"Archaeology" Article Items

The Labayu letters are important in establishing the historicity of the Old Testament – especially some of its most contested parts.  There are 382 preserved letters from the Egyptian city of Amara.  About 150 of these letters were written from Canaan to the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep at around 1400 BC. Three of these letters were written by Labayu who was the king of Shechem while several others were written by other local rulers accusing Labayu of being an ally of the hated Habiru. The Habiru was an ancient designation of a people who first appeared in the 18th century BC… Read More »

The Jerusalem Chronicle is one of a series of a history written concerning the fir eleven years of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II. The chronicle concerns the period between 605 and 594 BC including his military campaigns against various other countries including Judah, Egypt, and Assyria.  The table is currently housed in the British Museum in London, and measures 3.25 inches by 2.4 inches long.  Even though it was acquired in the antiquities market and its original place of origin is unknown, it has been verified as being genuine. The Historicity of the Biblical Account The document is important as… Read More »

The Hittites were an ancient civilization that arose and fell several times during Old Testament times.  They were a powerful group with a formidable army that was powerful enough to invade Babylon. In fact, they eventually grew so strong and expanded their empire so widely that they became an ancient superpower on the same level as Egypt and Assyria. Battle of Kadesh The two kingdoms would eventually clash in the region where they meet each other – modern-day Syria.  The Battle of Kadesh is dated to 1274 BC and represents the earliest battle in recorded history for which detailed battle… Read More »

The Shishak invasion of Israel by the Egyptian armies of Shishak is described in Scripture and illustrated on a wall located in Egypt. The reign of King Rehoboam was tumultuous.  He was the son of Solomon and a grandson of David.  The Kingdom of David was still united when Rehoboam took over after the death of Solomon, his father. Solomon, the King of Israel, had broken the Mosaic mandates of the Torah by taking wives who were not Jewish.  The clear reason for this mandate was to prevent non-Jewish customs and beliefs from infiltrating into the Jewish community and turning… Read More »

The Ivory House is mentioned in the Bible as a minor reference concerning the ancient Kings of the Northern Kingdom.  Its construction was influenced by Phoenician culture brought into Israel by Queen Jezebel. King Ahab was one of the more wicked kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel reigning during the 9th century, BC.  Ahab along with his wife Jezebel greatly expanded worship of Baal and brought Phoenician customs into Israel.  These included such things as child sacrifice, fertility rights, idol worship, and sacrifices to a false god. The Bible gives them both a very negative portrayal and they both… Read More »

The Upper Room is one of the most venerated places in Jerusalem.  It is a site featured in the New Testament Gospels as the place where Jesus had his Last Supper with his disciples, and where he later appeared to them after the Resurrection.  It is also the place where the first believers gathered together to await the arrival of the Holy Spirit. The  Biblical Archaeology Society has an excellent article showing possible ancient renderings of the Upper Room in various churches throughout the ancient world.  This article has these renderings in order for the readers to make their own… Read More »