Archæology and the Bible

PART II

Chapter 63,578 wordsPublic domain

I. AN EPIC OF THE CREATION WHICH CIRCULATED IN BABYLON AND ASSYRIA IN THE SEVENTH CENTURY B. C. 235

Text of the Epic. Comparison of the Epic with the First Chapter of Genesis. The Epic and Other Parts of the Bible.

II. ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE CREATION FOUND AT BABYLON 255

Text of the Account. Comparison of it with Genesis 2.

III. THE BABYLONIAN SABBATH 258

Feast of Marduk and Zarpanit. A Day called Shabatum. A Day in Some Tablets at Yale.

IV. THE LEGEND OF ADAPA AND THE FALL OF MAN 260

Comparison with Genesis 3. The Adapa Myth.

V. THE PATRIARCHS BEFORE THE FLOOD 264

Babylonian Long-Lived Kings. Comparison with Genesis 5. Comparison with Genesis 4. Comparison with the List of Berossos.

VI. A BABYLONIAN ACCOUNT OF THE FLOOD, FROM A TABLET WRITTEN AT NINEVEH IN THE SEVENTH CENTURY B. C. 273

Translation of the Text. Comparison with Genesis 6-9. Another Babylonian Version.

VII. AN ACCOUNT OF THE CREATION AND FLOOD, FROM A TABLET WRITTEN AT NIPPUR BEFORE 2000 B. C. 278

Translation. Comparison with the Other Version.

VIII. AN ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN OF A CITY AND THE BEGINNING OF AGRICULTURE, FROM A TABLET WRITTEN AT NIPPUR BEFORE 2000 B. C. 283

Translation. Comparison with Biblical Material.

IX. ABRAHAM AND ARCHÆOLOGY 290

Abraham hired an Ox. Abraham leased a Farm. Abraham paid his Rent. Who was this Abraham? Travel between Babylonia and Palestine. Hammurapi, King of the Westland. Kadur-Mabug. Kings supposed by some to be those of Genesis 14.

X. JACOB AND JOSEPH 299

Appearances of these Names in Babylonian and Egyptian Records. “The Tale of the Two Brothers”; its Bearing on the Story of Joseph in Genesis. Letters to a Ruler like Joseph. The Seven Years of Famine. Inscription showing Preparation for Famine.

XI. PALESTINE IN THE PATRIARCHAL AGE 307

The Tale of Sinuhe. Communication between Egypt and Palestine.

XII. MOSES AND THE EXODUS 310

The Legend of Sargon of Agade; its Resemblance to the Story of Moses. The Pillar of Merneptah; the Only Appearance of the Name “Israel” outside of the Bible.

XIII. THE CODE OF HAMMURAPI AND THE PENTATEUCH 313

The Text of the Code; Resemblance to and Contrast with the Mosaic Code. The Mosaic Code not borrowed from the Babylonian; Different Underlying Conceptions.

XIV. AN ALLEGED PARALLEL TO LEVITICUS--A CARTHAGINIAN LAW CONCERNING SACRIFICES 342

The Text of the Carthaginian Law. Comparison with the Levitical Law.

XV. SOME LETTERS FROM PALESTINE 344

Letters of Rib-Adda of Gebal. Of Ebed-Hepa of Jerusalem. Their Light on Conditions in the Period of the Egyptian Domination of Palestine.

XVI. DOCUMENTS FROM THE TIME OF ISRAEL’S JUDGES 352

Report of Wenamon. Its Illustration of Certain Points of Biblical History about the Time of Deborah or Gideon. Reference to the Philistines.

XVII. ARCHÆOLOGICAL LIGHT ON THE BOOKS OF KINGS 358

Gudea and Cedar-Wood for his Palace. The Eponym Canon. The Seal of Shema. Shishak’s List of Conquered Asiatic Cities. Ashurnasirpal’s Description of his Expedition to Mediterranean Lands. Shalmaneser III’s Claims regarding Tribute from the Kings of Israel. The Moabite Stone. Adadnirari IV’s Mention of the “Land of Omri.” Inscription describing Tiglathpileser IV’s Campaign. Sargon’s Conquests. Sennacherib’s Western Campaigns. The Siloam Inscription. Esarhaddon’s List of Conquered Kings. Ashurbanipal’s Assyrian Campaign. Necho of Egypt. Nebuchadrezzar II. Evil-Merodach. Discoveries in Sheba.

