that the Bible insists that Israel destroyed only 3 cities: Jericho (Joshua 6:24), (Joshua 9:28), Ai and Hazor (Joshua 11:13). Jericho ? Unfortunately, there is uncertainty among archaeologists about how to interpret the evidence for the destruction of Jericho. Jericho For example, City IV of Jericho was surrounded by a 15 foot high stone revetment wall topped by an 8 foot high mud brick wall. Kathleen Kenyon, who Jericho excavated Jericho in the 1950’s, argued that these walls and the city were destroyed by an earthquake and fire, but that this took place about 1550 BC. WhatWhat aa coincidence!coincidence! MoreMore recentrecent evidence,evidence, however,however, asas analyzedanalyzed byby archaeologistarchaeologist BryantBryant Wood,Wood, indicatesindicates thatthat thethe wallswalls ofof CityCity IVIV ofof JerichoJericho werewere Jericho destroyeddestroyed aboutabout 14001400 BC.BC. InIn otherother words,words, thethe earthquakeearthquake andand firefire tooktook placeplace exactlyexactly atat thethe timetime ofof Joshua!Joshua!

Bryant G. Wood, “Did the Conquer Jericho?” and “Dating Jericho’s Destruction,” Biblical Archaeology Review 16:2 (1990).

Bryant G. Wood, “New Evidence from the Italian-Palestinian Excavation at Jericho for the Date of the Destruction of the Bronze Age City,” a paper read November 15, 2001 at the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado. There is uncertainty about the precise location of Ai. If it is at Khirbet Nisya, archaeologists J.J. Bimson and Livingston argue that the Ai? evidence suggests a destruction about 1400 BC. There is no uncertainty about the Hazor location of Hazor, or the fact that it was destroyed – in fact, there are numerous burn levels from which to choose. The first burn level (Stratum XV Hazor of Upper City and Stratum 2 of Lower City) can be dated about 1400 BC. For example, Area H of the city, which includes a temple, is buried under 2 meters of destroyed brick. This could easily be the work of Joshua and his army. The second burn level (Stratum 1B in Hazor Lower City), about 1300 BC, is generally attributed to Pharaoh Seti I. The third burn level (Stratum XIII of Upper City and 1A of Lower City) can be dated about 1220 BC. This could be the result of Deborah’s victory over Jabin, King of Hazor (Judges 4 and 5). WhatWhat aa ““coincidencecoincidence””!! TheThe newnew Hazor populationpopulationThe whowho third resettledresettled destruction thethe citycity ofof of Hazor HazorHazor afterafter thethe thirdthird burnburn levellevel (1220(1220 BC)BC) showedshowed nono interestinterest inin thethe oldold religionreligion -- exactlyexactly asas wouldwould bebe expectedexpected ofof Israelites!Israelites! PreviousPrevious templestemples toto CanaaniteCanaanite godsgods werewere notnot rebuilt,rebuilt, andand thethe numerousnumerous clayclay andand potterypottery idolsidols characteristiccharacteristic ofof earlierearlier periodsperiods soonsoon disappear.disappear. Finally, Joshua 10:36f. reports that Israel attacked Hebron early in the conquest of Canaan. The archaeological evidence, however, suggests that the city was unoccupied Hebron ? from 1550 BC - 1200 BC, which would mean that the city did not exist at the time of the conquest! WhatWhat aa ““coincidencecoincidence””!! ItIt turnsturns outout thatthat HebronHebron isis mentionedmentioned inin contemporarycontemporary topographicaltopographical listslists fromfrom PharaohPharaoh RamsesRamses IIII (1250(1250 BC)BC) andand fromfrom PharoahPharoah RamsesRamses IIIIII Hebron (1175(1175 BC).BC). Once again the Bible wins! because when it comes to archaeology

“the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.” The earliest mention of Israel outside the Bible In 1896 Flinders Petrie discovered a stela in Pharoah Merneptah's mortuary temple in Thebes (1220 BC). The stela celebrates various victories of the Pharaoh in the region of Palestine.

10 One line mentions Israel: “Israel is laid waste, its seed is not.” This boast, with its exaggeration that is typical of ancient pharaohs, is the earliest mention of Israel outside the Bible. It provides incontrovertible evidence of Israel’s presence in the Promised Land at the time. And one could go on.... OtherOther ancientancient inscriptionsinscriptions confirmconfirm thethe existenceexistence ofof

• David (Tel Dan stela 9th BC; Moabite Stone 9th BC) • Omri (Moabite Stone 9th BC) • Ahab (Kurkh Monolith of Shalmaneser III 9th BC) • Jehoram (Tel Dan stela 9th BC) • Ahaziah (Tel Dan stela 9th BC) • Jehu (Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III 9th BC) • Joash (Tell Al-Rimah stela of Adad-Nirari III 9th BC) • Uzziah (Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III 8th BC) • Menahem (Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III 8th BC) • Pekah (Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III 8th BC) • Ahaz (Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III 8th BC) • Hoshea (Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III 8th BC) • Hezekiah (Annals of Tiglath-Pileser III 8th BC) • Manasseh (Prism B of Esarhaddon; Rassam Cylinder of Ashurbanipal 7th BC) 11 • Jehoiachin (ration documents of Nebuchadnezzar 6th BC) ? ? The history of is a history of how yesterday’s confident claims made about “errors” in the Bible are destroyed by today’s unexpected archaeological discoveries. ? ? ? ? Hittites?

In the 19th century many scholars claimed that the Hittites did not exist, though they are mentioned at many points in the Bible.

