And when there aren't the Bible is a wonderful resource to help interpret archaelogical evidence. It was the biblical references to Ararat (the kingdom rather than the mountain) that helped to discover the lost civilisation of Urartu in Armenia.
Foot
EBII Mod Leader
Hayasdan Faction Co-ordinator
How can archeology prove that Moses and Exodus never happened? Because the jews definetly were slaves to egypt who then had an exodus and went to israel.
The bible is an historical text, and there's much about ancient civilisation that would be unknown if not for the bible. There is however a lot of symbolism that needs to be interpretted in order to fully understand the bible.
Splitting an ocean in two.How can archeology prove that Moses and Exodus never happened? Because the jews definetly were slaves to egypt who then had an exodus and went to israel.
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Well actually, there's archeological evidence to support the sea opening a path for the jews. There's actually a book that explores the truths of the old testament with numerous archeological and geological findings. I remember it said that various egyption chariots, weapons and debris was found, preserved in the mud of the seabed, evidence that some sort of pursuit of the jews did take place. My memory of it is quite foggy, but I think the book also explains of how a volcano eruption (or was it meteorite?) caused a huge disturbance in the tidal patterns and how this could have possibly lead to the sea receding.
I should dig this book up and find out what it says. Please note that it's a book that looks at the archeological and geological facts and is not one that finds workarounds for the bible story to be able to fit into modern day science.
I'm sorry, but how does the finding of chariots and weapons lead one to the conclusion that the jews were chased across there? That is proof of nothing except that chariots and weapons are being found at the bottom of the red sea. If the bible story didn't exist would there be any evidence to suggest that the jews crossed there? I doubt it.
Take for example one of the stories in Joshua, where in a southern campaign the israelite army captured the towns of Lachish and Debir (and others). Both Lachish and Debir show signs of destruction toward the end of the 13th cent. BC (the specific date for Debir is given as 1225BC), so it would follow that the Israelites, because of the OT story, were the cause behind such evidence. Yet there exists a victory stele of the Egytian Pharaoh Merneptah, dated 1223BC, that speaks of general plundering by Egyptians in the region of Lachish and Debir. Furthermore the "Sea Peoples" from across the mediterranean were settling the coast of Canaan in force. If we didn't have the OT story then suspicion for the destruction of Lachish and Debir would fall on the Egyptians or the "Sea People" not the Israelites. The OT is not an historical document, it was an oral tradition for centuries after the events that it claims to portray, and archaeology is the stick by which we must measure it, not the other way round.
Foot
EBII Mod Leader
Hayasdan Faction Co-ordinator
example: "And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven."
not that historical, the bible is no historic proof but just a religious story, happening in historical periods of time
Balloon-Count:x 15
Many thanks to Hooahguy for this great sig.
Right, what people do need to realise is that there has been very productive biblical scholarship. To talk about Michael as an example is really a strawman argument and hardly worthy of remark. We must treat the bible with the respect it deserves, both as an historical document of the nation of israel, and as a work of theology. However, to treat it with that respect we have to view it within the context that it was written and with the same critical practices that we use to evaluate any piece of classical literature.
Foot
EBII Mod Leader
Hayasdan Faction Co-ordinator
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