Biblical Events with Historical Evidence

ZoeyLou said:

I am aware of the finding of a mummy believed to be Joseph and his coat of colors in an ancient Egyptian tomb.

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The Scriptures themselves say that the bones of Joseph were transferred to Shechem (Joshua 24:32), as per his own wish (Genesis 50:25). So the mummy found in Yuya's sacrophagus cannot be Joseph's.

I see lots of evidence for the world wide flood. Sea creature fossils in Arkansas lol

Historical evidence for things in the Bible? There is a lot, so this is a broad topic.

OT:
We have seals and stelae from Juda and Israel during the Two Kingdom period bearing names of kings listed in Kings and Chronicles. We have Assyrian accounts of the conquest of Samaria and direct evidence of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem.
There is even the Moab stelae bearing the name YHWH.

We have Josephus' account of Moses and Joseph, where he quotes Manetho, an Egyptian historian, on Osarseph. This is then connected to the former.

There are reconstructivist timelines like David Rohl's New Chronology, which if accepted, gives evidence for Saul and David as well.

Belshazzer and Cyrus are well attested historical figures, amongst many such OT monarchs of surrounding lands. Even the Jewish return from exile is attested.

There is also more circumstantial evidence, like the Shasu of YHW that fit Biblical accounts to some extent.

NT:
Obviously we know a lot more here, so that many Roman figures we have accounts of. Josephus and the Talmud wrote on other Jewish figures also, like the High Priests or John the Baptist. Even Pontius Pilate is attested in numismatic, lapidary and textual ways.

The most striking fact here though is Pilate's title. The Bible gives it as Prefect, but the Roman historian Tacitus gives it as Procurator. For years this was taken as an error in the Bible, until evidence emerged that Pilate's title was Prefect from inscriptions. It came to light that the title was changed later to Procurator and Tacitus had made a anachronistic error - to the embarrasment of many.

Quid est Veritas? said:

Historical evidence for things in the Bible? There is a lot, so this is a broad topic.

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That's an understatement. This is a complex topic with a lot of misinformation. So, while there is a lot of evidence to support Biblical accounts, one also needs to understand what not to expect so you won't be duped by all the con artists selling frankincense from Jesus' birth, etc.

There are good reasons for faith in Christ apart from historical evidence, but if you're interested in historical evidence, be sure to work within the accepted standards of evidence.

The Old Testament is full of international politics, which are verifiable from other country’s accounts of the same events.

I suppose if we were to think in terms of current politics affected by Biblical historical claims, I suppose the main item of historical significance recorded in the Bible was Abraham's wife, Sarah, pleading with him to use Hagar to bear a son - Ishmael. Moslems claim Ishmael was an ancestor of Muhammed. Now whether that can be proved or not is a moot point, but this plea by Sarah and Abraham's response partly set the scene centuries later for a conflict which could well set the world on fire in some places.

Genesis 16 NIV

Hagar and Ishmael - Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”

“Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.

The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.

Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”

The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seenc the One who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi ; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.

So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

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I'm also somewhat bemused by the claim that Christ is the King of Peace. He didn't seem to say so Himself -

(Luke 12:49-53)

Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘A man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

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Luke 12: 49-53

I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

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That's been historically evident ever since the earliest days of the Church, and is still true today.

I agree there is a lot of evidence for a world wide flood, every major ancient civilisation has a great flood story

Are not the practices of the Jews physical evidence of the laws given through Moses (say in Exodus and Leviticus)?

ZoeyLou said:

In my not so humble opinion, the flood is the reason for the bones of creatures such as dinosaurs. There was no evolution- God created things the way they were meant to be. Take a look at the Coelacanth for example.

There is so much of the world left unexplored. To think humans know all of it is quite foolish. These beings are either still around or have died out due to what scientists call "Natural Selection".

Anyways, that is my theory

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I believe in the flood, world wide flood (Anyone ever use 'Himilayan Sea Salt'?), but I also believe in some form of evolution. Not Darwinism, but something we haven't figured out yet. I love to watch 'scientists' try to explain why things are. There's a great show called "One Strange Rock" on NatGeo that shows how connected things are. And they really are. But then they try to explain why and how, and they tend to forget about God. I am amazed by this show, but when they show how it all works together, all I see is God's hand. They say things like our oxygen level is at this certain place, and if it got higher we'd burn, and if it got lower we'd suffocate. But then they don't stop to think that God planned it that way. Because, maybe, if they did stop to think it's part of God's plan, they'd realize that God will not allow mankind to destroy this planet, that we couldn't do that, and therefore, climate change is natural.