12 Hittites J

WhatWhat aa coincidence!coincidence! InIn 19061906 HugoHugo WincklerWinckler deciphereddeciphered thethe HittiteHittite language.language. ScholarsScholars soonsoon realizedrealized thatthat theirtheir librarieslibraries werewere filledfilled withwith overover 10,00010,000 inscriptionsinscriptions fromfrom HittitesHittites whowho supposedlysupposedly didndidn’’tt exist!exist! In the 19th century some scholars claimed that Tiglath-pileser III did not exist, although he is mentioned in ? 2 Kings 15 and 16.

13 Nineveh

Then archaeologists began digging at the site of Nineveh, the capital of the neo-Assyrian Empire. In the that excavation, they unearthed thousands of bricks, each one bearing the stamp: ““TiglathTiglath PileserPileser,, kingking ofof thethe westwest lands,lands, kingking ofof thethe earth....earth....”” ! More evidence of the historical trustworthiness of the Old Testament will be found in the following works:

J.D. Douglas, et al., eds., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 3 vols. (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1998) Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., A From the Bronze Age Through the Jewish Wars (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998) Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., The Old Testament Documents: Are They Reliable and Relevant? (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2001) Kenneth A. Kitchen, The Bible in Its World. The Bible and Archaeology Today (Exeter: The Paternoster Press; and Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1977) Alan R. Millard, Treasures from Bible Times (Oxford: Lion Publishing, 1985) Jumping ahead to the Some people imagine that the accounts about Jesus were written long after the events they report or that the copies we have of the original books of the New Testament are late and unreliable. If so, the record of Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God or His miracles could be the result of much later pious exaggeration or legend.

? ? ? WhatWhat aa coincidence!coincidence! ScholarsScholars areare nownow convincedconvinced thatthat thethe entireentire NewNew TestamentTestament waswas writtenwritten withinwithin thethe lifetimelifetime ofof thosethose whowho personallypersonally knewknew Jesus.Jesus. [This is why, for example, the New Testament nowhere reports the martyrdoms of James (62 AD), Paul (64 AD), or Peter (65 AD), or the burning of Rome (64 AD) or the destruction of (70 AD), in spite of the importance of these events.] Furthermore,Furthermore, thethe copiescopies thatthat wewe nownow havehave ofof eacheach ofof thethe booksbooks ofof thethe NewNew TestamentTestament couldcould hardlyhardly bebe moremore numerousnumerous oror moremore reliable.reliable.

F.F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (5th rev. ed.; London: InterVarsity Press, 1960) ! ! ! Scholars assume that we have accurate copies of each of the following ancient books, even though this is based on a few very late surviving manuscripts. This situation is typical for ancient books other than the Bible.

Author and workSpan Earliest copy # of copies

Herodotus (480-425 BC) 900 AD 8 History 1300 years (384-322 BC) 1400 years 1100 AD 5 Metaphysics Caesar (100-44 BC) 1000 years 900 AD 10 Gallic Wars Tacitus (56-120 AD) 20 Greek History 1000 years 1100 AD Suetonius (70-140 AD) 800 years 950 AD 8 Roman History In the case of the New Testament, we have more than 5300 manuscripts. 30 of these are from the 2nd or 3rd century AD. This is a photograph of the John Rylands Papyrus, which preserves a portion of John 18 and is dated about 125 AD.

Image taken from Alan Millard, Discoveries from the Time of Jesus (Oxford: Lion Publishing, 1990) 165. See also Gordon D. Fee, “The of the New Testament,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, F.E. Gaebelein, ed., Volume 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1979). The Pilate Inscription from Caesarea

PONTIUS] PILATUS

Found in 1961, this the first and only contemporary inscription which mentions Pilate.

Image taken from Alan Millard, Discoveries from the Time of Jesus (Oxford: Lion Publishing, 1990) 67 The Crucifixion Critical scholars have disputed the likelihood that Jesus was nailed to the cross based on the assumption that Roman practice was to tie victims to a cross, not nail them.

14 Until 1968, when on Ammunition Hill outside Jerusalem the first and only skeletal remains of a crucified individual were found.

Jerusalem WhatWhat aa ““coincidencecoincidence””!! ThisThis 55’’66”” man,man, whosewhose namename waswas John,John, waswas crucifiedcrucified sometimesometime beforebefore 7070 AD.AD. StillStill embeddedembedded inin hishis decomposingdecomposing ankleankle bonebone waswas aa 77”” ironiron nail.nail. TheThe rightright radiusradius alsoalso hashas aa scratchscratch wherewhere anotheranother nailnail waswas used.used.

Original

Drawing from Reconstruction http://www.wcg.org/lit/booklets/risen/risen3.htm The Nazareth Decree 1st century AD “Caesar’s order… It is my will that graves and tombs lie undisturbed for ever…. If anyone [disturbs one] I require that he be executed for tomb-robbery”

This decree, which is unprecedented for its death penalty, is thought by many to reflect a misguided overreaction by Caesar to news of the empty tomb of Jesus Christ.

Image taken from Alan Millard, Discoveries from the Time of Jesus (Oxford: Lion Publishing, 1990) 134 We have every reason to have confidence in the Bible. But such confidence by itself is not enough. Jesus once said to the Bible scholars experts of his day: “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40). May it not be so for us! More evidence for the historical trustworthiness of the New Testament will be found in the following works:

Craig L. Blomberg, The Historical Reliability of the (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1987) J.D. Douglas, et al., eds., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 3 vols. (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1998) Alan Millard, Discoveries from the Time of Jesus (Oxford: Lion Publishing, 1990) Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998) Edwin Yamauchi, “Archaeology and the New Testament,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, F.E. Gaebelein, ed., Volume 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1979)