Lecture: Archaeological Evidence of Biblical Characters

Introduction

• Speaker: Matt Baker
• Topic: Examination of archaeological evidence for Biblical characters, with a focus on the Bronze Age and Iron Age.
• Previous Work: 37 Bible characters found through archaeology.
• Thesis: The Bible, largely an Iron Age book, contains characters whose verification varies based on the historical era they belong to.

Iron Age vs. Bronze Age in the Bible

• Iron Age: Significant portion of the Bible is written; characters are easier to verify archaeologically.
• Bronze Age: Stories are older, rely on myth and imagination; harder to verify characters archaeologically.
• Examples: Genesis and Exodus (more mythical) vs. Second Kings (more historical details).
• Consensus: Critical scholars agree on the differentiation in the historicity of these periods.

Claims of Bronze Age Biblical Characters

• Purpose: To scrutinize claims of archaeological evidence for Bronze Age biblical characters.
• Limitations: Verifications often from Iron Age sources even for Bronze Age characters.

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Transition to Bronze Age Evidence Examination

• Biblical Family Tree Chart: Division between Bronze and Iron Age characters.
• Bronze Age Side: Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and Moses.
• Iron Age Side: Deborah, Ruth, David, and Samuel.

Earliest Israelite Leader with Evidence

• Omry: First Israelite leader with contemporary extra-biblical sources.
• David: Mentioned but not from contemporary; ancestor mention only.
• Non-Israelite Verification: Shashank I, Pharaoh of Egypt.

Investigation Candidates for Bronze Age Evidence

• Best Candidate: Balaam son of Beor.
  • Narrative: Prophet in book of Numbers (CH 22) with non-Israelite origins.
  • 1967 Discovery: Deir Alla inscription mentions Balaam.
  • Interpretation: Evidence of shared local tradition; still debated on historicity.

Moses – Sinai 361 Inscription

• Inscription Claims: Reference to Moses, miracles, and a bronze serpent.
• Controversy: Sensational claims criticized heavily.
• Scholarly Consensus: Translations likely incorrect, no solid evidence.

Other Exodus Evidence

• Documentaries: Claims not verified by experts.
• Example: Ron Wyatt’s claims on Red Sea pillars and chariots debunked.

Burial Sites and Islamic Traditions

• Cave of The Patriarchs: Claimed burial site of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and even Adam and Eve.
• Politically Traced Activity: Earliest evidence from Iron Age, not decisive.

King Hammurabi Reference

• Genesis 14:1: Possible reference to Hammurabi as