Archaeology and the Bible

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Archaeology and the Bible
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2 Kings 1813 2 Chronicles 329 10

• Now in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah,
  Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all
  the fortified cities of Judah and seized them.
• Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to
  Jerusalem while he was besieging Lachish with all
  his forces with him, against Hezekiah king of
  Judah and against all Judah who were at
  Jerusalem.

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Archival panels in Ninevah, the capital of Assyria
The siege of Lachish
A tower of Lachish
Assyrian soldiers
Jews fleeing the city
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When Sennacherib came against Jerusalem... (2
Kings 1932 36)

• Thus says the Lord concerning the king of
  Assyria, He will not come to this city or shoot
  an arrow there and he will not come before it
  with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against
  it. By the way that he came, by the same he will
  return, and he shall not come to this city,"'
  declares the Lord. 'For I will defend this city
  to save it for My own sake and for My servant
  David's sake.'"
• Then it happened that night that the angel of the
  Lord went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of
  the Assyrians and when men rose early in the
  morning, behold, all of them were dead. So
  Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned
  home.

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The Prism of Sennacherib

• The official record of Sennacheribs conquests.
• It lists all of the cities he conquered and has
  a detailed list of the spoils taken from each,
  with only one exception.

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The Prism of Sennacherib

• It does not list any spoils from Jerusalem.
• Of Jerusalem it says only I shut Hezekiah up in
  Jerusalem like a bird in a cage.
• This confirms the Bible account that Sennacherib
  did not capture or despoil the city.

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2 Chronicles 261 4

• All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was
  sixteen years old, and made him king in the place
  of his father Amaziah ...Uzziah was sixteen years
  old when he became king ...He did right in the
  sight of the Lord according to all that his
  father Amaziah had done.
• ... Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they
  buried him with his fathers in the city of David.
  (2 Kings 157)

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The Uzziah Inscription

• Here were brought the bones of Uzziah, King of
  Judah. Do not open.
• It was discovered near Jerusalem and dates to
  shortly before the New Testament period.
• It marks the re-internment of Uzziahs remains.

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2 Chronicles 3623

• "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The Lord, the
  God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of
  the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a
  house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever
  there is among you of all His people, may the
  Lord his God be with him, and let him go up!'"

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Ezra 12 3

• "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The Lord, the
  God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of
  the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a
  house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 'Whoever
  there is among you of all His people, may his God
  be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is
  in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the
  God of Israel He is the God who is in
  Jerusalem.

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The Cyrus Cylinder
It is a Persian copy of the decree recorded in 2
Chronicles 3622 23 and Ezra 12ff, permitting
the captives to return to their homelands.
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King Jehu

• He was a high-ranking officer in the Israelite
  army.
• Per Gods instructions, he destroyed the wicked
  dynasty of Ahab and Jezebel and made himself King
  over Israel.
• He eradicated the idol Baal from Israel, but
  permitted worship of the golden calves erected by
  Jeroboam.

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2 Kings 1031 32

• But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of
  the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart
  he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam,
  which he made Israel sin. In those days the Lord
  began to cut off portions from Israel and Hazael
  defeated them throughout the territory of Israel.

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The Black Obelisk
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The Black Obelisk
Jehu, son of Omri
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The Black Obelisk
This confirms the Bible account in 2 Kings 1031
33, showing Israels weakness during the reign
of Jehu.
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The Black Obelisk
3 Israelites bearing tribute for the Assyrian
King.
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2 Kings 35, 26 27

• When Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled
  against the king of Israel...
• When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too
  fierce for him, he took with him 700 men who drew
  swords, to break through to the king of Edom but
  they could not. Then he took his oldest son who
  was to reign in his place, and offered him as a
  burnt offering on the wall. And there came great
  wrath against Israel, and they departed from him
  and returned to their own land.

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The Moabite Stone
Omri, King of Israel, had oppressed Moab for
many days, because Chemosh was angry with his
land. His son succeeded him and said, I too will
oppress Moab. He said this in my time, but I
triumphed over him and over his house, while
Israel has perished forever.
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The Moabite Stone

• This is the Moabite account of 2 Kings 35 27
• It gives credit to Chemosh, whose worship
  demanded child sacrifice.
• Again, the Bible accounts are verified through
  historical discoveries.

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Chorazin
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Capernaum and Bethsaida

• Bethsaida was an independent city called Geshur
  in the time of David.
• David married a princess from this city who
  became the mother of Absalom.
• Bethsaida was destroyed by the Assyrians more
  than 7 centuries before Christ.
• Bethsaida was the hometown of Peter and Andrew.
• Jesus had a residence in Capernaum for a period
  of time. (Mark 21)
• Peter and Andrew were working in Capernaum when
  Jesus called them.

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The site of Capernaum
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Capernaum today
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The Gate of Bethsaida
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A 1st-Century street in Bethsaida
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Bethsaida Today
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Bethsaida Today
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The Fate of Cities

• Jesus said
• "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For
  if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and
  Sidon which occurred in you, they would have
  repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and
  ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and
  Sidon in the judgment than for you.
• "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to
  heaven, will you? You will be brought down to
  Hades! (Luke 1013-15)

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Chorazin
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Magdala Exists Today
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Tiberias Exists Today
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Bethsaida Today Only Ruins
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Capernaum Today Only Ruins
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Why Study Archaeology and the Bible?

• We can have stronger faith and confidence in the
  Bible.
• Many say the Bible is fiction.

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1 Peter 315

• Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always
  being ready to make a defense to everyone who
  asks you to give an account for the hope that is
  in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

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Why Study Archaeology and the Bible?

• We can have stronger faith and confidence in the
  Bible.
• Many say the Bible is fiction.
• Peter said always be ready to make a defense to
  everyone who asks you to give an account for the
  hope that is in you.
• We can grow in our ability to teach others.
• It is encouraging for us to learn of things that
  confirm our faith in God and His Word.