XVIII. THE END OF THE BABYLONIAN EXILE 382

Inscriptions of Nabuna’id; their Bearing on Biblical Statements regarding Belshazzar. Account of the Capture of Babylon bearing on the Book of Daniel. Inscription of Cyrus bearing on the Capture of Babylon. Cyrus’s Permission for the Return to Jerusalem.

XIX. A JEWISH COLONY IN EGYPT DURING THE TIME OF NEHEMIAH 387

Papyri Witness to the Existence of a Colony at Elephantine. Translation of a Petition relating to their Temple. Reply of Persian Governor. Historical Bearings of these Documents. A Letter relating to the Passover. A Letter showing that the Jews were Unpopular at Elephantine.

XX. A BABYLONIAN JOB 392

Translation of a Poem relating to the Afflictions of a Good Man. Comparison with the Book of Job. A Fragment of Another Similar Poem.

XXI. PSALMS FROM BABYLONIA AND EGYPT 398

Character of their Psalms. Babylonian Prayers to the Goddess Ishtar. Comparison with the Psalter. A Babylonian Hymn to the Moon-God. A Babylonian Hymn to Bel. An Egyptian Hymn to the Sun-God. Is the Hymn Monotheistic? An Egyptian Hymn in Praise of Aton. Comparison with the Psalter.

XXII. PARALLELS TO PROVERBS AND ECCLESIASTES 407

The Nature of the Book of Proverbs and the Parallels. Babylonian Proverbs from the Library of Ashurbanipal. Precepts from the Library of Ashurbanipal. Comparison with the Bible. Egyptian Precepts of Ptahhotep. Comparison with the Bible. Parallel to Ecclesiastes from the Gilgamesh Epic.

XXIII. EGYPTIAN PARALLELS TO THE SONG OF SONGS 413

Nature of the Song of Songs. Translation of Some Egyptian Love-Poems. Comparison with Biblical Passages.

XXIV. ILLUSTRATIONS OF PASSAGES IN THE PROPHETS 417

Uniqueness of the Prophetic Books. An Assyrian Prophetic Vision. Comparison with the Bible. The Egyptian Social Conscience. Tale of the Eloquent Peasant. Comparison with the Bible. An Ideal King; Extract from the Admonitions of Ipuwer. Comparison with Messianic Expectations. Sheol. Ishtar’s Descent to the Underworld. Comparison with Prophetic Passages. A Lamentation for Tammuz.

XXV. REPUTED SAYINGS OF JESUS FOUND IN EGYPT 428

Early Collections of the Words of Jesus. Translation of Sayings found in 1897. Comments. Translation of a Leaf found in 1904. Comments. Opinions as to these Sayings.

XXVI. ARCHÆOLOGICAL LIGHT ON THE ENROLMENT OF QUIRINIUS 432

Translation of a Papyrus showing that in the Second Century Enrolment was made Every Fourteen Years. Comments. Translation referring to an Enrolment in the Reign of Nero. Fragment from the Reign of Tiberius. Enrolments probably inaugurated by Augustus. Document showing that People went to their own towns for Enrolment. Inscription supposed to refer to Quirinius. Inscription from Asia Minor referring to Quirinius. Discussion. Conclusions.

XXVII. ARCHÆOLOGICAL LIGHT ON THE ACTS AND EPISTLES 438

The Politarchs of Thessalonica. An Altar to Unknown Gods. An Inscription from Delphi and the Date of Paul’s Contact with Gallio. Some Epistles from Egypt. Inscriptions mentioning Aretas, King of Arabia.

