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Winged
Bull with the face of Sargon from the Oriental Institute
University of Chicago |
Biblical Insights from
Archeology By
Ferrell Jenkins
Because the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek it is necessary
that someone translate it into English and other languages so that
it can be read by those with little or no knowledge of the original
languages. Most of us realize this. Perhaps we do not see as readily
that the customs and culture of the Bible must also be "translated"
for the modern reader. History and archaeology provide the Bible
student with much help in this effort.
Archaeology is a systematic study of ancient people as their life
can be learned by what they left behind. In addition to the remains
of palaces, temples, monuments, and great buildings, the
archaeologists find immense libraries, weapons, pottery, tablets,
murals, coins, jewelry, utensils, and even clothing. The "Biblical
world" includes the areas of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), Persia
(modern Iran), Egypt, Palestine (modern Lebanon, Israel, the West
Bank), Jordan, Syria, Asia Minor (modern Turkey), Greece, Italy and
a few other areas.
What Archaeology Can and Can not Do
The Bible claims to be the inspired word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We
do not believe that the purpose of archaeology is to "prove" the
Bible is true. It is better to speak of archaeology illustrating,
illuminating, or supplementing the Biblical record. Sometimes even
the word confirm may be appropriate. Generally speaking, the finds
of archaeology have been friendly to the Bible, but some problem
areas do exist and several widely held views have been reversed as a
result of subsequent studies.
Some Values of Archaeology
(1) General Cultural Background. Archaeology, along with other
historical records, provides the general cultural background of the
history of the Bible. The Bible furnishes us with a character and
archaeology furnishes the cultural background in which he lived. It
says that these persons were not figments of overzealous
imaginations, but real people. The sketchy lives of characters
described in the Bible are seen to fit into the general historical
period in which the Bible places them.
Excavations of the City of David (Zion) in Jerusalem have revealed
much about life at the time of the fall of the city to the
Babylonians. The excavations at Lachish have provided a better
understanding into both the Assyrian and Babylonian conquests of
Israel and Judah. This information provides much help in a study of
the Old Testament historical books and the prophets.
(2) Resurrection of Forgotten People. Forgotten people have been
brought to life by the archaeological spade. The Hittites, even
though mentioned more than 40 times in the Old Testament (Josh. 1:4,
et al.), were unknown outside the Bible at the beginning of the
twentieth century. Some critics had denied the existence of such a
people. By 1906 the Hittite capital at Boghazkoy (near Ankara, the
capital of modern Turkey) was being excavated by Hugo Winckler. I
have visited the site as well as the Anatolian Civilizations Museum
in Ankara where the Hittite treasures are housed. Courses in Hittite
civilization are now offered in major universities.
The names of numerous individuals who are mentioned in the
Scriptures have been found on inscriptions, seals, and bullae from
the period in which they lived. Ahab, Jehu, Mesha, Jehoiachin,
Gemariah, Baruch, and Sargon are just a few of those named in the
Bible who are also now known from historical records outside the
Bible.
(3) Chronology. The Israelites never developed a consecutive
chronology. Who has not wished for more information as he tried to
make sense of the books of Kings and Chronicles? Fortunately, the
nations about Israel (Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon) did use
consecutive dating. By the Israelite contact with these peoples we
are able to develop dates for Old Testament events and persons. The
Babylonian Chronicle, read by D. J. Wiseman of the British Museum in
1955, provides the date of the capture of Jerusalem by
Nebuchadnezzar and the taking away of Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:10-17).
In our calendar the date would be March 16, 597 B.C. Other tablets,
now in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, list rations provided daily to
king Jehoiachin and his servants while they were in Babylon (2 Kings
25:27-30).
(4) Identify Biblical Sites. Several Biblical sites have been
identified as a result of inscriptions that have been discovered.
Gezer was identified when an inscription with the Hebrew words "the
boundary of Gezer" was found at the site (1 Kings 9:15-17). Other
examples of this include Gibeon, Ekron, Derbe, Lystra, and Thyatira.
(5) Help in Translating the Bible. Many ancient documents and
inscriptions have been discovered which provide a better insight
into the meaning of words used in the Hebrew and Greek originals
which make up our Bible. Actual Biblical manuscripts have also been
found.
(6) Demonstrates Accuracy of Bible. Archaeology has done a great
deal to correct the impression that the Bible and Biblical history
was of doubtful trustworthiness. Many of the illustrations used
above show that the Bible is to be trusted in what it says.
