Biblical archeology and different events in history
Introduction
Biblical archeology allows the studies to investigate the areas where the events of the biblical history in the East of the Mediterranean and the fertile crescent happened. This includes Egypt the land of the slavery of Israel and the valley between the Tigris and the Euphrates where Assyria and Babylon experienced their days of world power. Asia Minor, Greece and Rome are the center of the New Testament and so traces of the expansion of the primitive Church.
The essay focused on the search for documents of respected archaeologists who show their biblical discoveries according to the biblical writers stories. This essay does not consider archaeologists who seek through their investigations to discredit the biblical writings, since the main theme is to reach a conclusion of the hypothesis raised.
The hypothesis consists in defining the role of biblical archeology based on archaeologists who have presented their research.
A conference is heard by Professor Nelson Gelueck declared: "I have excavated for thirty years with a Bible in one hand and a shovel in the other, and in terms of historical perspective I have never found an error in the Bible".
Developing
In the following sections taken from the literature they show a series of investigations that expose the archaeological discovery and their relationship with the biblical stories
Evidence of Genesis 1-11
“Sir Leonard Woolley excavó UR, hometown of Abraham, his archaeological findings in places like Ur, Mari, Boghazkoi, and Nineveh supports the customs of the patriarchal times described in the Bible. These texts were written during that time, not centuries later. They present indications that suggest eyewitnesses. In this way, we better understand Abraham’s relationship with agar because we understand that the woman who could not personally generate a child for her husband had the obligation to contribute to her husband one of her maid. In the biblical story we are told that it was Sara who made the proposal to Abraham, and her maid agreed to generate a son of Abraham. And, consequently, Agar won in economic security and personal prestige. We must notice that it was not Abraham who made the proposal to Agar, but it was Sara, Abraham’s wife, who acted in accordance with the customs of the time."
Evidence of Genesis 37-50
"The Egyptian titles known as" Captain of the Guard Father of the Pharaoh ”(Actually," Father of the Gods "title that for Joseph was blasphemous because he could not accept Pharaoh as a manifestation of the God of the Sun; José Hebraíza the title, thus avoiding dishonoring the Lord),“ the Lord of the House of Pharaoh ”(El Palacio), and" Regent of all Egypt "(Genesis 45: 8) attest to the historicity of this story."
José’s appointment as Visir (Prime Minister) is very similar to other ceremonies of which we have written records. His new name was Zafnat-Paana, which means "main of the Sacred College" (Genesis 41: 41-45). Other Egyptian phrases and typical customs of the region also abound in the text (for example, embalming and burial practices [Genesis 50]).
According to the Rolls of the Dead Sea, the number of people in Jacob’s house was 75, no 70, in Genesis 46:27, thus correcting a copy error introduced by a scribe and demonstrating that the figure given by Esteban was correct (facts 7:14).
Evidence of the period of judges and the beginning of the kingdom
David’s elegy for Saul’s death is a faithful reflection of the literary style of his time. The excavations in Ras Shamra (the old Ugarit in Syria) have served to clarify various expressions, such as "arising from the depths" instead of "lands of offering", as in 2 Samuel 1:21.
After the discovery of the Ugarit library, it has been clear that David’s psalms must be dated at his time and not in the Macabeo period, 800 years later, as critics have affirmed. The academic scholar William Foxwell Albright wrote: "The proposal of Datar David’s Psalms in the Maccabean period is absurd". [4]
Solomonic cities such as Hazor, Meguor, and Gezer (1 Kings 9:15) have been excavated. Solomon even used similar models to replicate some buildings.
With these very summarized evidence they allow the following conclusions
conclusion
The role of biblical archeology is of the utmost importance, since the more the biblical records are confirmed that the Bible is a unique registry and is much higher than the writings left by neighboring peoples as observed in the data of the investigations presented In the development and also confirms us according to the Jewish scholars that the Bible has a codex that allows not to be altered as we see the number of people from Jacob’s house based on the writings of the Dead Sea by mistake of the copyists called scribes.
The role of archeology is not to make this statement that "archeology proves the Bible", since it is a mistake, the Bible itself is the absolute, and not archeology. The Bible comes with the authority of the omnipotent God. It is his word, and he is greater than all.
Archeology helps to restore confidence in the Bible as the revealed word of God.
It allows to clarify many passages that seemed dark and has helped us to understand the customs, culture and context or background of the patriarchs, which has allowed an adequate understanding of the Bible and eliminates possible contradictions
The archeology shows that the writers of the Bible lived and preached their message in the places and dates they affirm in their writings, such as Isaiah’s prophetic messages about the Messiah written long before the events that prophesied.
In summary, the role of archeology confirms the history of the Bible, and often demonstrates that the people and events that the Bible quotes are exact in their stories.
An example is Sargon’s, a king named in Isaiah 20: 1. Critics previously argued that there was no such king. Later his palace was found in Khorsabad, and in it a description of the battle mentioned by Isaiah was found. Another example is the death of the Assyrian King Senaqueib. His death is recorded in Isaiah 37 and also in the annals of the son of Senaqueribe Esarhadón, who according to Isaiah happened to Senaquerib.
The role of archeology shows local elements, which indicates that the background is authentic.
Laws, customs, gods, and religious practices appear associated with the times and places mentioned in the Bible. The robbery by Raquel of the Gods of clay of her father denotes a correct understanding of customs: “Raquel and Lea replied, and they said: do we perhaps part or inheritance in our father’s house?”(Genesis 31:14). She knew that the terafines (clay gods) were associated with property titles, which was a custom of the time.
The role of archeology provides additional data.
The Bible writers mention names of Assyrian kings such as Senaquerib and Esarhadón, and today we know much more about these rulers thanks to the records recovered in their palaces and libraries.
The role of archeology has proven to be very important for the translation of the Bible.
The meanings of words and phrases are often understood more clearly when found in other contexts. For example, 2 kings 18:17 correctly use three Assyrian army titles. Those terms are Tartán (commander in chief), rably (princes heads), and rabsaris (head of the Eunucos). The meanings of these words were unknown at the time of translation of the King James version of the Bible in 1611.
The excavations of the Assyrian palaces managed to clarify their meanings. The fact that these titles are used correctly in the Old Testament is a weight argument to consider them first -hand testimonies. People do not know their enemy’s titles if they haven’t had any contact with him.
The role of archeology has demonstrated the accuracy of many bible prophecies
The prophecies against Nineve. It is also very important that Isaiah and others indicate precisely to the coming of the Messiah. In many points of history the Bible has been claimed, as well as its prophecies about Jesus.
This spiritual application is undoubtedly one of the most important aspects of biblical archeology, and reminds us that "… the holy men of God spoke being inspired by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:21).
Archeology has contributed greatly to demonstrate that "after all the Bible was right". The first stories of creation, Eden, the Flood, the longevity of men and the dispersion of nations are not, finally, mere legends. Other tablets have been found that record these same events although they often appear distorted and corrupted.
Using a verse from the Bible that shows how archeology is a part of it, "the truth sprouts from the earth" (Psalm 85:11).
Bibliography
- Biblical Archeology, Pedro Cabello Morales, Part II
- Antiques of the Jews, Flavio Josephus
- Archeological Biblical Dictionary, Charles F. Pfeiffer
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