Current Events Articles: September 2016

Burnt Scroll of Leviticus Digitally Unfolded posted by Bryan Windle

A badly damaged ancient scroll, discovered in the burnt-out remains of a synagogue in En-Gedi, has been digitally unfolded to reveal the first two chapters from the book of Leviticus. Because the scroll was burned so badly (essentially only a charred lump remained), researchers had conserved the scroll until technology had advanced to the point where it might be readable. That day has arrived, as computer scientists from the University of Kentucky worked with scholars in Jerusalem to scan the scroll and use new software to virtually unroll it and translate the revealed text. Carbon-14 tests had dated the scroll to approximately 300 AD. Paleographic analysis of the style of writing used suggests a first-century date between 50-100 AD. The translated text of Leviticus is identical to that in the Masoretic text of the Old Testament. This makes the En-Gedi scroll the earliest copy of the Masoretic text, and bridges a gap in the history of Bible translation that had existed between the Dead Sea Scrolls and medieval copies the Old Testament.
 
Off-site Links:
- http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/9/e1601247.full
- http://www.wsj.com/video/scientists-reveal-biblical-text-from-ancient-scroll/FCF75BB3-682E-4099-B463-3234FD59EFF2.html
- http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/09/computers-decipher-ancient-hebrew-ein-gedi-scroll-bible-archaeology/
- http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/science/ancient-sea-scrolls-bible.html

Second Temple Floor Tiles Restored posted by Bryan Windle

Archaeologists from the Temple Mount Sifting Project announced that they have restored some of the flooring tiles from the Second Temple using colored stone floor tile segments found in the earth and rubble that had originally come from the Temple Mount. Known as opus sectile, Latin for "cut work," this style of floor tile is more expensive and prestigious than the more common mosaic flooring. Of the many tile segments discovered so far, more than 100 date to the time period of Herod's Second Temple. Seven floor tile designs have been assembled by using basic geometry, the known size of a Roman foot (approximately 29.6 cm), and similarities to the tile designs used by Herod at other sites, including his palaces at Masada, Herodium and Jericho. Archaeological architect Leen Ritmeyer (ABR’s architect at the Khirbet el-Maqatir and Shiloh excavations) suggests that these tile designs adorned the interior of some of the buildings that surrounded the Temple, and/or from under the colonnades around the smaller courts. Paving stones discovered in situ from Herod's Temple Mount show that the open courtyard would have likely been paved with large limestone slabs, which would have weathered better than the more delicate opus sectile floor tiles. 
 
Off-site Links: 
- https://templemount.wordpress.com/2016/09/06/1374/
- http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Archeologists-restore-tiles-from-Second-Temple-in-Jerusalem-467021
- http://www.ritmeyer.com/2016/09/12/flooring-from-the-temple-mount-in-jerusalem/

Evidence for the Kingdom of David posted by Bryan Windle

A new exhibit, "In the Valley of David and Goliath," has opened at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem. It presents the recent archaeological evidence for the kingdom of David discovered in the Valley of Elah. The exhibit displays artifacts discovered at Khirbet Qeiyafa, quite possibly the biblical city of Sha'arayim (which means "two gates" in Hebrew) of 1 Sam 17:52 and 1 Chr 4:31. Almost all of the artifacts in the exhibit were excavated at the site, including tools, weapons and cookware, as well as an inscription that may be the earliest form of Hebrew writing discovered to date. In addition, the Tel Dan Stele, with its famous "House of David" inscription, is on loan to the Bible Lands Museum for the exhibit.
 
Off-site Links:
- http://www.blmj.org/en/template/default.aspx?PageId=155
- https://lukechandler.wordpress.com/tag/bible-lands-museum/

Solomon-Era Palace Found in Gezer posted by Bryan Windle

A 3000-year-old palace, dating to the time of King Solomon, has been discovered in Gezer. The massive building has a large, central courtyard, much like the palatial buildings discovered at Hazor and Megiddo. It is built of large, rectangular-shaped monolithic hewn stones, unusual for domestic structures of the day, but the type of building materials that would be used in a palace. Philistine bichrome pottery and an "Ashdod figurine" – believed to be a Philistine goddess – were also discovered at the site, providing evidence that the Bible's description of Gezer being under Philistine control when King David broke their power "all the way from Geba to Gezer" (2 Sm 5:25; 1 Chron 14:16) is true. The team excavating the site has dubbed the building "Solomon's Palace," not because they believe Solomon dwelt there, but because of the Bible's description of Solomon's building projects at Gezer after his wife – Pharaoh's daughter – received the city as a wedding gift from her father, the King of Egypt (1 Kgs 9:15-17). This discovery demonstrates, yet again, that the descriptions found in the Bible are historically accurate.
 
Off-site Links:
- http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.739358
- http://www.newhistorian.com/solomons-palace-discovered-gezer-israel/7154/
- http://www.ibtimes.com/archaeology-proves-bible-true-story-king-solomon-era-palace-found-israel-2410311

Volunteer in 2016 Support Associates For Biblical Research with every purchase on Amazon Smile. Bible and Spade magazine Become a Member Make a Donation to ABR
Associates for Biblical Research
  • PO Box 144, Akron, PA 17501
  • Phone: +1 717-859-3443
  • Toll Free: 1-800-430-0008
Friend ABR on Facebook.com Join us on Twitter Join us on Twitter