Bible Archeology Discoveries

Jabin Tablet
Discovered: Hazor
From: (c. 1700 BC)

References to a king "Jabin" occur in both Joshua and the Book of Judges. This has led some historians to suggest that Joshua was written after the book of Judges, and that the character was expropriated from Judges writers to discuss Joshua's earlier conquest of Hazor

Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Hazor found a cuneiform fragment written in Akkadian addressed "to Ibni Addi," which transliterates to "Jabin Addu." Dated to the 18th – 17th century B.C., this fragment was consistent with correspondence of the royal court, and involved the transfer of a woman. Whereas previous inscription evidence attested to the use of the name Jabin over time, the cuneiform fragment of Hazor confirms its use as a royal appellative much like that of Pharaoh. Just as Egyptian kings were known as Pharaoh, Canaanite kings were known as Jabin; thus, "Jabin Addu" is to understood in the same context as Pharaoh Ramesses II.

Hence, the presence of references to Jabin in both books does not refute the historicity of either.

And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor heard thereof, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
Joshua 11:1

And Jehovah sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
Judges 4:2

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Notable Finds

Much of what is described in Bible text is lost to history, requiring readers to assume the historicity of the scriptures.

However, many of the places and events described in the Old and New Testaments are periodically corroborated by archeological finds.

Some finds simply help us to better understand things from the ancient world. However, others provide important evidence as to the truth of scripture regarding things about which there had previously been skepticism.

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