Bible Archeology Discoveries

Jerubbaal Inscription
Discovered: Judea, Israel
From: (c. 1100 BC)

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The inscription was discovered at the Khirbet el Rai site, located between Kiryat Gat and Lachish, about 43 miles southwest of Jerusalem. The painted pottery is dated by the archaeologists to 1,100 BC, which would make it prior to the biblical monarchy and in the time of the Judges. The inscription was written in Early Alphabetic/Canaanite script, evidence of which has been found throughout Egypt and the Levant.

According to archaeologists and epigraphers, the partial inscription, painted on three pottery sherds from an incomplete small vessel, is most logically read as “Jerubbaal” or “Yeruba’al,” which was the nickname of the biblical judge Gideon, son of Joash, who was active in the northern parts of the Land of Israel during this era.

If the translation is accurate, this could provide some evidence for the historicity of the Book of Judges.

"Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Jehovah had spoken unto him: and it came to pass, because he feared his father's household and the men of the city, so that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.
Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die, because he hath broken down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the Asherah that was by it.
And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye contend for Baal? Or will ye save him? he that will contend for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him contend for himself, because one hath broken down his altar.
Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him, because he hath broken down his altar."

Judges 6: 27-32

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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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