3000-2000 B.C. – Job exclaims how badly he wants his words written in a book – with an iron stylus and lead, to be
Pottery shard dug up during excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa, near Israel's Elah valley.
specific (Job19:23).
1600-1400 B.C. – The Book of the Wars of the LORD is referenced (Numbers 21:14).
1525-1405 B.C. – Moses writes in a book as a memorial to recite to Joshua (Exodus 17:14). Moses writes down all the words of the LORD (Exodus 24:4). Moses writes down the Law and gives it to the priests (Deuteronomy 31:9).
1400 – B.C. – The Book of Jashar is referenced (Joshua 10:13).
1020-971 B.C. – King David writes at least a hundred and twenty-three Psalms.
1000 – B.C. – King David (before ascending the throne) laments the death of King Saul and Jonathan and tells certain men to teach the sons of Judah the song of the bow, and it is written in the Book of Jashar (2 Samuel 1:18).
950-931 B.C. – King Solomon writes 3,000 proverbs, 1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:32) and Ecclesiastes, in which he concludes that the writing of many books is endless (Ecclesiastes 12:12).
640 B.C. – Hilkiah the high priest finds the book of the Law in the House of the LORD (2 Kings 22:8). King Josiah tears his clothes upon discovering that his people have disobeyed YAHWEH’s Law (2 Kings 22:11) [Note that this is BEFORE captivity in Babylon].
627-574 B.C. – Jeremiah writes down the prophecy of Babylon on a single scroll (Jeremiah 51:60).
483-473 B.C. – Queen Esther commands the establishment of the customs of Purim, and they are written in a book (Esther 9:32).
44-95 A.D. – Jude, half-brother of Jesus Christ, quotes the antediluvian writings of Enoch, indicating that the beginnings of written Scripture are far earlier than 3000 B.C. (Jude 1:14-15).
2010 A.D. – Some scientists believe that none of the Bible was written until 600 B.C., and are therefore astonished to find a piece of Hebrew writing from the era of King David.
“Until now, many scholars have held that the Hebrew Bible originated in the 6th century B.C., because Hebrew writing was thought to stretch back no further. But the newly deciphered Hebrew text is about four centuries older, scientists announced this month…” (From Live Science, January 15, 2010)
Did I miss something?
Now I finally understand why discussing the Bible with nonbelievers is like arguing with aliens from a different planet. I was trying to tell them about the real Bible, and all this time they thought I was talking about fragmented Babylonian calenders and love stories copied by hyperventilating Jewish captives. I’m becoming more and more convinced that believers and nonbelievers alike enjoy giving entirely too much credit to pagans.
~Amanda~
Post Scriptum – Don’t anybody start on one of those rants about circular reasoning (as though I don’t already know what it is). Haven’t you heard of the External and Bibliographic tests? Get with it!
Interesting stuff Amanda. And speaking of the attempt to have a reasonable discussion with a non-believer, have you heard of a man named David B. Hart? In my opinion, and many others, he has a rare combination of talents, he is very perceptive, broadly and deeply learned, and a superior prose stylist. He has recently released an excellent little book called Atheist Delusions subtitled The Christian Revolution and its Fashionable Enemies. I think you would like it very much.
Here is a link to an article he wrote for First Things a few years ago as a foretaste. Enjoy!
http://www.firstthings.com/article/2009/01/003-daniel-dennett-hunts-the-snark-15
Amanda,
For people like me that are not up to speed with this topic can you explain the significance of the discovery.
Didn’t the dead sea scrolls verify the OT?
How is the pottery dated since carbon dating is often unreliable?
Sorry to not know a lot about this, but it is not something I have researched.
Ms. Lindy,
In my opinion, this discovery isn’t really that significant. I don’t think it’s significant to any of us believers, because it doesn’t surprise us. That’s the comedy of it all. It surprised those scientists because they have been steeped in the evolutionary idea that complex languages couldn’t have existed thousands of years ago. Furthermore, the typical secularist train of thought is that the Hebrews borrowed most everything from the Babylonians while they were in captivity (a ridiculous hypothesis, as the time line shows).
I laughed out loud when I read that “many scholars” thought the Bible originated in 6th century B.C. All this time I had given unbelievers the benefit of the doubt and assumed that they at least knew that the Bible is a far more serious contender for being the oldest book in history!
~Amanda~
thanks, now I get it. thank you so much for helping me understand – I must have must the satire.
Hi Amanda, I just came across your blog. I am always looking for blogs links and social interaction.
Russ
Blogs
thekingpin68
satire and theology
Thx.
Is the bible still relevant today –