Category Archives: Archaeology

Visualizing Isaiah 19: “the idols of Egypt will tremble”

Posted on February 27, 2014 | 1 comment

Isaiah 19 is a continuation of the announcement of the LORD’S judgment upon Egypt.

An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. (Isaiah 19:1 ESV)

All over Egypt we see evidence of the ancient fallen power. This fallen statue of Ramses II at Memphis illustrates what happened.

Fallen colossal statue of Ramses II at Memphis. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Fallen colossal statue of Ramses II at Memphis. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The princes (leaders) of Zoan, and other places in Egypt, are likened to pillars that were to be crushed. Columns, pillars, and statues are scattered over the ruins of ancient Zoan (Tanis) in the land of Goshen. In the photo below we see columns stacked up.

Fallen stonework piled together at Zoan (Tanis) in the Land of Goshen. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Fallen stonework piled together at Zoan (Tanis) in Goshen. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Those who are the pillars of the land will be crushed, and all who work for pay will be grieved. The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings”? Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt. The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of her tribes have made Egypt stagger. (Isaiah 19:10-13 ESV)

1 Comment

Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Egypt, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged ,

Visualizing Isaiah 17: olives and altars

Posted on February 25, 2014 | 2 comments

In the oracle concerning Damascus (Syria), Isaiah uses illustrations of the gleaning of grain and olives –plants common in that time.

Gleanings will be left in it, as when an olive tree is beaten– two or three berries in the top of the highest bough, four or five on the branches of a fruit tree, declares the LORD God of Israel. (Isaiah 17:6 ESV)

We could probably shake off several more of the olives from the limbs below and have a better illustration of what Isaiah says, but hopefully this will serve to illustrate the point.

Olives on a branch at Neot Kedumim. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Olives on a branch at Neot Kedumim. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Another thing Isaiah says is that Damascus would no longer look to the altars they had made with their own hands. These images, and the gods they represented, would fail.

He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense. (Isaiah 17:8 ESV)

Altars of incense came in all sizes in those days, and many have been uncovered by archaeologists working at various sites. The altar below, now displayed in the Israel Museum, is from Megiddo.

Altar of Incense from Megiddo. Israel Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Horned altar of Incense from Megiddo. Israel Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

2 Comments

Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged , , ,

No camels during the Patriarchal Age?

Posted on February 19, 2014 | 4 comments

That’s what they are saying. It is a popular theme of those who want to put Bible believers in their place. Camels are mentioned repeatedly in Genesis 12-37, a section of Scripture set during the Middle Bronze Age (about 2100–1550 B.C.). Many of the well-known Bible characters of the Patriarchal Age are mentioned as riding camels.

A few days ago I was beginning to locate my sources to respond to the recent article in the New York Times, and in Time. While I was working on Visualizing Isaiah, Todd Bolen came out with two great articles on the subject. I include these links for the two people who read my blog but do not read the Bible Places Blog.

First, you should read the post about the Domestication of the Camel.

Then read.

Both are these posts are well documented with scholarly links you can track down to your own satisfaction. Don’t be unprepared the next time this subject comes up.

Camels at Abel-meholah, possibly the home of the prophet Elisha. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Camels at Abel-meholah, possible home of the prophet Elisha. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

4 Comments

Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged , , ,

Visualizing Isaiah 13:19-22 – Babylon, never inhabited

Posted on February 18, 2014 | 1 comment

Edward Chiera, of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, excavated at Nuzi in 1927 and at Khorsabad in 1928, 29. On one of his visits in Mesopotamia he wrote a letter to his wife in which he described Babylon. This letter is included in his book They Wrote on Clay, xi-xv. The following excerpts describe vividly the fulfillment of the prophecies.

“On all sides is desert…. The large network of canals…is now represented by a series of small mounds of dirt, running in all directions. Even the Euphrates has abandoned this land by changing its course… The sun has just now disappeared and a purple sky smiles, unmindful of this scene of desolation…

“A dead city. I have visited Pompeii and Ostia, and I have taken walks along the empty corridors of the Palatine. But those cities are not dead; they are only temporarily abandoned… Here only is real death. Not a column or an arch still stands to demonstrate the permanency of human work. Everything has crumbled into dust…

“Under my feet are some holes which have been burrowed by foxes and jackals… It is beginning to be really dark, and the plaintive song of the Arab has ceased. Nothing breaks the deathly silence…”

Now read the prophecy of Isaiah regarding Babylon.