APPENDIX 445

Discoveries at Carchemish. Hrozny’s Decipherment of Hittite. Discoveries at Jerusalem and Balata. A New Babylonian Account of the Creation of Man. Reports of Commanders of Egyptian Frontier-Fortresses Relating to the Entrance of Asiatics into Egypt in Time of Famine. Supposed Trace of the Ten Lost Tribes in Mesopotamia.

INDEX OF SCRIPTURE PASSAGES 453

INDEX 459

ILLUSTRATIONS: Plates 1-114.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

A Hillside Street in Roman Jerusalem along which Jesus and the Disciples may well have walked _Frontispiece._

FIGURE PLATE

1 Syrian Traders in Egypt, from a Tomb at Beni Hasan (_after Ball_) 1

2 Crown of Lower Egypt 1

3 Crown of Upper Egypt 1

4 Crown of United Egypt 1

5 Sphinx and Pyramid of Khafre 1

6 Pyramids of Khufu and Khafre 2

7 Step Pyramid of Zoser 2

8 Body from a Pre-dynastic Tomb 3

9 Head of the Mummy of Ramses II 3

10 A Store-Chamber at Pithom (_after Naville_) 4

11 Ancient and Modern Brick-Making (_after Petrie_) 4

12 Plan of City and Temple of Leontopolis (_after Petrie_) 5

13 A Passover-Oven (_after Petrie_) 5

14 The Rosetta Stone (_after Thomas Nelson and Sons_) 6

15 The “Israel” Inscription of Merneptah 6

16 Mounds of Nuffar (_after Clay_) 7

17 Excavation at Nuffar (_after Clay_) 7

18 Gate of Ishtar, Babylon (_after Koldewey_) 8

19 Phalanx of Soldiers from Eannatum’s “Stele of Vultures” 8

20 Inscribed Column from Persepolis 9

21 Silver Vase of Entemena 9

22 Mound of Birs Nimrûd (_after Peters_) 9

23 Hittite Gates at Boghaz Koi (_after Puchstein_) 10

24 Hittite Types from Egyptian Monuments (_after Garstang_) 10

25 A Hittite King (_after Puchstein_) 11

26 The Boss of Tarkondemos 11

27 The Seal of Shema, Servant of Jeroboam 11

28 Tell el-Hesy after Excavation 12

29 The Site of the Old Testament Jericho 12

30 Excavation of Gezer 13

31 Remains of a Colonnaded Street at Samaria 13

32 Excavation at Tell Hum 14

33 Egyptians Attacking a Palestinian City (_after Perrot and Chipiez_) 14

34 Israelitish Jericho (_after Sellin_) 15

35 Israelitish Houses at Jericho (_after Sellin_) 15

36 Philistines from the Palace of Ramses III 16

37 Canaanitish Fortress at Jericho (_after Sellin_) 16

38 Inscribed Disc from Phæstos (one-fourth actual size) 17

39 Gebel Fureidis 17

40 Bastion for the Protection of an Inserted Tower (_after Macalister_) 18

41 Remains of Walls of Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 18

42 Walls of Buildings at Samaria (_after Reisner_) 19

43 Specimens of Stone-Work at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 19

44 Building-Bricks from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 19

45 Plan of Palace at Taanach (_after Sellin_) 20

46 The Great City Wall at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 20

47 Israelitish Houses at Gezer 21

48 Specimens of Mosaic Floors (_after Macalister_) 21

49 A Doorway at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 22

50 Door-Sockets from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 22

51 Supposed House of Hiel, Jericho (_after Sellin_) 23

52 Foundation of the Palace of Omri, Samaria (_after Reisner_) 23

53 Hebrew Palace at Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 23

54 Plan of the Maccabæan Castle at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 24

55 Stone-Work of the Maccabæan Castle (_after Macalister_) 24

56 A Foundation-Deposit, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 24

57 A City Gate at Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 25

58 The South Gate at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 25

59 The South Gate at Beth-shemesh (_after Mackenzie_) 25

60 Entrance to the Underground Tunnel at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 26

61 The North Gate at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 26

62 Plans of the Underground Tunnel at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 27

63 Plan of Underground Tunnel at Gibeon (_after Abel_) 28

64 One of Solomon’s Pools 28

65 Post of City Gate, Samaria (_after Reisner_) 29

66 Part of City Wall and Gate, Samaria (_after Reisner_) 29

67 Road South of Gerizim 30

68 Lines of Roman Roads at Tell el-Ful 30

69 Roman Road North of Amman 30

70 A Granary at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 31

71 Some Roman Mile-Stones 31

72 Plan of a Granary at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 31

73 A Hoe (_after Macalister_) 32

74 An Egyptian Reaping (_after Wreszinski_) 32

75 A Sickle (_after Wreszinski_) 32

76 Plowshares from Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 32

77 Egyptian Plowing (_after Wilkinson_) 33

78 A Modern Threshing-Floor 33

79 Egyptians Threshing and Winnowing (_after Wilkinson_) 33

80 Egyptian Threshing-Sledge (_after Wilkinson_) 33

