Top Ten Discoveries In Bible Archaeology In 2016
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#7 – Desecrated Gate-Shrine Discovered at Tel Lachish (Sept. 2016)
The gate structure at Tel Lachish. Photo credit: Guy Fitoussi/Israel Antiquities Authority
Archaeologists excavating a six-chambered gate at the biblical city of Lachish made three discoveries that they claim confirm details described in the Old Testament. The gate-shrine of Tel Lachish – the largest discovered from the First Temple period – has been dated to the eighth century BC using artifacts that were found in the rooms, including jars, grain scoops, and jar handles stamped with a lmlk (“belonging to the king”) seal:
1) Benches were unearthed at the city gate, confirming what is known from history, that the city gates were a place the elders, judges, governors, and kings sat to do business. “Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land” (Prv 31:23).
2) Within one of the rooms in the city gate, excavators found two four-horned altars with the horns intentionally broken off. This is believed to be evidence of the reforms of King Hezekiah, who “removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles” as part of his reforms (2 Kgs 18:4).
3) Finally, a stone chair with a hole in the middle, which archaeologists have identified as a toilet, was found in the corner of the room. This suggests an intentional desecration of the gate-shrine, and is reminiscent of the Bible’s description of Jehu turning the temple of Baal in Samaria into a latrine(public toilet) (2 Kgs 10:27).
2) Within one of the rooms in the city gate, excavators found two four-horned altars with the horns intentionally broken off. This is believed to be evidence of the reforms of King Hezekiah, who “removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles” as part of his reforms (2 Kgs 18:4).
3) Finally, a stone chair with a hole in the middle, which archaeologists have identified as a toilet, was found in the corner of the room. This suggests an intentional desecration of the gate-shrine, and is reminiscent of the Bible’s description of Jehu turning the temple of Baal in Samaria into a latrine(public toilet) (2 Kgs 10:27).
(They smashed the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet, as it remains to this day.)
3 Archaeological Finds in 2016 That Confirmed Biblical Accuracy
A toilet discovered at Tel Lachish. It was discovered in a "large room that appears to have been a shrine."
"The room contained two four-horned altars, whose horns had been intentionally damaged." As John Stonestreet told BreakPoint listeners, the damage was, in likelihood, part of King Hezekiah's reforms.
But what about the toilet? Well, if you're going to desecrate a pagan shrine, nothing does the trick like turning it into an outhouse, which is exactly what another reformer, Jehu, did to a temple of Ba'al in 2 Kings. Apparently, Jehu wasn't unique in this regard.
Findings like these should not surprise us. As John put it, "The Bible is the best-attested book of antiquity. Nothing else is within the same solar system." Our faith is firmly rooted in history, not some "once upon a time."
Links:
– http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_eng.aspx?sec_id=25&subj_id=240
– https://kehilanews.com/2016/09/30/archaeologist-in-tel-lachish-confirm-biblical-account-of-king-hezekiah/
– http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Gate-shrine-from-First-Temple-period-unearthed-at-Tel-Lachish-National-Park-468904
– http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_eng.aspx?sec_id=25&subj_id=240
– https://kehilanews.com/2016/09/30/archaeologist-in-tel-lachish-confirm-biblical-account-of-king-hezekiah/
– http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Gate-shrine-from-First-Temple-period-unearthed-at-Tel-Lachish-National-Park-468904
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