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Archaeology Confirms The Bible Record

Things To Keep In Mind

Item 1

Archaeological finds are always “interpreted.” In most cases, debate occurs over the interpretation of what is found. This always leaves some doubt.¹ An example of this can be seen in “two way arguments.” These arguments present interesting ideas, but can hardly be labelled conclusive.

Examples:

A) Semi-nomads become dependent on city trade. When conditions deteriorate and trade declines, the semi-nomads settle on the fringes to produce for themselves what they can no longer buy.
B) When conditions deteriorate, city dwellers move from the city to the fringes in order to survive and become semi-nomadic.
Unless there is more evidence, it becomes difficult to decide which way people are moving.

A) John Van Setus argues that the books of Genesis and Numbers have vocabulary and styles similar to the exilic and post-exilic writings and therefore must have been written that time.
B) William Stiebing points out that exilic and post-exilic writers could have drawn inspiration from Genesis and Numbers, copying the older style. ²
C) A later compiler, could rewrite older manuscripts into a more familiar style. If these older manuscripts are then destroyed or lost, how would later historians know which style is truly older?
When is a style unique, and when is it copied? There is no way of knowing. Judging manuscripts based on their style can sometimes be misleading.

Item 2

To provide guidelines and a simple overview, historians have divided time periods according to dynasties, empires and artifacts (bronze, pottery, tools et cetera). When placed in chart form for easy reference, everything appears clear cut and settled. This is an illusion. Transitions between periods are rarely clear cut. They overlap and are “blurred.” As archaeologists expand our understanding of the past, the charts and guidelines are adjusted. They are not cast in stone.

One example of this deals with Egyptian Chronology. There used to be only one. Now the original is called the Egyptian High Chronology. The new chronology with a better understanding and more careful calculation is the Egyptian Low Chronology. These two chronologies are basically the same, but they differ over the dates for the Egyptian New Kingdom.³ Many historians have different dates for the same kings, even if they agree on the High or Low Chronology.

Chart of Egyptian New Kingdom Dates
Chart Bronze Age Dates

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