Archive for archaeology

Dead Sea Scrolls and the Cave of Horror

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 17, 2021 by paulthepoke
Part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets scroll, written in Greek.
Shai Halevi, IAA

March 2021, Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA): It has been 60 years since there have been archaeological finds of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Research in the Judean Desert has unearthed Greek translations of the Bible prophets Nahum and Zechariah.

The scroll was found in the “Cave of Horror”. The cave got its name when discovered in the 1950’s. There were skeletons from over 40 people found in the cave. The cavern is tucked away 80 meters below the top of the ridge.

Other finds include a woven basket with a lid. Archaeologists estimate the basket to be over 10,500 years old per carbon dating provided by Professor Elisabetta Boaretto of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. The basket has a volume of up to 100 liters.

Cache of Bar Kokhba coins as found.
Ofer Sion, IAA

A mummified child was discovered. Data suggests the child was aged from 6 to 12 years in age and lived approximately 6,000 years ago.

Coins from the Bar Kochba revolt were found. This historic event occurred in 133 to 135 A.D. Other artifacts from the same era included: arrow and spear tips, woven fabric, sandals, and lice combs.

For those interested in more detail, click on the link below.

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-israel-finds-new-dead-sea-scroll-first-such-discovery-in-60-years-1.9621317

Archaeologists and journalists are intrigued and excited about the material finds in the cave. However, not much has been written about the message of the Scripture discovered.

Granted, critics and naysayers would disagree. But, these are two passages from two prophets. A prophet or a nabi in the Hebrew is a spokesman or a speaker on behalf of God. These prophets are delivering instructions and a warning to us in the 21st century.

Zechariah penned these verses about 2,500 years ago.

Zechariah 8:16-17 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.

Nahum wrote these words about 2,680 years ago.

Nahum 1:5-6 The mountains quake before Him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before Him, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him.

For those who are willing to read one more verse in Nahum.

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.

Are these verses for our world today and a message from God? So what do you think? God’s providential timing or mere chance and coincidence?

“Christ Born of Mary”

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Culture with tags , , , , , , , , , on January 20, 2021 by paulthepoke

Luke 2:16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

January 20, 2021, Taibe, Israel: Archeologists have unearthed a Christian settlement near Nazareth. The church has been dated about 1,500 years ago. The church is described as a Byzantine era structure in the town of Taibe. An inscription was discovered on a wall of the church. It states, “Christ born of Mary”.

Churches from the era of the Crusades have been discovered in this region but nothing earlier until now.

“The importance of the inscription is that until now we didn’t know for certain that there were churches from this period in this area,” Israel Antiquities Authority Archaeologist Walid Atrash.

Tzachi Lang/Israel Antiquities Authority
https://www.timesofisrael.com/christ-born-of-mary-1st-proof-of-early-christianity-found-in-galilee-village/

For more details regarding this story, check out the link below from the Times of Israel.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/christ-born-of-mary-1st-proof-of-early-christianity-found-in-galilee-village/

Archeological information continues to pour out of Israel. The message of the Bible and hard, physical evidence from the 21st century are consistent. Jesus has been called the Christ or the Messiah for last 2,000 plus years. The latest example is this find from the 5th century.

Pontius Pilate’s Street

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , on October 29, 2019 by paulthepoke

Luke 23:20-24 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.

Jerusalem, City of David: This is the oldest part of the city. A recent find of a step stoned street is believed to be built by Pontius Pilate. The street has its beginnings near the Pool of Siloam and goes north to what is known as Temple Mount. Pilate is believed to rule from 26 to 37 AD.

The road is measured to be 600 meters (655 yards) long and 8 meters (9 yards) wide. Previously, it was thought the street was constructed by Herod the Great who ruled from 37 to 4 BC.

But now, there have been over 100 coins discovered under the road. These coins point to the dates of 31 to 40 AD during the reign of Pontius Pilate.

“Dating using coins is very exact. Some coins show the year in which they were minted. If a coin found beneath a street is dated 30 C.E. then the street had to be built that same year or any time after 30 C.E.” -Dr. Donald T. Ariel, Archaeologist and coin expert, Israel Antiquities Authority

Photo: Ariel David, Haaretz

“It’s not just that we found Pilate’s coins. We also have to look at what we didn’t find and would have expected to find had the road been built after Agrippa I became king of Judea. From a statistical point of view it’s hard to imagine that the road was built after 41 because we don’t have any coins from that period.” Nashon Szanton, Archaeologist, Israel Antiquities Authority, Ph.D. Student at Tel Aviv University. Szanton is also the lead author for the research of the project.

Coins from Agrippa I were found above the pavement. Agrippa I ruled from 41 to 44 AD. These coins were found with burned material. History tells us Jerusalem and the Temple were leveled and torched in 70 AD by the Romans.

For more details on the dig, see the link provided below. Charts and pictures are provided.

https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03344355.2019.1650491

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-monumental-street-in-jerusalem-was-built-by-pontius-pilate-archaeologists-say-1.8004004

The narratives in the gospel accounts were real events and the people who participated were real people. Pontius Pilate was a real person. It appears he commissioned a real street with real steps in the City of David. And once again, the Bible confirms modern day science and archaeology.

Trend Update: Bible Confirms Archaeology, August 2017

Posted in Culture, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 6, 2017 by paulthepoke

The Bible, 66 Books, 40 Authors…

August 8, 2017: This is a trend that has occurred in the last week or so. Archaeology digs around the Promised Land continue to unearth a wealth of information. The conclusion, the Bible is an accurate source of historical information.

Here’s to all the critics who say the Bible is just a little book of stories, a work of fiction. It has been a rough week for secular scholars, archaeologists, scientists, and atheists. Below are links to a list of recent articles noted in the news.

Researcher gives seal of approval to 53 biblical characters’ existence

http://www.timesofisrael.com/researcher-gives-seal-of-approval-to-53-biblical-characters-existence/

 

Finds in Jerusalem shore up biblical account of Babylonian conquest

On the eve of the Hebrew commemoration of the destruction of the Temples, archaeologists discover remnants of a blaze indicating the city was grander than thought

http://www.timesofisrael.com/new-jerusalem-finds-shore-up-biblical-account-of-babylonian-conquest/

 

Archaeological find in Jerusalem ‘proves Bible passage is historically true’

https://www.yahoo.com/news/archaeological-find-jerusalem-proves-bible-passage-historically-true-123315016.html

NEW EVIDENCE OF LOST CITY OF JULIAS UNEARTHED NEAR SEA OF GALILEE

The site is believed to be the home of apostles Andrew, Peter and Philip

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/New-evidence-of-Lost-City-of-Julias-unearthed-near-Sea-of-Galilee-501701

 

Burnt Skeletons Confirm Biblical City of Gezer’s Fiery Destruction by Egyptians
https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/92752/excavation-gezer-confirms-biblical-account-citys-fiery-destruction/#8e28TegFhGzco0g8.99

 

 

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