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them. It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there; no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there. But wild animals will lie down there, and their houses will be full of howling creatures; there ostriches will dwell, and there wild goats will dance. Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged. (Isaiah 13:19-22 ESV)

In 1970, eight years before Saddam Hussein began his rule, I had the opportunity to take a group of Christians to Iraq. The photo below is my favorite one of the mound of ancient Babylon. I sometimes show it with a caption from Jeremiah 51:27 – “Babylon shall become a heap of ruins.”

The mound of ancient Babylon in 1970. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The mound of ancient Babylon in 1970. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

As a little flash from the past I thought I would share this 1970 photo made in front of a small Ishtar gate replica that served as the entry to the ruins of Babylon.

Ferrell Jenkins and Ferrell Jenkins, Jr. at the entry to ancient Babylon.

Ferrell Jenkins and Ferrell Jenkins, Jr. at the entry to ancient Babylon.

Notice that the tour was 21 days long. We visited Rome, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, London, and Lisbon. The cost from New York, including all meals was — drum roll — $1,198!

1 Comment

Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Books, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged , , , , ,

Reading the Blogs # 3

Posted on February 14, 2014 | 2 comments

Michael J. Kruger (canon fodder) has written a review of each episode of the History Channel’s Bible Secrets Revealed. He says the series has reminded him of two critical truths:

1. Our popular culture is prone to distort and misrepresent the teachings of the Bible. I was struck again by how sensationalistic and misleading popular-level programming can actually be when it comes to the Bible.  Although this series had some good moments, as a whole I was disappointed to see the History Channel offer the standard Da Vinci Code-style approach to the Bible.

2. The church must be equipped to respond to these sorts of critiques.  Given the high-profile nature of the History Channel (and similar style programming), the average person we are trying to reach is going to be exposed to this type of material.  And we need to be ready to offer some answers if we expect non-Christians to give the biblical message a hearing.

The six reviews cover a wide variety of topics of interest to many people.

  1. Lost in Transmission
  2. The Promised Land
  3. The Forbidden Scriptures
  4. The Real Jesus
  5. Mysterious Prophecies
  6. Sex and the Scriptures

Begin here on canon fodder for links to each of the reviews.

Kruger is President and Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological
Seminary, Charlotte. You will find much useful material on this blog.

HT: Brooks Cochran

Çatalhöyük. Polish archaeologists have discovered containers of barley, said to be 8,200 years old from the Neolithic period, at Çatalhöyük in Turkey.

The largest so far known in the Middle East amount of grain of the Neolithic period in a perfect state of preservation has been discovered by Polish archaeologists in Çatalhöyük, a famous archaeological site in Turkey. Çatalhöyük is one of the largest urban centers of first farmers and one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world.

Read the report, with photo, here.

Preserving Tal Al Umayri in Jordan. Many archaeological sites are in danger of destruction. Tal Al Umayri, south of Amman, Jordan, is going to become an archaeological park. The site is on private property. Now the owners have agreed to give the land for the project. Details here.

New Museum in Petra, Jordan. The report here says,

According  to the Petra National Trust, it was visited by around 450,000 people in  2013, though this was a significant drop from 2010’s record number of 975,000 visitors. Officials hope the new museum will encourage tourists to spend more time in the ancient city. It will present the history of Petra and the Nabataeans, as well as house antiquities, but it is unclear what this means for the site’s two existing museums: the Petra Nabataean Museum, opened in 1994, and the Petra Archaeological Museum, opened in 1963.

HT: Steven Braman

The Roman Theater at Petra. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The Roman Theater at Petra. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Old Testament Bibliography by Ray Clendenen. Here is the info from Charles Savelle at Bible X.

You can access Ray Clendenen’s recently revised 385-page Old Testament bibliography here. Note: you have to have an account with academia.edu to access it but if you don’t already have an account,signing up is free.

A Dictionary of the Bible. This five-volume set is now on Community Pricing at Logos. A bid of $15.00 will secure a set in Logos digital format. Information is here.

A Dictionary of the Bible, James Hastings.

A Dictionary of the Bible, James Hastings. The work will be in digital format for use with Logos Bible Software.

It is true that this is an old work first published between 1893 and 1905, but it contains some excellent material. The five volumes contain 4,718 page. The projected price of $15 is less than you might pay for a paperback with one good idea in it.

I have owned the hardback set for many years and am anxious to include these volumes in my Logos 5. Logos needs some more orders to produce this set of books. Let’s pull together. Once the work is published in digital format the price will be $99.95.