ZoeyLou said:

Hello all! ..

God bless xx

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Brother Don Patton has some excellent material

Here is another from brother Don Patton

Here is a combination from brother Don Patton

The Roman Caesar's in the Bible

“Caesar”

Matthew 22:17,21
Mark 12:14,16,17
Luke 2:1, 3:1, 20:22,24,25, 23:2
John 19:12,15
Acts 11:28, 17:7, 25:8,10,11,12,21, 26:32, 27:24, 28:19
Philippians 4:22


“Augustus” (Octavius) Caesar

Luke 2:1

See also “...a raiser of taxes [in] the glory of the kingdom...” - Daniel 11:20


“Augustus” (august, not “Octavius”, general honor to any ruling) Caesar

Acts 25:21,25, 27:1


“Tiberius” Caesar

Luke 3:1


“Tiberias” (each in mention of the city and sea)

John 6:1,23, 21:1

(Caligula not mentioned specifically by scripture; brief reign; about Acts 9 area)

“Claudius” Caesar

Acts 11:28 (famine), 18:2 (all Jews depart from Rome)
Acts 17:7 (“Caesar”; contrary to the decrees of Caesar, “Claudius” then was ruling)


Nero “Caesar”:

Acts 25:11,12,21, 26:32, 27:24, 28:19
Philippians 4:22
Acts 25:8,10 (“Caesar”, in general; when this was stated, Nero was then ruling.)


(Galba, Otho and Vitellius not mentioned specifically by scripture, they have brief reigns)


Vespasian Caesar (and general Titus (later also becomes Caesar))

Foretelling by Jesus (in AD 31) of the destruction of Jerusalem by Vespasian and Titus (AD 70)

Matthew 24:1-2
Mark 13:1-2
Luke 19:41-44, and 21:5-6


Domitian (Apostle John is exiled to the Isle of Patmos during his reign)

Revelation 1:9

(many Caesars come and go)

Diocletian (10 year period of persecution, AD 303 – AD 313)

Revelation 2:10

The “Herod's” of Bible History
Matthew 2:1,3,7,12,13,16,19,22, 14:1,3,6
Mark 6:14,16,17,18,20,21,22, 8:15
Luke 1:5, 3:1,19, 8:3, 9:7,9, 13:31, 23:7,8,11,12,15
Acts 4:27, 12:1,6,11,19,20,21, 13:1, 23:35


Herod “Archelaus”
Matthew 2:22


Herod “Philip” I (aka “Herod II”)
Matthew 14:3
Mark 6:17
Luke 3:19


“Philip the Tetrarch” II (aka Herod “Philip” II)
Luke 3:1


Also see Herod “Agrippa” II
Acts 25:13,22,23,24,26, 26:1,2,7,19,27,28,32


The 7 'Herods' of scripture.

1. King Herod “the Great” (son of Antipater of Idumea and wife Cypro)

Matthew 2:1,3,7,12,13,16,19,22
Luke 1:5

Flavius Josephus; The Wars of the Jews; Book 1; Section 19 - http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.+BJ+1.19&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0148

Flavius Josephus; The New Complete Works of Flavius Josephus, William Whiston, Paul L. Maier; Book 1; Chapter 14; sections 282-285; Page 692] - The New Complete Works of Josephus

Flavius Josephus; Antiquities of the Jews; Book 17; Chapter 6; Section 4 - http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.+AJ+17.6.4&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0146

Copper Coin of Herod's - “...bearing the legend "ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΗΡΩΔΟΥ" ("Basileōs Hērōdou") on the obverse” - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Herod_coin1.jpg

Coin of Herod - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Herod_coin.jpg

Bronze Coin of Herod - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._coin_of_Herod_the_Star_minted_at_Samaria.jpg

Tomb of Herod the Great - Herod the Great - Wikipedia

Herodium - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Herodium_from_above_2.jpg


2. Herod “Archelaus”; the son of Herod “the Great”

Matthew 2:22

Flavius Josephus; The Wars of the Jews; Book 1; Section 561 - http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.+BJ+1.561&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0148

Coin of Herod Archelaus - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Herod_Archelaus.jpg


3. Herod “Philip” I, (aka “Herod II” originally married to Herodias)

Matthew 14:3
Mark 6:17
Luke 3:19

Flavius Josephus; The Wars of the Jews; Book 1; Section 561 - http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.+BJ+1.561&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0148

