Newest find in Jerusalem

[Sekhmet]

New Find

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225199604067&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Jpost.com>> Israel >> Article

Oct. 30,. 2008 9:00  Updated Oct. 30,. 2008 9:48

Archaeologists find Hebrew text in ancient town by Associated Press
An Israeli archaeologist said Thursday that a ceramic shard found in the ruins of an ancient town south of Jerusalem bears the oldest Hebrew inscription ever discovered.
The find could provide an important glimpse into the culture and language of the Holy Land at the time of the Bible.
Archeologist Yossi Garfinkel of Hebrew University said the five lines of faded characters written 3,000 years ago suggest a powerful Israelite kingdom existed at the time of King David.
A more in-depth article on the above.
 
Israeli Archaeologists Find Ancient Text

“Finkelstein, who has not visited the dig but attended a presentation of the findings, warned against what he said was a "revival in the belief that what's written in the Bible is accurate like a newspaper." That style of archaeology was favored by 19th century European diggers who trolled the Holy Land for physical traces of Biblical stories, their motivation and methods more romantic than scientific.
"This can be seen as part of this phenomenon," Finkelstein said.”

Quoted from last paragraph of 2nd hyperlink.


Three thousand years ago is the historical setting of King David now this great discovery is found.  Still I have questions, where is the work that King Jotham did?  See 2nd Chronicles 27: 3-6 for description of his work in Jerusalem. 

Surely if this discovery dates to King David, we would have already found the work credited in scripture to King Jotham.  However, other than King Hezekiah, I know of no other King being credited with building in Jerusalem according to modern scholars.

Let us remember in archaeology the first finds are acually the lastest period.  The deeper one goes in uncovering the stratra (ground) the older in time you go.

2nd Chronicles 27: 3-6
3. He (Jotham) built the upper gate of the house of the Lord, and he built extensively the wall of Ophel.
4. Mover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the wooded hills.
5. He fought also with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that the Ammonites gave him during that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat and ten thousand of barley.  The Ammonites also paid him this amount in the second and in the third year.
6. So Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways bfore the Lord his God.
RKJ Version.

Where are the works of this mighty King of Judah?  Skipping from Hezekiah to King David is some jump.  I would suggest that if we want to find King David we dig deeper.

An original piece by Pjbl2223@aol.com  Based upon The Archaeological Chronology of the BIble Lands copyrighted 2000-2008.  All rights reserved.

[Admin1]

Thanks for the info!  The left winged Finkelstein response is no surprise.  He's not been there or seen it but has a profound opinion of it.  Sad that one of his caliber would comment as he did.

[Sekhmet]

Thanks for the info!  The left winged Finkelstein response is no surprise.  He's not been there or seen it but has a profound opinion of it.  Sad that one of his caliber would comment as he did.

You are most welcome sir. 

[Moses]

Thanks for the info.

The problem at times is that Archaeologists are not always architects and city
is not always built and grows layers one on top another but also to the sides. So finding artifacts from King David time and not finding from later kings at exactly the same spot is not 100% accurate to say that they should be one on top another.
As second temple is not built on top of first temple etc.

[Sekhmet]

Thanks for the info.

The problem at times is that Archaeologists are not always architects and city
is not always built and grows layers one on top another but also to the sides. So finding artifacts from King David time and not finding from later kings at exactly the same spot is not 100% accurate to say that they should be one on top another.
As second temple is not built on top of first temple etc.

Interesting point of view Moses.  In reading up on the 1st Temple Period in Jerusalem.  I find that archaeology tends to support the view that Jerusalem remind about the same size, until the late 2nd Temple Period unless it had been wiped out.  If this is true, I would see the 1st Temple Period people keeping Jerusalem, pretty much as it had been in their father's day.  House on top of house, with destruction allowing for some minor changes.  This Moses would also be the norm, for the rest of the area as well.