The Vital Importance of Biblical Archaeology
To Jews and Christians, Israel’s ancient history is the richest in the world. The primary chronicle of this history, culture and tradition is the Hebrew Bible. The Bible forms the basis of Western civilization, and in some form or other is a foundational religious document for over 4 billion people around the world. Even in this age of intense secularism, the Bible remains the most sold, most owned, most translated, most revered book in human history.
The Status of the Bible in Modern Academia
Many Israelis see and understand the centrality of the Bible very well. But in the upper echelons of academia—among many of those entrusted to teach and pass on this ancient history to future generations—the Scriptures are viewed with cynicism and even palpable disdain. Among the “enlightened,” the Bible is now deeply unfashionable. Of course, modern scholarship finds anything religious in nature automatically disdainful. Anything with a whiff of divinity, the miraculous, or the supernatural is anathema. So the Bible is, in principle, flatly dismissed as a serious teaching tool and scientific aid.
Archaeologist Scott Stripling, director of excavations in Tel Shiloh, alluded to this anti-Bible bias in academia, explaining that “much of Israeli archaeology has become totally secular.” While Dr. Stripling praised the work of Hebrew University, he also said that it was “sad” and “tragic” to see that the Bible was no longer being consulted or featured in its archaeological program.
Defining Biblical Archaeology
Even the definition of “biblical archaeology” is somewhat vague. To some, it is simply the excavation of a site or material within Israel, dating to a biblical time period. More properly, biblical archaeology is the practice of archaeology in consultation with the Bible. This might include selecting a site based on the biblical record, or interpreting discoveries in the context of biblical information.
Key Discoveries Supporting the Biblical Record
The frequency with which the land of Israel unveils new archaeological finds supporting the Bible never ceases to amaze. Below is a summary of significant finds that bridge the gap between science and scripture:
| Discovery | Period/Date | Biblical Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Ishmael Papyrus | First Temple Period | Mentions "Ishmael," possibly the man "of the seed royal" described in Jeremiah 40. |
| Tel Abel Beth Maacah Ostracon | 10th–9th centuries b.c.e. | Confirms Hebrew presence in the far north, matching 1 Chronicles 18 and 2 Samuel 20. |
| Tel Motza Temple | Time of Solomon | Confirms 1 Kings 11:7 regarding pagan temples allowed on the outskirts of Jerusalem. |
| Tel Arad Cannabis Altar | Circa 735 b.c.e. | Fits the account of King Ahaz making high places to burn incense (2 Chronicles 28:25). |
| Lead Ingots (Caesarea) | Late Bronze Age | Corroborates Judges 5:17 and Deuteronomy 33 regarding the tribe of Asher working with metals and ships. |
The Ishmael Papyrus
The Ishmael Papyrus is a Dead Sea Scroll fragment and is one of only three that have been discovered dating to the First Temple Period. The four lines of text on the fragmentary papyrus contain the name “Ishmael.” Jeremiah 40 describes a man named Ishmael on the scene at the time of Jerusalem’s fall who was “of the seed royal.” It is possible that this papyrus fragment may refer to the same individual.
Discoveries at Tel Abel Beth Maacah
In January 2020, a small pottery fragment (ostracon) inscribed “l’bnyw”—Belonging to Benayau—came to light from northern Israel. Abel Beth Maacah is a town situated in the far northern extremity of modern-day Israel. The discovery fits with the biblical account, which describes a powerful 10th-century united kingdom of Israel extending far north during the reign of David. During this, Abel Beth Maacah is named a “mother in Israel” and the “inheritance of the Lord [Yahweh]” (2 Samuel 20:15-19).
The Tel Motza Temple and King Ahaz
A 3,000-year-old temple at Tel Motza was characterized as evidence against the biblical account by some, but it actually serves to confirm the record. Passages like 1 Kings 11:7 show that King Solomon allowed the construction of pagan temples on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Similarly, at Tel Arad, a chemical analysis revealed that cannabis was burned on incense altars. This fits well with the biblical account of pagan King Ahaz, a monarch the Bible connects especially with incense altars.
The Enduring Debate
A debate rages among Biblical archaeologists: Was there a United Monarchy under David and Solomon? Should impressive ancient structures throughout Israel be attributed to Solomon or were they built a century later? Israel Finkelstein, a key figure in this debate, has often been termed a minimalist when it comes to biblical history, although Finkelstein himself prefers to consider himself a centrist. These discussions highlight how archaeologists often reach dramatically different conclusions when looking at the same evidence.