Flavius Josephus; Antiquities of the Jews; Book 18; Chapter 5; Section 4 - http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.+AJ+18.5.4&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0146

4. “Philip the Tetrarch” II (aka Herod “Philip” II whose wife was originally his “niece Salome, the daughter of Herodias”)

Luke 3:1

Flavius Josephus; The Wars of the Jews; Book 1; Section 561 - Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, Book I, section 561

Flavius Josephus; Antiquities of the Jews; Book 17; Chapter 8; Section 1 - http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.+AJ+17.8.1&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0146


5. Herod “Antipas” the Tetrarch

Matthew 14:1,3,6
Mark 6:14,16,17,18,20,21,22, 8:15
Luke 3:1,19, 8:3, 9:7,9, 13:31, 23:7,8,11,12,15
Acts 4:27, 13:1

Flavius Josephus; The Wars of the Jews; Book 1; Section 561 - Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, Book I, section 561

Coin of Herod Antipas - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Herod_Antipas.jpg

6. Herod "Agrippa" I (son of Aristobulus and wife Berenice; grandson of Herod “the Great”)

Acts 12:1,6,11,19,20,21

Flavius Josephus; The Wars of the Jews; Book 1; Section 561 - Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, Book I, section 561


7. Herod "Agrippa" II (son of Herod Agrippa I)

Acts 23:35, 25:13,22,23,24,26, 26:1,2,7,19,27,28,32

Flavius Josephus; The Wars of the Jews; Book 1; Section 561 - Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, Book I, section 561

Informative series, recommend all of the episodes for viewing:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodium

King Herod may have built the towering Herodium place, taller than the pyramids, to overshadow and dominate Bethlehem, the birthplace of David (and the then expected Messiah), as if to make some sort of claim on being the Messiah (cp. Herod's rebuilding of the temple).

Erik Nelson said:

Informative series, recommend all of the episodes for viewing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodium

King Herod may have built the towering Herodium place, taller than the pyramids, to overshadow and dominate Bethlehem, the birthplace of David (and the then expected Messiah), as if to make some sort of claim on being the Messiah (cp. Herod's rebuilding of the temple).

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Herodium was actually built close to an early and important victory of Herod's, when he and his family had to flee Jerusalem as Antigonus was installed with Parthian help. Herod turned around and faced his pursuers there, beating them back and thus managing to escape and to keep himself and his family safe. He then went to Rome and convinced Marc Anthony and the Senate, to install him as king of the Jews. This battle thus presents the lowpoint of his life, where he had to do and die. Hence in commeration, he built Herodium and was buried there.

In addition, it acted as a part of a series of fortresses (along with Masada, Alexandrium, Cypros at Jericho, Phaesalis, etc.) that he built or refurbished, to defend his frontier to Nabataea and the desert(and thus Arabia and Parthia). It was thus part of the deal with Rome, that he would hold Syria's flank (and later Egypt's, too).
He built the Antonia in Jerusalem as his original residence, but its line of sight makes communication by signals difficult with this fortress system. Hence he built a new palace with three large towers as his central node, but this required a new fortress southwards.

So he had both personal and strategic reasons to fortify Herodium. Overlooking the presumed birthplace of the Messiah would just be a plus.
I doubt Herod claimed the Messiahship. He was an Idumaean, so not even a real Jew to many, from a newish family that rose to prominence under his father, Antipater, while in service of the Hasmonaean Hyrcanus II. A big part of Herod's success was keeping Jewish Nationalism under wraps, so that Rome would keep backing him. He knew where his bread was buttered (in Rome), and always made sure he was a scrupulous ally, rushing to visit Agrippa at Rhodes or keeping close relations to Augustus. He couldn't claim Davidic descent, nor even a good Jewish pedigree, so a claim to 'Messiahship' is certainly neither in character nor feasible for him.

Quid est Veritas? said:

So he had both personal and strategic reasons to fortify Herodium. Overlooking the presumed birthplace of the Messiah would just be a plus.

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and a very significant one at that, in keeping with the Massacre of the Innocents

Herod was obviously a very skillful politician, who knew how to "play his cards" and make what he perceived to be the "strongest" and "most dominating" demonstrations of his authority.

Christ was born in the literal shadow of the pyramidally towering Herodium -- obviously reminiscent of Egypt, "out of Egypt I have called my son" (???)