Posted on 11/30/2018 7:13:15 AM PST by SeekAndFind
No.
Solomon’s network of military border fortresses in the Negev:
Introduction:
At least 50 fortresses have been discovered in the Negev of Israel. These fortresses were built by Solomon in 950 BC to protect the southern borders with Egypt and Edom. If Solomon did not built them, then the next candidate would have to be David. It is possible but quite unlikely that Saul built them. Solomon is clearly the best choice from a historical, Biblical and archeological point of view.
It is clear that Pharaoh Shishak destroyed the fortresses in 924 BC. We even have his account etched into the stone at Temple of Amon in Karnak. (see below) Since we know that the fortresses had a short occupation life, this fits perfectly with Solomon as the builder just 26 years earlier.
The opinion on the builder and dates of these fortresses varies depending on the bias of the archeologist and fall into two categories: Those who believe the Bible and those who do not. Basically, those archeologists who believe the Bible attribute these 50 fortresses to Solomon in 950 BC. Those archeologists who say Solomon and David are mostly a myth, will attribute dates before or after David/Solomon, but fight hard to avoid any suggestion that confirms the historicity of David/Solomon as revealed in the Bible. Sure these Bible trashing archeologists believe David and Solomon were real people, just that most of what the Bible says is untrue. They have a peculiar vested interest in dating that is a few years before or after Solomon, any date as long as it excludes the possibility that the Bible is true. Having examined most of the archeological data, it is clear that these fortresses were indeed built by Solomon in 950 BC.
This study focuses only on the outmost ring of these fortresses in an effort to map the border of Israel at the time of Solomon. Israel’s borders with Egypt at Wadi El Arish and Edom at the Arabah valley are noted. These 50 military fortresses were dotted throughout the Negev, and end at the Egyptian border and the southern Arabah valley. By simply plotting the locations of these fortresses, we can therefore determine where the border between Israel and Egypt lie, from an archeological point of view.
Special attention is placed in this study on refuting Qudeirat as a candidate for Kadesh Barnea. One of the problems with locating Kadesh Barnea at Ein el Qudeirat or Ein el Qedeis, is that it is 28 km inside the formal border of the promised land. Stated simply, Israel did not spend 38 years “wandering in the wilderness” in the promised land they were forbidden to enter. Archeologically, it can be proven that Ein el Qudeirat was part of a series of up to 50 military fortresses built by King David and or Solomon about 1000 BC.
Excavations have shown that many of the 50 military fortresses were built on virgin soil about 1000 BC, including Qudeirat. Archeologists assign ranges from 1100 BC - 950 BC for Qudeirat, therefore Ein el Qudeirat cannot be Kadesh Barnea because the exodus happened at 1450 BC.
These unusual and varied shapes of the many fortresses is explained by the fact they were built to follow the contour of lookout plateau or hill top.
“The archaeological findings reveal, first of all, that a network of fortresses, including the first three types, existed in the 10th century B.C., and that most of the sites, after a brief phase of occupation, were permanently abandoned. Second, at Kadesh-barnea in the 8th-7th centuries B.C. a solid-walled fortress was erected over its predecessor’s remains.” (The Iron Age Fortresses in the Central Negev, Rudolph Cohen, 1979 AD)
One of the big discussions is the what the Fortresses were used for. Some Bible trashing archeologists believe the fortresses were not used for military purposes but were mere fortified stock yards to protect herds and small families of nomads. Although the Nomads would sing “Lord I was born a rambling man” as a the song goes, they decided, in the spirit of Jed Clampett of the Beverly Hillbillies, to move into the big city. Well maybe not the big city, but they built small towns to live in. You know, the “hunter-gatherer, wanderer” settles down and become a farmer. Of course all the archeological evidence points away from these fortresses as small social communities and points directly to their military use soldiers stationed in some desolate outpost. They even had to make their own dinnerware! Once this fact is established, and it has been established, then we have no options but to conclude that these fortresses were built by the Solomon of the Bible!
A. Bible verses that indicate fortresses: “Strong holds”
There is evidence from the Bible that Israel built fortresses. Although the one’s in Judges 6:2 are not likely the one’s under discussion here, they show a Biblical precedence for fortress building or “strongholds”:
“The power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.” Judges 6:2
David Sheltered in strongholds he may have built or were already in existence:
“David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.” 1 Samuel 23:14
“Then Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?” 1 Samuel 23:19
“David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of Engedi.” 1 Samuel 23:29
“When David fled from Saul, seeking refuge in the wilderness of Judah, he stayed in mesadim (fortresses) (1 Samuel 23:14). This same kind of fortress or stronghold is later referred to in 1 Samuel 24:22 as a mesudah. (The Fortresses King Solomon Built to Protect His Southern Border, Rudolph Cohen, 1985 AD)
Jerusalem is called a stronghold of David, which indicates he built them all since the same phrase is used:
“Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David.” 1 Chronicles 11:7
“Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David.” 1 Chronicles 12:16
There is an indication that there were strongholds in the wilderness:
“From the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.” 1 Chronicles 12:8
There is no indication that Solomon built the extensive network of 50 fortresses under discussion here. However, David’s key was to establish control of Jerusalem and the promised land. Solomon greatly expanded his rule so he is the obvious candidate for these fortresses.
