8. 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)
11. 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
12. 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”
13. ARCHAEOLOGY
TELLS OR ANCIENT MOUNDS
•Tell or Tel - Josh 8:28
•Mound
•Ancient Ruin
Names of Ancient
Cities that have been
buried
29. 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
31. 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
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. PROBLEMS IN ARCHAEOLOGY
• Dating
• Context of finds
• Verification
• Testing a hypothesis
• Reconstruction of the past
• Historical problems
37. 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.”
38. 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)
43. 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
44. 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.
45. ARCHAEOLOGY AND
THE TEXT OF
SCRIPTURE
1. Clarifies Scripture
2. Confirms Scripture
3. Complements Scripture
46. SILVER SCROLL: THE AARONIC
BLESSING
Numbers 6:24-26
May Yahweh bless
you and keep you;
May Yahweh
cause his face to
Shine upon you
and grant you
Peace
47. 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
Editor's Notes
Welcome
Joke, cartoon or funny story
Welcome
Prayer
Address some misconceptions or prejudices about archaeology ask for feedback from the audience
TO MANY, an archaeologist is a morbid creature who enjoys poking around ancient ruins to discover dead men's bones, bits of pottery, weapons, or tools. Such an idea is far from the truth. Rather, he is something of a scientist, whether amateur or professional; and he interests himself in a study of dead things only as a means of learning about the life of an ancient people.
Or maybe a combination of all three caricatures
I got a book early probably about 1977 and this book made an indelible impression. Book synopsis-- A twelve-year-old boy in Israel on an archaeological dig with his parents learns the secret of an ancient cave from a mysterious Bedouin. Jeff was the first to notice the symbol on the ancient pottery sherd. The fish. Early Christians had scrawled it in sand or carved it in stone to identify themselves. And now his Arab friend Kerim was about to make that symbol come alive again. ''If you ever find somewhere a drawing of a fish -'' Kerim paused, unable to hide his fear. ''-you will know it is a sign from me that danger is near.'' Freelance writer BETTIE WILSON STORY's book THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TELL is based on her husband's experiences in Israel, where he worked as a member of an archeological team on the Tel Gezer dig.
A story based on her husband's experiences in Israel, where he worked as a member of an archaeological team on the Tel Gezer dig.
Dr. David R. Reid, whose academic background includes both engineering and theology, is a former faculty member at Emmaus Bible College for 28 years (1975-2003) in Dubuque, Iowa. He is the founder of Growing Christians Ministries, the author of the bi-monthly publication “Devotions for Growing Christians,” and the producer of the radio program “Talks for Growing Christians.” His other activities include Holy Land study tours and seminars on Biblical Hermeneutics and Christian Evidences. He authored 39 years of "Devotions for Growing Christians" and continues to be the Bible teacher for the radio program, "Talks for Growing Christians." He taught and recorded courses on Biblical Hermeneutics and Christian Evidences, and wrote course books on those subjects. Dr. Dave taught at churches, conferences, camps, retreats and home Bible studies, and led many in-depth study tours of Bible Lands. A life-long Bible student and athlete, he creatively initiated Bible study and fellowship activities: "Ski & Study," "Golf & Grow," and "Tennis & Tailgate Fellowship." He and his wife, Margie, are the parents of three married children, and have six grandchildren. Dr. Dave completed his earthly service for the Lord Jesus in January, 2012. "Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the your Master's joy!" Dr David Reid B.S., Glass and Ceramic Engineering at Rutgers University
Ph.D. Glass and Ceramic Technology at Rutgers University
M.T.S. New Testament Studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Faculty Member at Emmaus Bible College from 1975-2003 Died January 31, 2012
April 2nd, 1937 - January 31st, 2012
The Old Bishop Gobat School where behind the school is the entrance to the Old MT Zion Protestant cemetary where there are a few notable Christians buried, William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942), British Egyptologist, Horatio Gates Spafford (1828–1888), US lawyer and hymnologist who wrote “It is well with my soul”.
6 weeks of Old Testament and 6 weeks of New Testament
1. "I do not believe that the Bible is true, because it makes some serious mistakes. For example, Isaiah 20:1 mentions Sargon as a king of Assyria. But his name has not been found in any other historical records. Therefore he may not have even existed. The Bible was wrong in mentioning this fictitious name. "
2. "The Bible is unreliable because it refers to Abraham having camels in Egypt about 2,000 B.C. Camels were not known in Egypt till long after Abraham's time. Furthermore, how do we know that Egyptians even allowed strangers in their land at Abraham's time?"
3. "The Bible is very difficult to understand. For example, in Genesis 31:43 Laban tells Jacob, his son-in-law, that Jacob's children belong to Laban. This must be an error in the Bible. Surely no grandfather would say that his grandchildren belong to him rather than to their own father."
The word archaeology means literally "a study of ancient things," but the term has come to signify much more than that. Usually it applies to a study of excavated materials belonging to a former era. And in line with the purpose of this book, which is to discuss Bible archaeology, we may define it as an examination of ancient things which have been lost and found again, as those recovered objects relate to the study of Scripture and the portrayal of life in Bible times.