81 A Saddle-Quern from Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 34

82 A Rotary-Quern (_after Macalister_) 34

83 A Mortar and Pestle (_after Macalister_) 34

84 Two Women Grinding at a Mill (_after Schumacher_) 34

85 An Ancient Olive-Press (_after Macalister_) 35

86 A Modern Olive-Press (_after Macalister_) 35

87 A Wine Vat (_after Macalister_) 36

88 An Olive-Press at Work (_after Macalister_) 36

89 Cows’ Horns from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 37

90 Animals’ Heads from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 37

91 A Horse’s Bit from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 37

92 Drawings of Horses from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 37

93 A Clay Bird from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 38

94 A Cock from Marissa (_after Peters and Thiersch_) 38

95 A Bee-Hive from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 38

96 Pre-Semitic Jars (_after Macalister_) 39

97 Pre-Semitic Pottery (_after Macalister_) 39

98 Four Pitchers from the First Semitic Stratum (_after Macalister_) 39

99 Three Pitchers from the First Semitic Stratum (_after Macalister_) 39

100 A Jar from the First Semitic Stratum (_after Macalister_) 39

101 Jugs from the Second Semitic Stratum (_after Macalister_) 40

102 A Jug from the Second Semitic Stratum (_after Macalister_) 40

103 A Jar from the Second Semitic Stratum (_after Macalister_) 40

104 Some Fine Pottery from the First Semitic Stratum (_after Macalister_) 41

105 “Ear” and “Button” Jar-Handles (_after Macalister_) 41

106 A “Pillar” Handle (_after Macalister_) 41

107 A Flat-bottomed Jug (_after Macalister_) 41

108 A Painted Philistine Vase from Beth-shemesh (_after Mackenzie_) 42

109 War-Scene on Potsherd from Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 42

110 Jars of Third Semitic Stratum from Beth-shemesh (_after Mackenzie_) 42

111 Hebrew Pottery from Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 42

112 Hebrew Jars and Pitchers from Jericho (_after Sellin_) 43

113 Hebrew Pitchers and Bowls from Jericho (_after Sellin_) 43

114 A Funnel from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 44

115 A Potter’s Seal from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 44

116 An Inscribed Hebrew Jar-Stamp from the Shephelah (_after Bliss and Macalister_) 44

117 Hebrew Pottery from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 44

118 A Scarab used as a Jar-Stamp (_after Macalister_) 45

119 A Jar-Handle Stamped with a Scarab (_after Macalister_) 45

120 A Jar with Tapering Base from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 45

121 Hellenistic Filter from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 45

122 Hellenistic Pottery from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 45

123 Hellenistic Strainer from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 46

124 Roman Pots from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 46

125 Hellenistic Jar from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 46

126 A Lamp of the First Semitic Period, Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 46

127 Lamps from the Second Semitic Period, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 47

128 Lamps from the Israelitish Period, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 47

129 A Byzantine Lamp from Jericho (_after Sellin_) 47

130 A Lamp bearing a Christian Legend (_after Macalister_) 47

131 Hellenistic Lamps from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 48

132 Hebrew Lamps from Jericho (_after Sellin_) 48

133 Ovens found at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 49

134 A Baking-Tray from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 49

135 Bronze Dishes from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 49

136 Shell Spoons from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 49

137 Silver Dishes from a Philistine Grave at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 50

138 Glass Ointment Vessels from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 50

139 Feeding-Bottles (?), Gezer (_after Macalister_) 51

140 Forks from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 51

141 Philistine Silver Ladle, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 51

142 Bronze Needles and Pins from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 51

143 Bone Needles from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 52

144 Modern Woman Spinning 52

145 Spindle Whorls from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 52

146 A Large Key from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 52

147 A Smaller Key from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 52

148 Lamp-Stands from Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 53