2 Comments

Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, blog, Book Review, Books, Jordan, New Testament, Old Testament, Photography, Travel, Turkey

Tagged

Visualizing Isaiah 10: “Assyria, the rod of my anger”

Posted on February 11, 2014 | 2 comments

The Assyrians are first introduced in Isaiah 7. In chapter 10 we are informed that they are “the rod of [the LORD’s] anger.” They will serve the purpose of God to punish His people. Isaiah tells us that the Assyrians did not plan to be doing the will of the LORD; they only wanted to destroy many nations.

Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few; for he says: “Are not my commanders all kings? (Isaiah 10:5-8 ESV)

In the photos below I hope to illustrate a few ways the Assyrians punished the Judeans. Certainly the same was true of the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 17:5-6).

The Assyrians destroyed northern cities of Israel such as Hazor and the site sometimes identified as Geshur or NT Bethsaida in 732 B.C. By 722/21 Samaria lay in ruins. Assyria continued south into Judah. Sennacherib claims to have destroyed 46 strong cities of Judea in addition to all of the nearby villages (The Taylor Prism).

Assyrian King Sennacherib left reliefs of his war against Lachish on his palace wall at Nineveh. The following photos are portions of that relief now displayed in the British Museum. Many Judeans were taken into captivity. Other begged for mercy in the hilly Shephelah of Judah.

Judeans begging for mercy. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Judeans begging for mercy. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The plea was unsuccessful for some of them. This portion shows an Assyrian commander killing a Judean.

An Assyrian soldier kills a Judean. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

An Assyrian soldier kills a Judean. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

This portion of the relief shows heads of the slain being brought together for accounting. Some Egyptian reliefs show hands and other body parts being gathered for the same purpose.

Heads of Judeans being collected to get a count. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Heads of Judeans being collected to get a count. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

A 25-minute Discovery Channel video entitled The Assyrians: Masters of War uses Assyrian reliefs to tell the story of their savagery in war. Lachish is emphasized. Click here. (HT: Bible Places Blog).

2 Comments

Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Culture, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged , ,

Visualizing Isaiah 8: the gentle flowing waters of Shiloah

Posted on February 6, 2014 | 2 comments

Isaiah 8 teaches that the rejection of the LORD by His people would bring about severe punishment. To illustrate this, the LORD says His people “refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently,” and that He would bring up against them “the waters of the River” [Euphrates], that is, the Assyrians. This would not be gentle flowing, but would flood even to the neck. It would be impossible to stay afloat when that happens.

The LORD spoke to me again: “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.” (Isaiah 8:5-8 ESV)

From the earliest days of the city, the water source for Jerusalem was the Gihon Spring. The well-known Hezekiah’s tunnel and the new pool that he built on the west side of the city of David would not be constructed for about 25 to 35 years (2 Kings 20:20; 2 Chronicles 32:30).

The Canaanites had cut a small tunnel through the rock to allow water to flow from the Gihon Spring into the valley on the east side of what would later be called the city of David.

The comment in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament provides a good explanation of the tunnel and pool under consideration.

Hezekiah’s tunnel had not yet been constructed at this time. Water was conducted from the Gihon Spring (in the Kidron Valley on the east side of the city) toward the south through an aqueduct that brought the water to a reservoir at the southwestern tip of the city. This aqueduct is known as the Siloam Channel and in biblical times went by the name Shiloah.

Since 1997 it has been possible for visitors to the source of the Gihon Pool to walk through the dry Canaanite tunnel and exit in the valley which is part of the Silwan village. (That exit is now within an enclosed park area known as the City of David (Jerusalem Walls) National Park.) Our photo below show a portion of that tunnel.

The Canaanite Tunnel through which the gentle "waters of Shiloah" once flowed. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The Canaanite Tunnel through which the gentle “waters of Shiloah” once flowed. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

2 Comments

Posted in Archaeology, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, New Testament, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged ,

Visualizing Isaiah 7: the house of David

Posted on February 3, 2014 | 8 comments

The historical setting for Isaiah 7 concerns the efforts of Syria (Aram) and Israel (Ephraim, the northern kingdom) to form an alliance to attack king Ahaz of Judah (cf. 2 Kings 15:37). Some refer to this as the Syro-Ephraimite coalition against Judah.

The southern kingdom over which Ahaz ruled is referred to as the “house of David” twice in this chapter (7:2,13), and again in Isaiah 22:22.

