Digging with Darren » Archaeology

Stone Vessel with ‘Priestly Inscription’ Uncovered In Jerusalem

Darren — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:07:22 +0000

Last week, Israel National News reported a very unique find has been made near the Zion Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem. It’s a limestone ritual vessel from the Second Temple period inscribed with not one, but 10 (ten!) lines of Hebrew or Aramaic text (which is still being debated). This is an extremely rare find, the first of its kind. Archaeologists say that because of the rare script used. Although the letters are very clear, they say it could take up to six months to translate the text, due to the unfamiliar cursive script. Can’t wait to find out what it says…

You can read the full report here:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132655Similar Posts:

Second Temple Stone Quarry Discovered

Darren — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:04:52 +0000

This Monday, Arutz Sheva posted news of a new archaeological discovery which is fascinating, especially to those of us who have recently attended the FFOZ Shavuot conference focusing on the Beit HaMikdash (the Holy Temple). Archaeologists have recently discovered a stone quarry used for the stones of the Herod’s Temple. More information can be found here: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132231Similar Posts:

Identity Theft Arrest Related to Dead Sea Scrolls Dispute

Darren — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:54:39 +0000

If you’re not familiar with the saga surrounding the discovery, acquisition, translation and subsequent publications of the Dead Sea Scrolls, you don’t have enough excitement in your life. For the latest criminal investigations involving a major case of lashon hara, read up on the latest article from the New York Times in which a debate regarding the identity of the Qumran community ends up in an arrest for identity theft.Similar Posts:

Jericho: City of Giants?

Darren — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:14:12 +0000

Walls of Jericho

Recently, BAR (Biblical Archaeology Review) published an article by Ronald S. Hendel connecting the origins of Jericho with the giant descendants of the Nephillim. His article is based on a connection he makes with the Grecian cities of Mycenae, Tiryns and Argos, and the enormous width of their walls. According to Greek mythology, these cities were built by the giant Cyclopes. Thus Hendel deduces that since the walls of Jericho were similar in size to these corresponding ancient cities, Joshua and the Isrraelites may have made a natural association with their biblical counterparts, “children of Anak” (Numbers 13).

You can read the full article here.Similar Posts:

Messiah son of Joseph Tablet Follow-up

Darren — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:55:31 +0000

Another article related to my post Jewish Resurrected Messiah Text Causing Buzz can be found on the Biblical Archaeology website here:

http://www.bib-arch.org/bar/article.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=34&Issue=5&ArticleID=14Similar Posts:

Qumran NOT Related to DSS Manuscripts?

Darren — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 23:11:00 +0000

Yesterday the New York Times released a follow-up article based on one published in the most recent edition of Biblical Archaeology Review. It seems that there are a small, but growing number of archaeologists who are now re-examining the link between the Qumran Community and the cache of scrolls found among the caves along the Dead Sea. After ten years of working with the Qumran excavations, archaeologists, Yizhak Magen and Yuval Peleg of the Israel Antiquities Authority are now saying that Qumran is in no way connected to the scrolls which have been linked to the community almost since they surfaced in the middle of the last century.

Not only that, but they are denying Qumran’s connection to monasticism and an Essene identity as well. They conclude that the community at Qumran was a secular establishment was no more than a pottery factory, and that the repository of scrolls came from a divergent collection of sources fleeing from Roman persecution. One seemingly tell-tale sign is the conspicuous lack of a single manuscript addressing the topic of celibacy, a cornerstone of Essene doctrine. This, along with an extensive repository of pottery equipment and pottery-related items among the community, as well as the absence of any religious writings actually found “in” the Qumran sector have given this team of archaeologists a fair amount of evidence to support this theory. Read up on it when you have a chance.Similar Posts:

Medieval Book of Psalms

Darren — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:01:00 +0000

A handwritten book of Psalms (or a least a portion of it) has been found in Ireland that dates to nearly 1200 years ago. It was dug up by accident in a bog and was in incredible condition for its age. The thing that caught my attention was this:

The book was found open to a page describing, in Latin script, Psalm 83, in which God hears complaints of other nations’ attempts to wipe out the name of Israel.

Timely, eh? It’s an incredible find, and worth your time to check out.

Special thanks to Bill Beyer for bringing this story to my attention.Similar Posts:

Archaeological Study Bible

Darren — Mon, 15 May 2006 22:59:00 +0000

Zondervan has recently released a new addition to their plethora of Bibles in their study Bible family. It is called the Archaeological Study Bible. Although this name has undergone a bit of scrutiny, I think it is a name that is probably best suited for this particular work on marketing level, since the average person doesn’t make classification distinctions between archaeological, historical and geographical information.

The entire Bible is printed in full color, and it has 500 full cover photos of relevant material, not to mention that it’s simply beautiful.

If you have the opportunity, check out their website. It’s full of quite a bit of information regarding this new release, including a $10 rebate if you act quickly (offer expires at the end of June, 2006). The hardback retails for $50, but you can get it for $31 through Amazon.com, and then use the $10 rebate, saving you over 50% off the retail price. If you would really like a quick reference for histori-geographi-archaeological insights into the Biblical text at a glance along side your daily Bible study, this might be a good option, if nothing more than to have a gorgeous-looking Bible.Similar Posts:

Gospel of Judas

Darren — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 04:25:00 +0000

Yawn…

Yet another Gnostic “gospel” has surfaced and gained immediate praise from the media. I don’t want to spend much time on it, but for the “inquiring mind” I must address this, if ever so briefly.

