.jpg)
Posted on 07/11/2007 12:24:29 PM PDT by ScaniaBoy
(IsraelNN.com) A routine research visit to the British Museum nets a landmark archaeological discovery and proof of the Old Testament's truth.
British newspapers report that ancient Babylonian expert Dr. Michael Jursa of Vienna discovered a small clay tablet that provides proof of the Old Testament's veracity. Though the tablet was unearthed near Baghdad in 1920, only last week was it deciphered for the first time, by Dr. Jursa.
Upon reading the tablet, which records a donation of gold by "the chief eunuch of King Nebuchadnezzar," a man named Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, Jursa suddenly realized that the name sounded familiar. He quickly consulted Jeremiah 39, where he found the man's name listed as one of Nebuchadnezzar's top ministers who took part in the destruction of the First Holy Temple 2,500 years ago. The Biblical account, however, has his named spelled slightly differently: (Samgar) Nevo Sarsekim.
Irving Finkel, assistant keeper in the British Museum's Middle East Department, was very excited: "This is a fantastic discovery," he told The Telegraph, "a world-class find. If Nevo-Sarsekim existed, [then] which other lesser figures in the Old Testament existed? A throwaway detail in the Old Testament turns out to be accurate and true. I think that it means that the whole of the narrative [of Jeremiah] takes on a new kind of power."
Speaking with The Times, Finkel said, “A mundane commercial transaction takes its place as a primary witness to one of the turning points in Old Testament history. This is a tablet that deserves to be famous.”
Dr. Jursa, associate professor at the University of Vienna, said, “It’s very exciting and very surprising. Finding something like this tablet, where we see a person mentioned in the Bible making an everyday payment to the temple in Babylon and quoting the exact date, is quite extraordinary.”
Dr. Jursa has been visiting the museum for over 15 years to study a collection of more than 100,000 inscribed tablets. Reading and piecing together fragments is painstaking work, The Times reports, and more than half are yet to be published.
The full translation of the tablet, as provided in The Telegraph, reads: "[Regarding] 1.5 minas (0.75 kg) of gold, the property of Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, the chief eunuch, which he sent via Arad-Banitu the eunuch to [the temple] Esangila: Arad-Banitu has delivered [it] to Esangila. In the presence of Bel-usat, son of Alpaya, the royal bodyguard, [and of] Nadin, son of Marduk-zer-ibni. Month XI, day 18, year 10 [of] Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon."
"Not Altogether Invented" On hearing of the discovery, Geza Vermes, the eminent emeritus professor of Jewish studies at the University of Oxford, said it shows that “the Biblical story is not altogether invented."
The reactions of Vermes and Finkel indicate that the discovery has not yet totally shaken the core faith of some who believe that the Bible is not true. The Bible is merely not "altogether invented," one says, and "who knows how many other Old Testament figures may have existed?" However, many websites provide information regarding the truth of the Torah; click here for one sample site.
PIng!
pang
I wonder if being the "chief" eunuch made a man arrogant with pride?
I never doubted it for a second..............
Every instance of a Biblical geneaology proves the vercity of Scripture - that why God put them in there.
ping
Of course it does, but it won't be. It will disappear from mainstream consciousness along with all the other bits of evidence that show Biblical veracity.
*sigh*
geneaology?.......
......which is NOT a very rare occurrence.
And 2 Timothy 3:16-17 just leaped forward from the recesses of my cranium.
Whoever that guy is he’s got a nice haircut.
I know ....... he looks like a wise and non-judgemental leader of men who knows the effectiveness of the ‘faggot’ look.
Nabu-sharrussu-ukin is a "slightly different spelling" of (Samgar) Nevo Sarsekim?
I want to kick sand in his face for some reason - I cant stand that smirk
Not worth $400 though.
Just because one sentence or phrase in a book is factual does not confer veracity to the content of the rest of the book. Not being a site pest here (I’m an arch-conservative), but the enormous desperate leaps I see people engaging in to prove atavistic dogma as factual is a constant amazement to me.
Yes it is. Actually it’s pretty close to the biblical name.
Ancient names of particular people take totally different spellings in other languages.
For example:
Persian King Xerxes (Greek spelling) - Chasharyashah (Persian) - Ahasverus/Ahasuerus (Bible).
or
Babylonian King Nebukadnezzar/Nabudchadnosser/Nebokadnezar etc.
Beside those different transcriptions semitic languages don’t have vocals anyway... so you get a whole lot of spellings.
Why don’t we just get this whole empirical doubt out of the way, and finally Admit the Whole Bible fully Authoritative and Historically Acurate; of course minor details in Jeremiah ARE correct; we knew this even before this proven discovery, this just re-enforces the truth already known in the Holy Bible, and gives credence to God’s creation/continued interest in the affairs of men!
Hebrew and Babylonian languages would have different spellings. Look at the spelling of Mexico in modern languages, Mejico, Mexico, Le Mexique, Mexiko, etc., for a very short and simple word. Have to assume that the archeologists and historians at Oxford, U. of Vienna, the British Museum know both languages well enough to present this as fact. I remember reading old attacks on Biblical authenticity saying that there was no proof that Pontius Pilot even existed and then carvings were found with his name. Little details like this are wonderful.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.