“It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries.”- Nelson Glueck
1. Dr. Nelson Glueck, Rivers in the Desert, (New York: Farrar, Strous and Cudahy, 1959), 136.
6 comments :
Apparently Nelson Glueck does not believe that Noah's Flood was an historic event.
"no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference"
I always love objections to these kinds of general arguments.
So what are you suggesting is the archeological evidence that has been discovered which somehow controverts the Biblical account of the flood of Noah?
I joyfully anticipate your reply!
He did not say that there is evidence for every event in the bible, but that none of the evidence found has ever conflicted with what the Bible says.
He said this in 1959. There have been plenty of archeological projects since then that dispute Biblical references. For instance the town of Heshbon, mentioned as being destroyed in Numbers 21, was excavated in the late late 60's and Early 70's by a team from Andrews University and it was determined that the town had not even been constructed yet during the time it was supposed to have been destroyed. They've tried to say, "Well, maybe this isn't Heshbon" and have searched to no avail to find an alternate site.
Not finding something yet or thinking you found something but you're not sure about it... Not sure how that controverts any biblical reference. Plus, in addition to Biblical references to Heshbon you also have non-biblical sources that refer to it. So does not finding it mean Josephus got it wrong?
A few things to keep in mind:
(1). Only a fraction of the evidence survives in the ground.
(2). Only a fraction of possible sites have been detected.
(3). Only a fraction of detected sites have been excavated.
(4). Only a fraction of what has been excavated has been thoroughly examined and published.
(5). Only a fraction of what has been examined and published makes a contribution to biblical studies.
*Edwin M. Yamauchi, The Stones and the Scriptures (Philadelphia: Lippincitt, 1972), 146-62.
For the fact, Heshbon was found and said to be "Heshbon", proves it must have been constructed. And for the fact that Heshbon had to be excavated, proves that Heshbon had to have been destroyed. Therefore, the archaeological discovery meets correctly with biblical fact.
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