The Case of Sargon
The case of Sargon provides a good illustration of the value of
archaeology in Bible study. He is one of the forgotten persons who
has been brought to life by the archaeological pick, and he provides
a great illustration of the historical trustworthiness of the Bible.
Because the story has unfolded over a period of a century and a half
it shows the need for patience on the part of students. In a day of
instant communication and the quick fix, this is not easy for most
of us.
Sargon II was king of Assyria from 721 to 705 B.C., but records
which survived into the 19th century made no mention of him. In the
only reference to Sargon in the Bible the prophet Isaiah says, "In
the year that the commander came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of
Assyria sent him and he fought against Ashdod and captured it" (Isaiah
20:1). In the earlier English versions, including the King James and
the American Standard, the Hebrew term for commander was
transliterated as a personal name, Tartan. Since the time of those
versions scholars have learned more about the Assyrian language. The
New King James continues to use the term Tartan but adds a note, "Or
the Commander in Chief." The NASB simply uses the term commander.
The RSV and the NRSV use the phrase commander in chief. The NIV uses
the phrase supreme commander. Grogan, in The Expositor's Bible
Commentary, says the term tharetan (tartan) "really means 'second'
and is indirect testimony to the great value the Assyrians attached
to military prowess. Their supreme commander was second in status
only to the king himself."
James Orr commented in 1906, "Ancient writers knew nothing of him
[Sargon]. He was a mystery: some did not hesitate to deny that he
ever existed" (The Problem of the Old Testament, 399). Sargon's
palace was found by Paul Emile Botta at Khorsabad in 1843. In
various inscriptions and annalistic reports Sargon II claims to have
taken Samaria (Ancient Near Eastern Texts, 284-87). A nonagonal
prism, chronicling the expedition of Sargon II against Babylon,
Medians, Syria, and Palestine mentions the conquest of Samaria, "the
land of the house of Omri," in 721 B.C. (British Museum artifact
22505 from Khorsabad, 8th century B.C.).
In one annal Sargon says: "I besieged and conquered Samaria, led
away as booty 27,290 inhabitants of it. I formed from among them a
contingent of 50 chariots and made remaining (inhabitants) assume
their (social) positions. I installed over them an officer of mine
and imposed upon them the tribute of the former king" (ANET,
284-85). In another annal he claims to have rebuilt the town "better
than (it was) before and settled therein people from countries which
I myself had conquered" (ANET, 284). Samaria actually fell to
Shalmaneser in 722 B.C. (Assyrian records and the Bible agree).
Sargon began his reign in 721 B.C. and claims some of the credit.
My only opportunity to visit Iraq (area of ancient Mesopotamia) was
in 1970. I recall a room in the newly opened Iraq Museum in Baghdad
devoted to items from the palace of Sargon at Khorsabad. The British
Museum has numerous artifacts depicting Sargon or containing
inscriptions about his work (BM118822; BM118828; BM135206; BM118808,
et al.). Recently the Louvre has opened a remodeled exhibit of
reliefs from the palace of Sargon II.
Fragments of a basalt victory stele of Sargon II were found at
Ashdod in 1963. This artifact is now on display in the Israel Museum
in Jerusalem. Ashdod is mentioned in Isaiah 20:1 as the town
captured by Sargon!
In 1989 archaeologists unearthed fabulous treasures at Nimrud
(Biblical Calah) including more than 125 pounds of gold jewelry.
According to a report in Time, "Much of that gold [found in April]
turned out to be priceless jewelry draped around the skeleton of a
young princess named Yabahya, tentatively identified as the daughter
of one of Assyria's most renowned and feared kings, Sargon II." In
July, a few yards from the original find, the excavators found more
than 440 pieces of gold jewelry believed to "represent the private
collection of an Assyrian queen, perhaps the wife of Ashurnasirpal
himself." See "The Golden Treasures of Nimrud," Time, 30 Oct., 1989:
80-81.
Isaiah had it right all along. One needs to hesitate a long time
(maybe a couple of centuries!) before questioning the accuracy of
the Bible.
Conclusion
If the Bible student uses maps, Bible dictionaries, commentaries,
and other up to date helps which reflect the current knowledge in
archaeology he will be greatly repaid for his effort. This
information can serve him well when he talks with those who doubt
the historical character of the Bible. ~
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