149 Flint Knives from Jericho (_after Sellin_) 53

150 Iron Knives from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 54

151 Bronze Knives from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 54

152 A Chisel from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 55

153 A File from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 55

154 A Cone of Flint for making Knives, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 55

155 A Bronze Hammer-Head, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 55

156 A Fish-Hook, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 55

157 A Bone Awl-Handle from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 55

158 Whetstones from Jericho (_after Sellin_) 55

159 Nails from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 55

160 Axe-Heads from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 56

161 Carpenters’ Tools from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 56

162 A Scimitar from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 57

163 Impression of a Basket on Mud, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 57

164 Flint Arrow-Heads from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 57

165 Bronze Arrow-Heads from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 57

166 Bronze Swords from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 58

167 Bronze Spear-Heads, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 58

168 A Pipe from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 59

169 An Egyptian Harp (_after Haupt_) 59

170 An Assyrian Upright Harp (_after Haupt_) 59

171 An Assyrian Horizontal Harp (_after Haupt_) 59

172 A Babylonian Harp (_after Haupt_) 59

173 Jewish Harps on Coins of Bar Cocheba, 132-135 A. D. (_after Madden_) 59

174 Assyrian Dulcimer (_after Haupt_) 59

175 Seals from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 60

176 A Comb from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 60

177 Toys from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 60

178 Styli from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 60

179 Children’s Rattles from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 60

180 A Perfume-Box, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 61

181 A Necklace from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 61

182 Bracelets from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 61

183 Spatulæ from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 61

184 Rings from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 61

185 Supposed Hebrew Measures from Jerusalem (_after Germer-Durand_) 62

186 A _Neseph_ Weight 63

187 A _Payim_ Weight belonging to Haverford College 63

188 A _Beqa_ Weight (_after Torrey_) 63

189 A “Daric” of Darius (_after Benzinger_) 63

190 A Tetradrachma of Alexander the Great (_after Benzinger_) 63

191 A Coin of Ptolemy Lagi (_after Benzinger_) 63

192 Half-Shekel of Simon the Maccabee (_after Benzinger_) 64

193 A Coin of John Hyrcanus (_after Madden_) 64

194 Tetradrachma of Lysimachus 64

195 A Coin of Augustus 64

196 A Denarius of Tiberius 64

197 A Coin of Claudius 64

198 A Coin of Herod the Great 64

199 A Roman Quadrans (?) 64

200 A Coin of Herod Agrippa I 64

201 A Shekel of the Revolt of A. D. 70 64

202 Cave-Dwellers’ Place of Sacrifice, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 65

203 Plan of Caves at Semitic High Place, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 65

204 “Pillars” of the High Place at Gezer 65

205 Rock-Altar at Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 66

206 The “Beth-el” of Gezer (_after Macalister_) 66

207 The Supposed Serpent-Pen at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 66

208 The Rock-Altar at Jerusalem (_after Dalman_) 67

209 The Laver at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 67

210 The Terra-cotta Altar from Taanach (_after Sellin_) 68

211 Supposed High Place at Taanach (_after Sellin_) 68

212 High Place at Tell es-Safi (_after Bliss and Macalister_) 69

213 Libation Bowl from Taanach (_after Sellin_) 69

214 An Astarte Plaque from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 69

215 Plan of the High Place at Petra (_after Brünnow_) 70

216 Plan of Herod’s Temple at Samaria (_after Lyon_) 70

217 The Altar at Petra (_after Brünnow_) 71

218 The “Round Altar” at Petra (_after Brünnow_) 71

219 Supposed “Pillars” at Petra (_after Brünnow_) 71

219_a_ A Brazen Serpent from Gezer (_after Macalister_) 72

220 Plan of Supposed Semitic Temple at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 72

221 Walls of Herod’s Temple, Samaria (_after Reisner_) 72

222 “Pillars” of a Supposed Temple, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 73