In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. (Isaiah 7:1-2 ESV)

This chapter clearly mentions three distinct nations or governments – Syria, Israel, and Judah (the house of David). According to the Bible, the throne of David was established forever (2 Samuel 7:11-15). Christians understand that Jesus Christ is the final fulfillment of that promise (Luke 1:31-32; Acts 2:25-36).

Three fragments of an Aramic inscription were found at Tel Dan in 1993/1994 mentioning the king of Israel, the “house of David” and the Aramean (Syrian) god of storms and warfare, Hadad. You may recall that some of the Syrian kings were named after Hadad (e.g., Ben-Hadad, 1 Kings 15:18). This document probably refers to a different historical setting, but the kingdoms are the same: Israel, Syria, and Judah (house of David). Because all of the kings of Judah from David to the carrying away into Babylon are of the family of David, It is appropriate to refer to the house of David as the Davidic dynasty.

The Tel Dan inscription is displayed in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

The Tel Dan inscription displayed in the Israel Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The Tel Dan inscription displayed in the Israel Museum. The term “houseofdavid”, written right to left, is highlighted in white. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

8 Comments

Posted in Archaeology, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged

Visualizing Isaiah 6: King Uzziah

Posted on January 30, 2014 | 2 comments

Isaiah 6 begins with this historical note:

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1 ESV)

There are images from the ancient near east to help illustrate the vision in Isaiah 6, but I have chosen something pertaining to King Uzziah. Uzziah, also known as Azariah (2 Kings 14:21), reigned over Judah from about 792 to 740 B.C. From 792-767 his reign overlapped that of Amaziah.

Epitaph of King Uzziah of Judah. Israel Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Epitaph of King Uzziah of Judah. Israel Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

This Aramaic inscription, now displayed in the Israel Museum, claims to mark the tomb of King Uzziah. It reads “Hither were brought the bones of Uzziah, king of Judah. Do not open!”

The Chronicles of the Land: Archaeology in The Israel Museum Jerusalem includes this comment about Uzziah.

When he died, he could not be buried in the royal tombs because he was a leper. Some seven hundred years after his death, in the Second Temple Period, Jerusalem expanded, and Uzziah’s tomb had to be moved outside the new city limits. An epitaph was erected to mark the king’s new burial place. (69)

See also 2 Chronicles 26:23.

2 Comments

Posted in Archaeology, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged

Visualizing Isaiah 3: a skirt of sackcloth

Posted on January 24, 2014 | 1 comment

Isaiah describes the luxurious life of the women of Jerusalem in vivid terms. The prophet was definitely not politically correct.

16 The LORD said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet,
17 therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.
18 In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents;
19 the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves;
20 the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets;
21 the signet rings and nose rings;
22 the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags;
23 the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.
24 Instead of perfume there will be rottenness; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. (Isaiah 3:16-24 ESV)

When the Assyrians captured Lachish and other cities of Judea they took some of the people captive. Something similar must have happened when the Babylonians took captive many of the citizens of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

Our photo shows a portion of the relief Sennacherib left on his palace wall after the capture of Lachish. You may recognize that this is not the original now displayed in the British Museum. This replica is in the Israel Museum. Notice especially the women in the center of the bottom panel.

Sennacherib's relief showing the women of Lachish going into captivity. Replica in Israel Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Sennacherib’s relief showing the women of Lachish going into captivity. Replica in Israel Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Here is the original of the same scene as it is displayed in the British Museum. Click the photo for a larger image.

Sennacherib's Relief in British Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Sennacherib’s Relief in the British Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The women of the Shephelah were country women and the attire they are wearing may have been normal. The stylish women of Jerusalem would become like the plain women of the country and don a skirt of sackcloth.

David Ussishkin, excavator of Lachish, describes the scene:

The deportees are distinguishable by their appearance and dress. The women—adults and girls alike—wear a long, simple garment. A long shawl covers their head, shoulders and back, reaching to the bottom of the dress. The heads of both the adult men and boys are wound with scarves whose fringed ends hang down, covering the ears and reaching the level of their shoulders. A thick horizontal line below the belt probably marks the bottom of a sleeveless shirt. The garment has a fringed (?) tassel hanging between the legs, apparently attached to the bottom of the shirt. The men have short beards. Both men and women are barefooted. (The Conquest of Lachish by Sennacherib, 109).

1 Comment

Posted in Archaeology, Bible Places, Bible Study, Culture, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

Tagged , ,