In endeavoring to reconstruct the past of ancient peoples, the archaeologist will seek first to understand their environment. Geographical, geological, and climactic factors will loom large in a consideration of this nature. He will try to answer such questions as was their life affected by nearness to great trade routes on land or sea ? Was the nation protected by natural barriers or were they sources of inconvenience or disunity? Were natural resources abundant or scarce, and what kinds were available? What bearing did the climate of the area have upon water supply, clothing, or diet?
Secondly, the archaeologist must find out about the people themselves. The types of houses they built, the forms of government or social organization they constructed, the religious practices in which they engaged, the tools they used, the art they portrayed, and by interpretation of material finds, the very outlook on life which they possessed—are all included in a well-rounded discussion of a people of another era.
Three illustrations
First Archaeology confirms the Bible. Turn with me to Isaiah 20:1
Botta was an Italian and selected to be naturalist just like Darwin. Later the French Government appointed Consul at Mosul in 1841-2 which was then part of the Ottoman empire where he uncovered the fortress. He certainly wasn’t looking for King Sargon. He was looking for ancient Nineveh. The Sargon fortress covered 16 acres and had walls between 9 and 16 feet thick Isaiah 20:1
The palace of Sargon, reconstructed on the basis of the excavations. Until a century ago Sargon’s existence was often doubted—up to that time his name only appeared once in all records, and that in a parenthetic remark in the Bible (Isa 20:1). In the middle of the nineteenth century Sargon’s palace at Khorsabad, about twelve miles north of ancient Nineveh, was discovered. No longer was there any doubt of his existence.
This stone winged bull from the palace of Sargon, originally carved from a single block of stone is 16 feet long and 16 feet high and weighs 40 tons. Similar winged bulls flanked the portal leading from the courtyard to the throne room.
In 1843 Paul Emile Botta
Picture of one of the Nuzi tablets from the British Museum about 4000 tablets recovered from Nuzi
"The adoption tablet of Nashwi son of Arshenni. He adopted Wullu son of Puhishenni. As long as Nashwi lives, Wullu shall give (him) food and cloth-ing. When Nashwi dies, Wullu shall be the heir. Should Nashwi beget a son, (the latter) shall divide equally with Wullu but (only) Nashwi's son shall take Nashwi's gods. But if there be no son of Nashwi's, then Wullu shall take Nashwi's gods. And (Nashwi) has given his daughter Nuhuya as wife to Wullu. And if Wullu takes another wife, he forfeits Nashwi's land and buildings. Whoever breaks the contract shall pay one mina of silver (and) one mina of gold."
While tablets from Nuzi began appearing back as far as 1896, the first serious archaeological efforts began in 1925 after Gertrude Bell noticed tablets appearing in the markets of Baghdad. The dig was mainly worked by Edward Chiera, Robert Pfeiffer, and Richard Starr under the auspices of the Iraq Museum and the Baghdad School of the American Schools of Oriental Research and later the Harvard University and Fogg Art Museum.[2][3][4] Excavations continued through 1931. The site has 15 occupation levels. The hundreds of tablets and other finds recovered were published in a series of volumes. More finds continue to be published to this day.[5]
Notice the shape and distinctive shape of the mound
Helpful supplementary information about customs, cultures, cities, religions, writings, etc.. , are provided by archaeology.
In closing
Primitive Art in Egypt by Jean Capart 1905 dated to 3000 BC
Free finds considerable evidence for the knowledge and use of camels in Egypt long before Abraham—whenever he might be dated.
For instance, about 1935 a skull of a camel was found in the Fayum of Egypt (an oasis area southwest of Cairo), dating 2000-1400 B.C.
Miss Caton-Thompson found a camel's hair rope in the Fayum during the 1927-28 season of excavation and dated it to the Old Kingdom (c. 2500 B.C.).
Three pottery camel heads dating to about 3000 B.C. have also been excavated in Egypt.
These are only a few of the evidences of the early use of the camel in Egypt that Free presents. In all, he describes the following evidence from the pre-Christian era: one item from the seventh century, one from the ninth, two from the thirteenth, one from the fifteenth, one from the sixteenth, two from the period between the fifteenth and twentieth centuries, one from the twenty-third, several from the twenty-fifth, four from the first dynasty (c. 3000 B.C.) and four from the predynastic period.19 So we have abundant objective evidence provided by archaeological investigation to confirm another assertion of Scripture that has been commonly assailed by the critics.
Gabriel Barkay discovered these in 1979-1980 in a tomb near St. Andrews Church as seen from the Hinnom Valley in Jerusalem. The Iron Age tomb where the silver scrolls were found is located in the rock outcrop in front of the church. Pre-exilic date of the Silver scroll 700-600 BC
We are tactile people and need physical things to bolster our faith and the writers of Scripture recognized this.