223 Chapel of the Palace at Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 73

224 Voluted Capital (probably Philistine) from Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 74

225 Incense-Burner from Megiddo (_after Schumacher_) 74

226 Philistine Graves, Gezer (_after Macalister_) 75

227 A Rock-hewn Tomb at Siloam (_after Benzinger_) 75

228 A Shaft-Tomb (_after Bliss and Macalister_) 75

229 A Cistern-Burial at Gezer (_after Macalister_) 75

230 A Columbarium at Petra (_after Dalman_) 76

231 Entrance to the Tomb of the Judges 76

232 A Sunken-Door Tomb (_after Mitt. u. Nach. d. Deutsch. Palästina-Vereins_) 77

233 _Kokim_ in the Tomb of the Judges 77

234 Plan of a Hellenistic Tomb at Marissa (_after Peters and Thiersch_) 78

235 A Cross-Section of the Tomb of the Judges 78

236 Architectural Decoration of a Hellenistic Tomb at Marissa (_after Peters and Thiersch_) 79

237 Plan of the Upper Floor of the Tomb of the Judges 79

238 A Tomb with a Rolling-Stone at Beit Jibrin (_after Moulton_) 80

239 Interior of a Hellenistic Tomb at Marissa (_after Peters and Thiersch_) 80

240 The Hills and Valleys of Jerusalem (_after Vincent_) 81

241 Underground Jebusite Tunnel at Gihon, Jerusalem (_after Vincent_) 82

242 Maudsley’s Scarp, Jerusalem 82

243 Plan of Solomon’s Buildings, Jerusalem (_after Stade_) 83

244 Phoenician Quarry-Marks, Jerusalem (_after Warren_) 83

245 Shaft at the Southeast Corner of the Temple Area (_after Warren_) 84

246 Examining Ancient Walls in an Underground Tunnel (_after Warren_) 84

247 Front Views of Solomon’s Temple (_after Stade_) 85

248 Side Views of Solomon’s Temple (_after Stade_) 85

249 Plan of Solomon’s Temple (_after Stade_) 86

250 The Seven-branched Lamp-Stand from the Arch of Titus 86

251 The Brazen Laver of Solomon’s Temple (_after Stade_) 87

252 A Portable Laver of Solomon’s Temple (_after Stade_) 87

253 Stone-Work of a Wall of Jerusalem built in the Fifth Century A. D. 88

254 Stone-Work in Nehemiah’s Wall, Jerusalem 88

255 Restoration of the Asmonæan Bridge over the Tyropoeon Valley (_after Hanauer_) 89

256 Front of “David’s Tower” (Herod’s Palace) Today (_after Breen_) 89

257 Reconstruction of Herod’s Temple (_after Caldecott_) 90

258 “Solomon’s Stables” 90

259 One of the Supposed Pools of Bethesda (_after Hanauer_) 91

260 Front of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher 91

261 “Gordon’s Calvary,” looking toward Jerusalem (_after Breen_) 92

262 “Gordon’s Calvary,” from the City Wall (_after Breen_) 92

263 Outside of “Gordon’s Holy Sepulcher” (_after Breen_) 93

264 Inside of “Gordon’s Holy Sepulcher” (_after Breen_) 93

265 The Barada (Abana), Damascus 94

266 The Street Called Straight, Damascus 94

267 Palace at Kanatha (_after Brünnow_) 95

268 Circular Forum and Colonnaded Street, Gerasa 95

269 Temple of the Sun, Gerasa 96

270 Site of Rabbah Ammon 96

271 Theater at Amman (Palestinian Philadelphia) 97

272 Roman Forum at Athens 97

273 Mars’ Hill, Athens 98

274 Fountain in the Agora, Corinth 98

275 Lintel of Jewish Synagogue, Corinth (_after Richardson_) 99

276 Lechæum Road, Corinth (_after Richardson_) 99

277 Parthenon, Athens, from the East 100

278 Main Street at Ephesus 100

279 Site of the Temple of Diana, Ephesus, in 1902 101

280 The Theater, Ephesus 101

281 The Amphitheater, Ephesus 102

282 The Stadium, Ephesus 102

283 Pergamum (_after Ramsay_) 103

