Bible Archeology Discoveries

Merneptah Stele
Discovered: Thebes, Egypt (1896)
From: (c. 1206 BC)
Current Home: Egyptian Museum

The Merneptah Stele is an engraved stone slab that describes Pharaoh Merneptah’s military victories in 1207 BC. The stele itself is dated to the year 1205 BC. British archaeologist Flinders Petrie discovered this six foot granite monument in 1896 at Thebes. It contains the earliest undisputed extra-biblical reference to Israel to date.B

The mention of Israel in this 3,200-year-old document suggests, at the time of its inscription, the nation of Israel was an established power and not a nomadic people who had just recently entered the land of Canaan. Before the discovery of the stele, many dated the Exodus much later, but now they are forced to reconcile with the fact that Israel was already an established power in Canaan in 1207 BC.

"Canaan is captive with all woe.
Ashkelon is conquered, Gezer seized,
Yanoam made nonexistent;
Israel is laid waste, bare of seed,"
(From the stele)

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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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