 History
Confirmation of Historical Events.
Many events which are recorded in ancient records are also recorded in the Bible. These help to show that the Bible is a true and accurate record. A few examples follow.
Hezekiah, one of Judah's righteous kings, had problems with Sennacherib, king of Assyria. According to II Kings 18:14, Sennacherib demanded tribute.
And the king of Assyria appointed to Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
It seems even kings have trouble paying their taxes, for II Kings 18:15 - 16 says
And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house. At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
The Prism of Sennacherib records
Hezekiah himself, whom the terror-inspiring splendor of my lordship had overwhelmed ......... did send me, later, to Nineveh, my lordly city, together with 30 talents of gold, 800 talents of silver, precious stones, ...... James B. Pritchard, The Ancient Near East. Volume 1 (Princeton, 1958) pp 200 - 201.
Clearly Hezekiah was terrified of Sennacherib, giving more than was demanded, and clearly an extra-biblical source confirms a biblical source.
The sad end of the kingdom of Judah is related in II Kings 24 - 25 and II Chronicles 36. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came and made Jehoiakim his servant. Jehoiakim revolted and was destroyed and Jehoiakin, his son, reigned in his stead.
Jehoiakin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar and was taken prisoner, along with all the nobles, tradesmen and other people of value. This was the time when the prophets Daniel and Ezekiel were taken.
Nebuchadnezzar then appointed Zedekiah as king. Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, who came and beseiged Jerusalem, captured and blinded Zedekiah and took him off to Babylon. A little later Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, came and destroyed the city, removing everything of value.
A text from the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar records some of these events on a tablet now in the British Museum.
Seventh year: In the month Kislimu, the king of Akkad called up his army, marched against Syria, encamped against the city of Judah and seized the town on the second day of the month Adar. He captured the king. He appointed there a king of his own choice. He took much booty from it and sent it to Babylon. James B. Pritchard, The Ancient Near East. Volume 1 (Princeton, 1958) p 203.
Another extra-biblical text confirms a biblical passage.
More to come
Links to other history pages in this site
|
