RABBI AVRAHAM STOLIK
THE JEWISH INDIANA JONES
Rabbi Avraham Stolik is a well-known figure in the field of biblical archaeology, particularly focusing on Jerusalem. His expertise and unique perspective, combining extensive knowledge of Jewish history with archaeological discoveries, have earned him a reputation as a notable biblical archaeology scholar.
With a background in Judaic studies and a strong passion for archaeology, he founded the Jerusalem Uncovered Institute, through which he has been delivering captivating lectures on biblical archaeology for nearly two decades.Audiences hearing these “Jerusalem Uncovered” presentations compare him to the fictional archaeologist, Indiana Jones.
For more information about Rabbi Avraham Stolik and his work, as well as to inquire about booking a presentation, please visit the website, JerusalemUncovered.com.
Can Archeology Prove the Bible’s Truth?
Rabbi AVRAHAM STOLIK
The most famous and celebrated things are the most contested. Accordingly, the Bible has produced a determined crop of disparagers.
“Perhaps the whole Bible narrative is a myth?” “There is no archeological evidence to support the stories of the Bible.” They might grudgingly concede that King David and King Solomon existed, but they were mere “hill country chieftains.” Jerusalem was a “poor small tribal village.” King David’s glorious victories? Oh, those were fabricated political propaganda stories to bolster the claim of a glorious past.
In 1993, these Biblical minimalists (1) got horrible news, the discovery (2) of the Tel Dan ‘stele,’ a monument slab with an Aramean inscription. It commemorated a military victory over a king of the House of David. It is the first and earliest mention of King David’s name outside of the Bible in the land of Israel – and it even referenced the House of David, also known as the “Davidic dynasty.”
In addition, there have been significant discoveries involving a king of the Davidic dynasty, King Hezekiah, who ruled approximately 250 years after King David. For example, archaeologists found a massive 1,750-foot tunnel under the City of David. Why is this tunnel important? Aside from establishing the city of David as the original core of Jerusalem, the tunnel was constructed as part of King Hezekiah’s defense strategies against the King of Assyria, a story that the Bible describes in detail. The Siloam Inscription (3) memorializes the exciting encounter of the two teams of tunnel- diggers who began digging from opposite ends. Most importantly, it matched a clear Biblical narrative that is hard to dispute.
“When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, intent on making war against Jerusalem, he consulted with his officers... about stopping the flow of the springs outside the city... for otherwise... the King of Assyria would come and find water in abundance...”(4)
The Assyrian king did not succeed in taking Jerusalem. King Hezekiah’s water works project, which took an estimated four years to complete, was a major engineering feat, considered the greatest in pre-classical history. And you can walk through it today.
People have found innumerable artifacts in Israeli soil. However exciting these might be, skeptical scholars usually find a reason to cast doubt on them. But even the most determined naysayers don’t contest King Hezekiah’s reign.
In 2010, more evidence was discovered. A seal impression (bulla) bearing King Hezekiah’s name was found in an archaeological excavation in an ancient refuse dump adjacent to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This is the only personal seal to date belonging to a Judean/Israelite King that we have. It has the advantage of being complete, with none of the missing fragments that can leave artifacts open to dispute. No one can contest a clear signature! (5)
Those of us for whom the Bible is the basis of our faith do not lead our lives based on archaeological evidence. Some say that there’s no physical proof of God. But I see the many souvenirs that God has left us.
Footnotes:
1. A school of thought claiming that the Bible cannot be considered reliable evidence for what happened in ancient Israel.
2. Near the Lebanese border.
3. The inscription on the Siloam conduit, the earliest long ancient Hebrew inscription found in Jerusalem, commemorates the digging of the waterway – an event in the history of Jerusalem that the Bible mentions more than once. It is on display in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.
4. 2 Chronicles 32:2-4.
5. There is much excitement about the recent discovery of a monumental structure, believed to be King David’s palace. Its location matches the geographical specifics that 2 Samuel describes and scholars have dated it to King David’s period, the 10th century BCE. Nevertheless, challengers continue to attempt to chip away at the findings’ credibility, using the rubrics of ‘science’ to point out that no proof bearing King David’s name has been found at the site.