introduction to biblical archaeology

THE BIBLE AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Session 1

Welcome

DOES THE ARCHAEOLOGIST LOOK

LIKE IS THIS?

CAN YOU SAY?

IS THE ARCHAEOLOGIST YOU SEE LIKE THIS?

WHAT FIRST INTERESTED YOU IN ARCHAEOLOGY?

ParentsSchoolingSiblings

Reading the BibleCuriosity

Early influences

FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES

DR DAVE REIDOld Testament

Emmaus Bible College Professor

HE LOVED THE BIBLE AND THE LAND OF THE BIBLE

I would like to dedicated this Sunday School class to the memory and ministry of Dr. Dave Reid (April 2, 1937 - January 31, 2012)

INSTITUTE OF HOLY LAND STUDIESJerusalem University College

Overview and Summary

THE BIBLE AND ARCHAEOLOGY

WHY STUDY ARCHAEOLOGY?

• Increase my knowledge in the Word of God

• Build up or deepen my Faith• Curiosity• To solve a Biblical problem• Defend the Faith• Come up with Bible illustrations• Reconstruct the biblical background

WHAT IS ARCHAEOLOGY?

• The word archaeology is strictly speaking “the study of ancient things”

• “the study of past human life and activities by the examination of materials and artifacts of human civilization”

ARCHAEOLOGY TELLS OR ANCIENT MOUNDS

•Tell or Tel - Josh 8:28•Mound•Ancient Ruin

Names of Ancient Cities that have been

buried

MODERN DAY TELL OR ANCIENT RUIN

CROSS SECTION OF A TELL

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF ARCHAEOLOGY?

1. Archaeology confirms the Bible.

2. Archaeology clarifies the Bible.

3. Archaeology complements the

Bible.

REASONS TO STUDY ARCHAEOLOGY

Archaeology confirms the Bible.

ISAIAH 20:1

In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;

Paul Emile Botta

French Archaeologist who discovered the fortress of Sargon in 1843

ARCHAEOLOGY CONFIRMS THE BIBLE

A ROYAL PALACE

KING SARGON’S ROYAL PALACE

KING SARGON’S PALACE

WINGED LION FOUND IN KING SARGON’S PALACE

ARCHAEOLOGY CONFIRMS THE BIBLE

King Sargon

Isaiah 20:1

REASONS TO STUDY ARCHAEOLOGY

Archaeology clarifies the Bible.

ARCHAEOLOGY CLARIFIES THE BIBLE

Nuzi Tablets

Genesis 29-31

The Story of Jacob and Laban

WHERE IS NUZI?

THE ANCIENT MOUND OF NUZI

WHAT ARE THE NUZI TABLETS?

• Clay tablets• Inscribed by a pen (called a stylus)• Hardened by baking• Clay was used as the paper of Abraham’s

time• Language was Hurrian or Babylonian

written in Cuneiforms characters• Property deeds, lists and government

documents

HOUSEHOLD IDOLS OR “TERAPHIM”

NUZI TABLETS CLARIFY LABAN/JACOB STORY

• Jacob was adopted by Laban

• Adoption meant rights to grandchildren

• Teraphim where evidence in court to the right to property ownership

• Natural children have more rights then adopted children

• Teraphim even gave ownership to in-laws and adopted children

REASONS TO STUDY ARCHAEOLOGY

Archaeology complements the

Bible.

HOME OF ABRAHAM (Abram)

THE WORLD OF ABRAM (Abraham)

(Circa 2000 BC)

Ancient Ziggurat from Ur: the stairway to heaven to worship the moon goddess. Sumerian god and goddess join together around a sacred tree.

ARCHAEOLOGY COMPLEMENTS THE BIBLE

Ur of old Babylonia

worshipped the moon god

Stele of Ur-Nammu (ca. 2200 BC), detail (cf. Frankfort) showing the crescent moon.

PROBLEMS IN ARCHAEOLOGY

• Dating

• Context of finds

• Verification

• Testing a hypothesis

• Reconstruction of the past

• Historical problems

GENESIS 12:16

“And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he

asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses,

and camels.”

ONE HISTORICAL PROBLEM

• Genesis 12:16 refers to Abraham bringing camels into Egypt

• Lack of evidence referring to camels

• It’s too early for camel domestication during Abraham’s time

• Higher critics say that the earliest evidence for camels in Egypt is the Greek era (330 BC)

CAMELS AND

ABRAHAM?

Is the Bible wrong?

CAMELS AND

ABRAHAM?

Are the Critics Wrong?

WHAT IS THIS?

It’s a Camel!

Hello!

WHAT IS THE PLACE OF ARCHAEOLOGY?

• Archaeology CANNOT prove the Bible. Spiritual truth is of such a nature that it cannot be proven or disproved by the material discoveries of archaeology. The truths of the Bible do not need proving; they are self-evident.

• The net effect of archaeology has been to support the general trustworthiness and substantial historicity of the biblical tradition where data is available

ARCHAEOLOGY IMPROVES OUR UNDERSTANDING

• Archaeology helps to place the Bible (an Oriental book) in its Near Eastern setting and thereby to improve the ability of the westerner to understand it.

• This science provides much material that serves to confirm the Scripture.

ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE TEXT OF SCRIPTURE

1. Clarifies Scripture

2. Confirms Scripture

3. Complements Scripture

SILVER SCROLL: THE AARONIC BLESSING

Numbers 6:24-26

May Yahweh bless you and keep you;May Yahweh cause his face toShine upon you and grant youPeace

ARCHAEOLOGY HELPS US VALUE THE TRUE WORD OF

LIFE

• That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

1 John 1:1-2