In brief, the “Gospel of Judas” is a pseudopygraphal, Gnostic account of the life of Jesus in which the tables are turned on the authentic rendition of the teachings of Jesus. The good guys are the bad guys, and the bad guys are…well…you guessed it—good. It was originally composed some time around the end of the second century, and discovered in the early 70′s in the Egyptian desert. After several years of trying to be sold, it finally ended up in the hands of those who would be able to fund its restoration and translation. As of this year, the translation was completed, and the entire text (of what was not damaged beyond recognition) is publicly available from National Geographic.

This particular gospel begins by letting us know that it is giving us a “secret” account of Jesus that has previously never been told. The reader then learns that only Judas, of all of the disciples, really has intimate fellowship with the Master. He is the only one truly on the “inside” of Jesus’s agenda. As a matter of fact, at the onset of the narrative, he is told to remove himself from the others, because he alone is on the path to enlightenment. Several other amusing tales are told, such as Jesus often appearing to them in different form—a little child.

In conclusion, there are sure-fire ways to know whether this “gospel” has any credibility or not. The first of which is if it has the word “Gnostic” or “secret knowledge” tied to it in any shape, form or fashion, then it’s bogus. The Gnostic teachings that spread rampantly in the early second century forward ruthlessly attempt to strip Jesus from his Jewish context. If this were the case, he would definitely not be the Messiah. The second is its lateness in composition. The mere fact that it was composed so late, tells us that this could not be an eyewitness account, nor transmit accurate information from the time of Jesus. While the Gospel of Judas might be great for Hollywood, it’s only bird cage liner for true followers of the Master.

For further study, check out the following resources:

The Gospel of Judas and the Da Vinci Code
An audio teaching by Daniel Lancaster of Beth Immanuel (and FFOZ).

National Geographic
Read all of the details of the discovery, the timeline of the events related to the Gospel of Judas in conjunction to the events of Church history, and even download the text of the Gospel of Judas in PDF format.Similar Posts:

Truths and Lies

Darren — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 20:14:00 +0000

I recently received a Torah Resource newsletter from Tim Hegg (FFOZ) which addresses two issues of particular interest in a section entitled “Urban Myths.”

Tim Hegg vs. Nehemia Gordon

Nehemiah Gordan

The Hebrew Yeshua vs. The Greek Jesus

Hegg’s website

“Indiana” Jones Hoax

Vendyl “Indiana” Jones

September 29, 2002

Darren — Fri, 29 Nov 2002 15:27:35 +0000

(5:27pm Jordan)

We’re on the bus that will take us to Israel. Our guide’s name is Emad. He taught us two Arabic words:

marh’ba=hello
shukran=thank you

(5:03 pm—1:03am Israel time)

Well, I’m finally in Ha’Aretz! I’ve been here since about 8:45 last night. It took us about 4 hours to go from Ammon and through both Jordanian and Israeli customs and get across the Israeli border. Everyone in our group was searched at the Israeli border (with the exception of Tom). The woman going through my bags came across my fold-up keyboard and was impressed. She had to show it around. Everyone in my group seemed put out by the security measures, but I really didn’t have a problem with it. I know they are dealing with some high-security issues and can’t take any changes. It actually helped me to work on my Hebrew a little.

Anyway, once we safely arrived at our hotel, we were immediately taken to the dining room for a WONDERFUL (did I say WONDERFUL?) buffet meal with all kinds of middle-eastern treats. I thought I had actually gone to heaven already.

After dinner (about 9:30 local time) Dale & I walked into Tiberious (about 45-60 minutes one-way). We went to The Galilee Experience, which was actually closed, but opened for us. It is possibly the largest Messianic bookstore in Israel. We got to look around and purchase some things that I couldn’t get anywhere else. We walked back, and my feet are ACHING big time. I was wearing new shoes, and they don’t have the arch support I’m used to having.

Well, just wanted to log a little time as to what went on today. I’m sure I’ll write tomorrow. Shalom!

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September 28, 2002

Darren — Sat, 28 Sep 2002 20:07:17 +0000

Depending on who you believe (the pilot or the stewardess), I am currently flying at an altitude of between 28,000 & 33,000 feet. It’s amazing how perspective affects one’s relationship to your surroundings. As I’m flying high above the clouds, I am beginning to realize how my perspective & God’s can be vastly different on the same subject. The distances that seemed so far when I viewed them from the ground, now seem ever so small. I can almost squeeze them between my fingers. The buildings that seemed to tower above the ground, now appear to hug it tightly. The mighty rivers and lakes are but broad strokes of a painter’s brush.

I am beginning to see that while something may seem huge and impossible from my perspective, it is nothing from God’s.

I also see the “bigger” picture of things from this perspective. While I can only see one facet of a forest or field, or subdivision from the ground, from the air I can see a beauty that is altogether absent from the ground. Lines, curves, colors, textures, shapes, order, symmetry, asymmetry all emerge with new beauty. This “higher” perspective is definitely more appealing than that to which I have grown accustom.

I have also become aware of my limited scope of vision by way of distance as well. Although I may not be able to see further than a few miles horizontally from the ground, I can see many more from above. And the abrupt horizon that is seen from below is only a blur from above.

If only the prophets could have seen what I see now. Surely the Psalmist was correct when he said that יהוה “rides on the clouds.”

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