284 The Acropolis and partly Excavated Temple, Sardis (_after Butler_) 103

285 Excavated Temple, Sardis, looking toward the Hermus Valley (_after Butler_) 104

286 A Christian Church at Sardis (_after Butler_) 105

287 Smyrna (_after Ramsay_) 105

288 A Ruin at Laodicea (_after Ramsay_) 106

289 A Bridge over the Jordan on the Line of a Roman Road 106

290 Fragment of a Creation-Tablet 107

291 Assyrian Sacred Tree Conventionalized 107

292 Hammurapi Receiving the Laws from the Sun-God 107

293 The So-called Adam and Eve Seal 107

294 A Tablet from Nippur, Relating the Beginnings of Irrigation and Agriculture (_after Langdon_) 108

295 Top of the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser 108

296 Jehu of Israel Doing Homage to Shalmaneser 108

297 The Siloam Inscription 109

298 Sennacherib Receiving Tribute at Lachish (_after Ball_) 109

299 An Altar to Unknown Gods (_after Deissmann_) 110

300 The Moabite Stone 110

301 Papyrus Containing Sayings of Jesus (_after Grenfell and Hunt_) 111

MAPS

Map of Egypt to First Cataract _Facing page_ 18

Map of the Ancient World _Facing page_ 40

Map of Palestine _Facing page_ 104

PLATE

Map of Jerusalem in the Time of the Jebusites and David 112

Map of Solomon’s Jerusalem 112

Map of Jerusalem from Hezekiah to the Exile 113

Map of Nehemiah’s Jerusalem 113

Map of Asmonæan Jerusalem 114

Map of Herodian Jerusalem 114

EXPLANATION OF SIGNS

§ = section.

ibid. = the same.

op. cit. = work cited.

f. = and following page.

ff. = and following pages.

cf. = compare.

v. = verse.

col. = column.

p. = page.

[ ] in translations of tablets indicate words supplied where not decipherable.

..... in translations of tablets indicate missing line or words which cannot be supplied.

INTRODUCTION

One who would write on archæology and the Bible must at the outset define the scope of his undertaking, for the word archæology conveys different meanings to different people. Judgments also differ as to how things ancient can best serve the interests of the Biblical student. To many the word archæology calls up visions of ancient pottery, jewelry, swords, utensils, etc., which are valued as objects of curiosity simply because they are old. Others, when they think of archæology, call to mind excavations, in which the walls of ancient temples and cities are laid bare, so that we may see how men lived in other days. To such, archæology is identical with antiquarianism. A book on archæology and the Bible written from this point of view would confine itself to the way in which texts of Scripture are illustrated or illumined by antiquarian objects.

To still others the word archæology calls up ancient tablets or papyri, inscribed with hieroglyphics or some other strange characters, from which the initiated can decipher texts that prove the truth of one’s views of Scripture. According to this view, archæology is the science of ancient documents, and a book dealing with archæology and the Bible should confine itself to the discussion of documents which confirm or illustrate the Biblical text.

Those who hold either of these views of archæology will find in this book much that will accord with their expectations, but much also that will seem to them irrelevant. In Part I, Chapters IV, VI-XII deal with antiquities, their discovery, and the light which these shed upon the inspired page, for antiquarianism is a part of archæology. Portions of