By Deanna Huff, PhD
The following article first appeared 09/2019 at bellatorchristi.com.
Stones Tell Stories
Upon entering the British Museum, the Assyrian section was the first archaeological display I encountered. The room was full of stones voicing stories of the past. My breath was taken away as I realized I was standing in ancient history, hearing the words of kings and their people. The stones that surrounded me were the same stones that stood during the times of the kings of the Bible. Stones testify as memorials even in the ancient period. Joshua was commanded, “Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.… When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ Then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever” (Josh 4:3-7). In the British Museum, the Black Obelisk stood before me. It is a stone telling a story and provides evidence for the Bible’s reliability.
Archaeology – The Black Obelisk
The Assyrian Black Obelisk discovered in Turkey in 1846 dates back to 825 BC. The relief sculpture attests to the military achievements of King Shalmaneser III and his chief minister. These monuments inspired people with patriotism and unity for their society. The obelisk reveals kings of surrounding nations paying tribute to King Shalmaneser III in five scenes on five rows. The foreign kings are bowing down to King Shalmaneser III to indicate he is the ultimate king of the land. The significance of the discovery for the biblical world is located on the second row of the obelisk. It identifies King Jehu (2 Kings 10:34) paying homage and presenting gifts to King Shalmaneser. This is the only contemporary carving of an Israelite king mentioned in the Kings.
Apologetics – The Stones Provide Evidence
Archaeology like the Black Obelisk provides support for the reliability of the Old Testament. It offers a historical confirmation of the stories of the Scriptures. Dr. Price states, “Archaeology aids in bringing the theological message of the Bible into a real world context where real faith is possible.”[1] Historical affirmations of the Bible can strengthen and enrich a person’s faith. Archaeology should not be overstated; at the same time, it should not be understated. The ancients left behind stones that speak truths of the past to the hearers of today. Discovering historical details of the ancients promotes the accuracy of the biblical text. For example, “Excavations at Te Miqne uncovered an inscription that conclusively identified the site as biblical Ekron, a Philistine city mentioned in the Old Testament from the time of the conquest through the postexilic period.”[2] Other beneficial finds, such as the Merneptah Stela, the Rosetta Stone, and the Sheba inscription, confirm the world that interacted with the Bible. Stones unearthed in archaeology today are sharing stories of the past, and they are complimenting the historical accuracy of the Bible. Therefore, let us be awestruck when encountering the voices of the past as we walk through the halls of museums and use that knowledge to season our discussions with others to share the stories that matter for life.
[1] Randall Price, Handbook of Biblical Archaeology (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2017), 27.
[2] Ibid.
