Over the centuries, and especially the last century, numerous artifacts and
structures previously lost were uncovered. It is not possible, in
the scope of this book, to discuss all discoveries, so we will
survey those most important. In this exhibit we will focus on the
Old Testament.
The table below summarizes some of the historical and archaeological
evidences for the reliability of the Old Testament. it gives
evidence for how reliable the Bible texts really are. Entries in italics
were not discussed here, but added for completeness. Click on
the link in the table to jump to the detailed description of the
archaeological find.
Archaeological
Evidence for the Old Testament
|
|
Discovery
|
Dated
|
Evidence/Inscription
|
Significance
|
|
Silver Scrolls
|
Before
600 BC
|
Numbers
6:24-26
|
Confirms
sixth century BC Torah texts
|
|
Sodom and Gomorrah
|
Around
2000 BC
|
Excavated
“cities of the Plains”
|
Corroborates
Genesis accounts
|
|
Nuzi
or Nuzu tables
|
Around
1400 BC
|
Describe
Bronze Age customs
|
Corroborates
Torah accounts and customs
|
|
Destruction of Jericho
|
Around
1400 BC
|
Destroyed
as described in Joshua chapter 6
|
Corroborates
Joshua’s invasion of
Canaan
|
|
City of Shiloh
|
Around
1100 BC
|
Destroyed
around 1050 BC
|
Corroborates
books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel
|
|
Tel
Dan Stela
|
ninth
century BC
|
“House
of David,” “[Jeho]rm,”
“[Ahaz]yahu”
|
Corroborates
King David, Jehoram and Ahaziah
|
|
Tel
Al-Rimah Stela
|
870-810
BC
|
“Joash
the Samarian”
|
Corroborates
king Joash (805-790 BC)
|
|
Moabite
Stone
|
840-820
BC
|
“House
of David,” “Omri,” “Ahab”
|
Corroborates
King David, Omri and Ahab
|
|
Black
Obelisk of Shalmaneser III
|
840
BC
|
“the
tribute of Jehu, son of Omri”
|
Corroborates
Omri and Jehu
|
|
Annals
of the king Tiglath-Pileser III
|
744-727
BC
|
“the
Land
of
Omri
….king Pekah,,,,Hoshea,” “As for Menahem….,”
“..tribute of Azriau…Ahaz of Juda”
|
Corroborates
accounts of Menahem, Pekah and Hoshea of Israel and Uzziah and
Ahaz of Judah
|
|
Annals
of king Sargon II
|
721-705
BC
|
“I
conquered…the
Land
of
Omri
”
|
Corroborates
accounts of king Omri(885-874 BC)
|
|
Taylor Prism
|
700-680
BC
|
“Hezekiah,
the Jew…”
|
Corroborates
Hezekiah
|
|
Prism
B of king Esarhaddon
|
680-669
BC
|
“….Manasseh,
king of
Judah
”
|
Corroborates
Manasseh (696-642 BC)
|
|
Rassam
Cylinder of Ashurbanipal
|
668-633
BC
|
“Manasseh,
king of
Judah
”
|
Corroborates
king Manasseh
|
|
Ration
documents of Nebudchadnezzar
|
605-562
BC
|
“to
Jehoichin, king of
Judah
”
|
Corroborates
Jehoiachin (597-560 BC)
|
|
Neo-Babylonian
Chronicle
|
600
BC
|
Records
of Nebudchadnezzar
|
Confirms
Babylonian invasion of Palestine
|
|
Cyrus
Cylinder
|
500
BC
|
Cyrus’s
victory and decree permitting free worship
|
Confirms
Ezra 1:1-4
|