Fascinating post by Michael Barber of "Singing in the Reign":
This is a story I've been closely following for some time now, but have
held off posting on out of caution. However, it seems as though the
evidence is beginning to look pretty solid. In sum, an archaeological
dig at Khirbet Qeiyafa, which was reported on a few months ago by the New York Times, is turning out finds that are rocking the scholarly community. And, while at the time, the New York Times reported
that only a small piece of the site had been excavated, information is
pouring out that even more striking evidence has been uncovered.
This may very well go down as the "21st century Dead Sea Scrolls". However, while the DSS helped illuminate the New Testament, Khirbet Qeiyafa is shedding incredible light on a much, much earlier period, apparently corroborating the historicity of the Old Testament.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me give some background here.
Many scholars dispute the historical reliability of the Old Testament, particularly the parts prior to Ezra and Nehemiah: e.g., David, Solomon, the kingdom, etc. Why?
According to many scholars the stories about the glorious reign of David and Solomon are myths--of little more value than the stories about King Arthur and the Roundtable. All of it was made up. When Israel returned from their Babylonian exile the past history of Israel was "invented". In fact, for some historians there never even were twelve tribes in Israel. The Israelites "idealized" their past. The story of the apostasy of Solomon and the sinfulness of the Israelites were created for two purposes. First, it gave the Jews a claim on the land. Second, it gave the Jews a reason to remain obedient to the priestly leaders.
In sum, the Old Testament narratives about David, Solomon--not too mention that of Abraham and the Patriarchs--were nothing more than political propoganda. Some scholars believed Israelite writing didn't even exist at that point.
Perhaps, such scholars might concede, there were some tribal leagues and small villages, but a kingdom of David? Such scholars--often called "minimalists"--would laugh and say, no way.
Until now.
This may very well go down as the "21st century Dead Sea Scrolls". However, while the DSS helped illuminate the New Testament, Khirbet Qeiyafa is shedding incredible light on a much, much earlier period, apparently corroborating the historicity of the Old Testament.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me give some background here.
Many scholars dispute the historical reliability of the Old Testament, particularly the parts prior to Ezra and Nehemiah: e.g., David, Solomon, the kingdom, etc. Why?
According to many scholars the stories about the glorious reign of David and Solomon are myths--of little more value than the stories about King Arthur and the Roundtable. All of it was made up. When Israel returned from their Babylonian exile the past history of Israel was "invented". In fact, for some historians there never even were twelve tribes in Israel. The Israelites "idealized" their past. The story of the apostasy of Solomon and the sinfulness of the Israelites were created for two purposes. First, it gave the Jews a claim on the land. Second, it gave the Jews a reason to remain obedient to the priestly leaders.
In sum, the Old Testament narratives about David, Solomon--not too mention that of Abraham and the Patriarchs--were nothing more than political propoganda. Some scholars believed Israelite writing didn't even exist at that point.
Perhaps, such scholars might concede, there were some tribal leagues and small villages, but a kingdom of David? Such scholars--often called "minimalists"--would laugh and say, no way.
Until now.
Don't forget the excavations at the Syrian site called Ebla which overturned some minimalist claims about the period of the Patriarchs. The patriarchal millieu in the OT fits conditions described in the Ebla documents.
Now if someone will just manage to persuade that there was a Second Temple in Jewish Jerusalem destoyed by the Romans under Titus. . . .
Posted by: Sandra Miesel | Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 12:59 PM