'Solomon's Palace' discovered in Israel, . . . (truncated)

Christian Today ^ | 4 September 2016 | Hazel Torres

[fella]

showing another proof that Bible passages were based on actual historical events

Solid evidence has once again been unearthed proving that passages from the Bible were based on actual historical events.

A team of archaeologists has discovered a palatial building in Gezer, Israel, which the discoverers named "Solomon's Palace," according to New Historian.

The spectacular building was constructed over 3,000 years ago, in the tenth century BCE, according to the archaeologists. Although they could not tell yet which king, if any, lived in the palace, they believe it was likely built during the reign of King Solomon.

Their conjecture was based on Philistine pottery discovered at the site. According to the Bible, Philistines lived in Gezer until the city was vanquished by Solomon's father, King David.

According to the Bible, King Solomon was the driving force behind the creation of Israel.

Excavation co-director Professor Steve Ortiz, from the Tandy Museum of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary of Fort Worth, Texas, told Haaretz that the structure was significantly larger than the size of normal houses of the time, which suggests that it was home to someone of great importance.

The Old Testament states that the city of Gezer, which is situated on a crossroads in a pass leading from the coast to Jerusalem, was given by the Pharaoh of Egypt as a dowry to Solomon's wife. Solomon then rebuilt the city during the late tenth century BCE.

The archaeologists said the palace complex they've unearthed could only have been built by a king with substantial resources, one like Solomon.

The archaeologists also found evidence of destruction within the rooms in the complex, which they said could be associated with the Shishak invasion in 925 BCE, when the Pharaoh launched an invasion of Israel and Judah—another event described in the Old Testament.

This was not the first high-profile archaeological discovery in Israel this year that showed evidence of the events written in the Bible, according to the Christian Post.

Last month, a team uncovered a first century AD era synagogue at a site called Tel Rechesh, which is located near Mount Tabor.

The find confirmed the Bible's New Testament narrative about the preaching Jesus Christ did in synagogues, a leading archaeologist said.

"This is the first synagogue discovered in the rural part of the Galilee and it confirms historical information we have about the New Testament, which says that Jesus preached at synagogues in Galilean villages," said Dr. Motti Aviam, a senior researcher at the Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archeology, as quoted by CBN News.

Matthew chapter four records how Jesus went throughout the Galilee teaching and preaching. A similar account is found in Matthew chapter nine verse 35 which says, "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness."

According to experts, the walls of the synagogue room are "lined with benches constructed from skillfully hewn limestone."

Israeli news site Ynet reports that the synagogue was discovered just four inches underground and reportedly measures 29 feet long and 26 feet wide.

[Jim W N]

Agreed. Nobody needs to be offended when others use this BCE/CE instead of BC/AD. Offense is really a tool of Satan.

Look, we can still use BC/AD and I plan to do just that. If others want to use BCE/CE that’s up to them. It’s supposedly the same time-wise, just a difference in leaving out Christ which sooner or later the world does anyway. And if Christians and Christianity Today choose to use it, well I guess that’s up to them.

Let’s be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. As far as we know, at least so far, BCE/CE does not change the BC/AD time-frames, so at least for now, confusion is limited. Is Satan behind this? Most likely, but he is also behind believers being too easily offended because he wants to plant a root of bitterness in them. Don’t let Satan do that.

We can name the darkness, but let’s not curse the darkness. Let’s keep looking to Jesus and let our light shine.