Archaeology 2009

1. Archaeology 2009 3 slides

2. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. “Massive” ancient wall uncovered in Jerusalem CNN, September 4, 2009 An archaeological dig in Jerusalem has turned up a 3,700-year-old wall that is the largest and oldest of its kind found in the region, experts say. Standing 8 meters (26 feet) high, the wall of huge cut stones is a marvel to archaeologists. "To build straight walls up 8 meters ... I don't know how to do it today without mechanical equipment," said the excavation's director, Ronny Reich. "I don't think that any engineer today without electrical power [could] do it.“ The discovered section is 24 meters (79 feet) long. "However, it is thought the fortification is much longer because it continues west beyond the part that was exposed," the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a news release. It was found inside the City of David, an archaeological excavation site outside the Old City of East Jerusalem on a slope of the Silwan Valley. The wall is believed to have been built by the Canaanites, an ancient pagan people who the Bible says inhabited Jerusalem and other parts of the Middle East before the advent of monotheism EVENT Abraham would have lived around this time - 3700 years ago. At this time Jerusalem was known as Salem (Peace). Melchizadek was king of Salem and he met Abraham. There is a possibility that Abraham walked passed these very stones! But Salem was trodden down by the Jebusites and was called Jebus until David captured it in 1000BC. Jesus said that Jerusalem would be trodden down again UNTIL the times of the gentiles were fulfilled. For 1897 years Jerusalem was controlled by the gentiles and then in 1967 Jerusalem was restored to Israel’s control. We wait for the “son of David” to return and restore it to the capital of the entire earth. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Luke 1:32,33)

3. The pure candlestick [menorah], with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light, Early menorah depiction found in Galilee Jerusalem Post, September 11, 2009 Israeli archaeologists have uncovered one of the earliest depictions of a menorah, the seven-branched candelabra that has come to symbolize Judaism, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Friday. The menorah was engraved in stone around 2,000 years ago and found in a synagogue recently discovered by the Kinneret. Pottery, coins and tools found at the site indicate the synagogue dates to the period of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem, where the actual menorah was kept, said archaeologist Dina Avshalom-Gorni of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The artist might have seen the menorah during a pilgrimage and then recreated it in the synagogue, she suggested. EVENT The Jewish temple in Jerusalem referred to in the article above was destroyed by Roman legions in 70 AD. The Arch of Titus in Rome, erected to mark the Roman victory, depicts troops carrying the menorah from Jerusalem to symbolize the defeat of the Jews. The menorah became a Jewish symbol and is featured today on Israel's official emblem. It has become a symbol of their eternal nature – unlike other nations that fade away. The original menorah was placed in the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a tent without windows, and thus artificial light was needed. This was supplied by the candlestick, which, however, served also as a symbol of the people of God, who are "the light of the world.“. Perhaps God is reminding the Jews that they be a light for the world and if they are not then destruction as in AD70 will come upon them. We should heed this too. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Exodus 39:37)

4. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. Coins from era of Biblical Joseph found in Egypt MEMRI, September 24, 2009 According to a report in the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, by Wajih Al-Saqqar, archaeologists have discovered ancient Egyptian coins bearing the name and image of the Biblical Joseph. The researcher identified coins from many different periods, including coins that bore special markings identifying them as being from the era of Joseph. Among these, there was one coin that had an inscription on it, and an image of a cow symbolizing Pharaoh's dream about the seven fat cows and seven lean cows, and the seven green stalks of grain and seven dry stalks of grain. The research team [managed to] translate [the writing on the coin] by comparing it to the earliest known hieroglyphic texts… "Joseph's name appears twice on this coin, written in hieroglyphs: once the original name, Joseph, and once his Egyptian name, Saba Sabani, which was given to him by Pharaoh when he became treasurer. There is also an image of Joseph, who was part of the Egyptian administration at the time. EVENT The picture (top right) is of the coins that have been found. The researchers discovered the coins when they sifted through thousands of small archaeological artefacts stored in the vaults of` the Museum of Egypt. Initially they took them for charms, but a thorough examination revealed that the coins bore the year in which they were minted and their value, or effigies of the pharaohs who ruled at the time of their minting. Incredibly some of the coins are from the time when Joseph lived in Egypt, and bear his name and portrait. Joseph is a type of Christ. He was rejected by his brothers. Cast into a pit. Sold for silver coins. He stayed faithful. He was a prophet. He eventually ruled Egypt and saved it from famine. We wait for Christ to return and save the world… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Genesis 41:42,43)