Friends,

Are you into archeology? Probably not so much. Other than digging in our gardens, most of us don’t go around excavating historical sites in hopes of uncovering a significant groundbreaking [excuse the pun] find. However, we all can be grateful for those who do.

The news of a major discovery relating to biblical history is just starting to spread. More evidence was revealed this past week of the Old Testament’s accuracy and has impressed scholars from all backgrounds. It certainly impresses me! Check out this report.

Ray

The British Museum yesterday hailed a discovery within a clay tablet in its collection as a breakthrough for biblical archeology – proof of the accuracy of the Old Testament.
The cuneiform inscription in a tablet dating from 595BC has been deciphered for the first time – revealing a reference to an official at the court of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, that proves the historical existence of a figure mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah. It is rare evidence in a non-biblical source of a real person, other than kings, featured in the Bible.

The tablet names a Babylonian officer called Nebo-Sarsekim who, according to Jeremiah 39, was present in 587BC when Nebuchadnezzar “marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it”. The cuneiform inscription records how Nebo-Sarsekim lavished a gift of gold on the Temple of Esangila in the fabled city of Babylon, where, at least in folk tradition, Nebuchadnezzar is credited with building the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. British Museum staff are excited by the discovery.

Irving Finkel, assistant keeper in the Department of the Middle East, said: “A mundane commercial transaction takes its place as a primary witness to one of the turning points in Old Testament history. This is a tablet that deserves to be famous.”

The discovery was made by Michael Jursa, associate professor at the University of Vienna, on a research trip to the museum.

Original article here.

Ray is PCC’s Senior Pastor