B. Locations of the 50 fortresses:
“The site, [Ahoroni Fortress] named for the late Y. Aharoni, be-longs to the category of “Israelite fortresses,” of which some 50 have been discovered in the Negev Highlands. ... According to the general plan of the site and the finds, it may clearly be classified as one of the “Israelite fortresses in the Negev.”” (The “Aharoni Fortress” Near Quseima and the “Israelite Fortresses” in the Negev, Zeev Meshel, 1994 AD)
More than 40 sites in the Wilderness of Beer-sheba and the Wilderness of Zin have been surveyed, and 12 of them have been partially excavated to date. (Enclosed Settlements in the Negeb, Ze’ev Herzog, 1983 AD)
In 1975, Ze’ev Meshel conducted a survey in the area of Nahal Sirpad, with the help of the staff of the field school at Sde Boqer. As a result of all these archaeological surveys, more than 40 Iron Age fortresses have now been identified in the Central Negev. (The Fortresses King Solomon Built to Protect His Southern Border, Rudolph Cohen, 1985 AD)
Even if open borders is Biblical, it is irrelevant to governing this country.
No
Wonder how many more decades do Latin America and the rest of the third world need to get their shit straight? Why should they try when Uncle Sugar is here
If open borders is somehow “Biblical”, why did God promise the Israelites their own country?
In the Bible, Assyrians are Assyrians and Romans, Romans .. etc.
Now I know Ruth attached herself to Naomi and God records that to tell an unusual story about an unusual event as part of His plan to bring forth Messiah.
For the most part, until muslims began to pollute the planet with their vile selves, Germans stayed in Germany, the French in France and etcetera.
No one was interested in conquering another nation by invasion.
Until the muslims went on the move.
Even we here in the USA had almost NO problems along our southern border ..... until the muslims invaded the southern continent
No.
Why did God allow Solomon to have 1,000 wives?
or maybe it was 700 wives and 300 concubines, but whose counting.
What an inconceivably stupid question.
Deut. 32:8 is clear; there are distinct nations and they have borders. And Ezra 10 clearly indicates assimilation is necessary to join a nation.
RE: Why did God allow Solomon to have 1,000 wives?
The Bible does not specifically say why God allowed polygamy. As we speculate about God’s silence, there is at least one key factor to consider. Due to patriarchal societies, it was nearly impossible for an unmarried woman to provide for herself. Women were often uneducated and untrained. Women relied on their fathers, brothers, and husbands for provision and protection. Unmarried women were often subjected to prostitution and slavery.
So, it seems that God may have allowed polygamy to protect and provide for the women who could not find a husband otherwise. A man would take multiple wives and serve as the provider and protector of all of them. While definitely not ideal, living in a polygamist household was far better than the alternatives: prostitution, slavery, or starvation. In addition to the protection/provision factor, polygamy enabled a much faster expansion of humanity, fulfilling God’s command to “be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth” (Genesis 9:7). Men are capable of impregnating multiple women in the same time period, causing humanity to grow much faster than if each man was only producing one child each year.
BTW, what does the question have to do with Open Borders?
The Israelites welcomed proselytes on the basis of assimilation. You couldn’t continue to act like a Moabite or Edomite and wreck the place. Plus, land ownership was hereditary and could not be permanently separated from the blood line.
God made nations. He established lines for those nations. It was man who decided to change national lines by invasion. It was at the Tower of Babel that God changed man to many languages because of what everyone was doing at Babel. They were of one voice until that little episode. God then dispersed all these peoples around the world, with their languages where they established their nations. Simple as that, yes, God established national lines. Read Genesis where He lays out the exact lines that Israel will one day have. It is much larger than now. They will probably obtain a lot of those territories with the Ezekiel 38 and 39 war, and possibly the Psalms 83 war. There is a lot of nations bordered right up against Israel and just out from Israel mentioned in those wars that will give Israel the lands God said they will have.
In my recollection. Jesus did not condemn the Israelites for keeping Samaritans out of the country. Jesus still loved them, and went to them to offer Himself as their Savior too. If I am wrong about this, correct me. I firmly believe God expects a country to self protect. But to be generous too.
Good quote. I believe it reaffirms God’s Babel judgment, as does the enduring observable FACT that man CANNOT overcome the separation...until Antichrist appears (he’s already here in spirit).
The LORD has an abbondanza of wrath stored up for him and all who follow him.
Is open borders the Biblical stance?
Why was Jerusalem a walled city?
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All cities were walled, or they would not last long as cities.
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