Downspouts and Water Shafts

Archaeological explorations have shed some interesting light on the capture of Jerusalem by David. The biblical accounts of that capture (II Sam. 5:6-8 and I Chron. 11:6) are rather obscure without the help obtained from archaeological evidence. Take for example Second Samuel 5:8, which in the King James Version reads: “And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain.” Add to this statement First Chronicles 11:6: “—So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up and was chief.” Some years ago I saw a painting of the conquest of Jerusalem in which the artist showed a man climbing up a metal downspout, running on the outside face of the city wall. This picture was absurd, because ancient city walls had neither gutters nor downspouts, although they had weeping holes in the walls to drain water off. The Revised Standard Version, produced after the situation had become clear through archaeological discoveries made on the spot, translates 2 Samuel 5:8 as “And David said on that day, ‘Whoever would smite the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul.’”

Massoretic Text

Archaeology  has also given us evidence as to the substantial accuracy of our Massoretic text. The Jeremiah Seal, a seal used to stamp the bitumen seals of wine jars, and dated from the first or second century A.D.,  has Jeremiah 48:11 stamped on it and, in general, conforms to the Massoretic text. This seal " ... attests the accuracy with which the text was transmitted between the time when the seal was made and the time when the manuscripts were written." Furthermore, the Roberts Papyrus, which dates to the second century B.C., and the Nash Papyrus, dated by Albright before 100 B.C., confirm our Massoretic text. (Ramm, CITOT, 8-10)

The Flood of Noah

However there is geological evidence to support a worldwide flood. Partial skeletons of recent animals are found in deep fissures in several parts of the world, and the flood seems to be the best explanation for these. This would explain how these fissures occur even in hills of considerable height, which extend from 140 feet to 300 feet. Since no skeleton is complete, it

is safe to conclude that none of these animals (mammoths, bears, wolves, oxen, hyenas, rhinoceri, aurochs, deer, and smaller mammals) fell into these fissures alive, nor were they rolled there by streams. Yet the calcite cementing these diverse bones together indicates that they must have been deposited under water. Such fissures have been discovered in various places around the world. This evidence shows what a brief but violent episode of this sort would be expected to cause within the short span of one year. (Geisler, BECA, 49-50)

Sodom and Gomorrah

The destruction  of Sodom and Gomorrah was thought to be spurious until evidence revealed that all five of the cities mentioned in the Bible were in fact centers of commerce in the-area and were geographically situated as  the  Scriptures   describe.  The  biblical description of their demise seems to be no less accurate. Evidence points to earthquake activity, and that the various layers of the earth were disrupted and hurled high into the air. Bitumen  is plentiful there, and an accurate  description  would  be  that  brim­ stone (bituminous pitch) was hurled down on those cities that had rejected God. There is evidence that the layers of sedimentary rock have been molded together by intense heat. Evidence  of  such  burning  has been found on the top of Jebel Usdum  (Mount Sodom). This is permanent evidence of the great conflagration  that took  place  in the long-distant past, possibly when an oil basin beneath the Dead Sea ignited and erupted.

Saul, David, and Solomon

The  excavation  of  Gezer  in   1969  ran across a massive layer of ash that covered most of the mound. Sifting through the ash yielded pieces of Hebrew, Egyptian, and Philistine artifacts. Apparently all three cui­ tures had been there at the same time. This puzzled  researchers  greatly  until  they  realized  that  the Bible  told  them  exactly  what they had found. "Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter; Solomon's wife" (1 Kings 9:16). (Geisler, BECA, 51-52)

The Assyrian Invasion

Even though Sargon was unknown for some time, when his palace was found and excavated a wall painting of the battle mentioned in Isaiah 20 was found. The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser adds to our knowledge of biblical figures by showing Jehu (or his emissary) bowing down to the king of Assyria.

One Language, One Speech

According to Scripture, “The whole earth was of one language and one speech” (Gen.ll:l) before the Tower of Babel. After the building of the tower and its destruction, God confounded the language of all the earth (Gen. 11:9). Many modern-day philologists attest to the likelihood of such an origin for the world’s languages. Alfredo Trombetti states that he can trace and prove

the common origin of all languages. Max Mueller also attests to the common origin.

And Otto Jespersen goes so far as to say that language was directly given to the first men

by God. (Free, ABH, 47)