Merneptah Stele

September 9, 2010

Merneptah, son of Rameses II, ruled Egypt 1213-1203 B.C.  The Merneptah Stele is an inscription of great archaeological and biblical importance.  It contains the first mention of Israel in a source besides the Bible.

Merneptah Stele. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

The stele was discovered in 1896 at Thebes. It is 7.5 feet high, and made of black granite.  It is displayed now in the Egyptian Museum at Cairo. The inscription includes the lines:

“The princes, prostrated, say ‘Shalom’;

None raises his head among the Nine Bows.

Now that Tehenu has come to ruin, Hatti is pacified.

Canaan has been plundered into every sort of woe. Ashkelon has been overcome.

Gezer has been captured.

Yano‘am was made non-existent.

Israel is laid waste (and) his seed is not.

Hurru has become a widow because of Egypt.

All lands have united themselves in peace.

Anyone who was restless, he has been subdued by the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Ba-en-Re-mery-Amun, son of Re, Mer-en-Ptah Hotep-her-Ma‘at, granted life like Re, daily. (BAR 16:05, Sept/Oct 1990).

Note: italics are supplied to emphasize the portion of the inscription that references the area of Canaan and Israel.

The date of this inscription would be about 1207 B.C.  By that point in time, Israel was established in the land of Canaan to such an extent that it would be included in a listing of nations defeated by the world’s most powerful monarch.

Many “scholars” deny that Israel even existed as a nation by this point in time, but the inscription proves them to be wrong.

For further reading I recommend Todd Bolen’s article in The Bible and Interpretation. He wrote on his blog, “I thank God every day for the Merneptah Stele.” Go to:

https://bibleinterp.arizona.edu/opeds/bolen357916

“The princes, prostrated, say ‘Shalom’;

None raises his head among the Nine Bows.

Now that Tehenu has come to ruin, Hatti is pacified.

Canaan has been plundered into every sort of woe. Ashkelon has been overcome.

Gezer has been captured.

Yano‘am was made non-existent.

Israel is laid waste (and) his seed is not.

Hurru has become a widow because of Egypt.

All lands have united themselves in peace.

Anyone who was restless, he has been subdued by the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Ba-en-Re-mery-Amun, son of Re, Mer-en-Ptah Hotep-her-Ma‘at, granted life like Re, daily.”[i]

Editor, H. S. (2004; 2004). BAR 16:05 (Sep/Oct 1990). Biblical Archaeology Society.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

Rhodes

August 26, 2010

Greetings from Salem, IL., where I’m conducting a 6-day meeting, speaking currently on “The Steps of Paul.”  There has been little time for posting this week, partly due to limited internet access, and also a death in our extended family (my wife’s aunt) that involved unexpected travel this week.

This is farm country, with lots of corn and soybean approaching the time for harvest.

Earlier on July 28 I did a post on Rhodes.  Today I want to share a photo from Lindos, Rhodes.

Lindos, Rhodes. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

Rhodes is mentioned in Acts 21:1 in the context of Paul’s return from the Third Missionary Journey.  Today it is one of the Greek islands.

Remember to click on image for higher resolution.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

More on Qatzrin

August 20, 2010

Qatzrin is located in the central Golan, 13 km northeast of the Sea of Galilee.  A settlement was here during the Iron Age, as well as the Hellenistic period, but it was during the Roman-Byzantine period that the village grew and became prosperous.  Our photo here features the synagogue.

Qatzrin Synagogue. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

The synagogue, along with most of the village, was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 749.  The synagogue was excavated by D. Urman, M. Ben-Ari and S. Barlev, and later by Z. Maoz, R. Hachlili and A. Killebrew, on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities.

The Qatzrin houses were two-story structures.  As you look on the rooftop in our photo, think of that day in Joppa described in Acts 10:9: “On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.”

Housetop at Qatzrin. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

The ancient housetop would have been much like today’s patio.  That was the setting when God showed Peter that the gospel message of salvation was for Gentiles, and not for Jews only (Acts 10-11).

Remember to click on image for higher resolution.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

Home Life at Qatzrin, Golan

August 19, 2010

Paul wrote the evangelist Titus in the New Testament letter that bears his name, instructing him to “speak the things that are proper for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1).  That included teaching God’s will for men and women, young and old. Older women were to teach (train, encourage) the younger women “to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled” (2:5, ESV).

I want to notice the word kind. Older Christian women are to teach the younger women to be kind.  The Greek word is agathos, often elsewhere rendered “good” (and here in KJV, NKJV), but here is translated “kind” by most (NASB, NIV, NET, NRSV, etc.).

Why would kindness be specified as an essential trait for younger women to acquire?  There may be many reasons, but perhaps at least one factor was simply the labor intensive lifestyle that characterized home responsibilities.

In the Golan, the restoration of Qatzrin gives us a glimpse of daily life in the time of Jesus and the centuries immediately to follow.

Qatzrin at Golan. Map by holylandphotos.org.

There are variant spellings for Qatzrin, such as Katzrin on this map; also Qasrin. The site is northeast of the Sea of Galilee.  This Talmudic Village was occupied during AD 4th-8th centuries.  Qatzrin was excavated by Z. Ma’oz and A. Killebrew.  The villiage has been reconstructed and furnished with artifacts from the period.

Our photo below shows a basalt olive-crushing mill. A different situation than simply going to the local supermarket and picking up a bottle of olive oil!

Basalt olive-crushing mill at Qatzrin. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

Grinding grain for bread had to be done regularly.  Some millstones had two handles, and were designed for two women (cf. Matt. 24:41).

Millstone for two women. Qatzrin. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

Qatzrin features a fully-restored house with all its furnishings.

Inside house at Qatzrin. Oven. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

This isn’t exactly what we would call “fast food.”  The daily domestic duties would include a lot of hard work!  It would be quite conceivable that the cumulative effect would be to make a young mother/wife bitter and resentful.

What do you think?  I believe the nature of daily life with its responsibilities furnish at least one important reason for Paul’s injunction that older women teach the younger women to be kind. I’m thankful for the kind of work that has been done at Qatzrin which helps take us back to life during biblical times.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

Homeward Bound

August 9, 2010

We are to leave the Morrow home shortly for the airport for the flight home. This has been a great trip and I trust that only good has been accomplished. I am grateful for every opportunity to teach God’s word.

The photo below is from one of the sessions in Kamenice.  Mike does a great job of planning these annual lectures.

Session at Kamenice. Mike Morrow on far right. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

Mike’s lovely wife Tatiana helped me by inserting Czech translation for English text in my PowerPoint slides.  I’m glad my wife Linda could be with her as well as the other ladies here.

Tatiana Morrow (right) and Linda Mauldin. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

This annual lectureship furnishes a wonderful opportunity for European Christians from a widespread area to give and receive encouragement to/from one another.

One of the questions that was asked during a Q&A was on the subject of cremation; what does the Bible say?  Here is an answer I posted some years ago on www.goodfight.com (click on “Short Answers to Tough Questions”).

Question: What does the Bible say about cremation?

Answer:

1. Passages–What few Biblical references are made to cremation are in the Old Testament. 1 Sam. 31:11-13: Burning of bodies of Saul & his sons; this probably was an emergency measure lest the Philistines further molest the bodies. Lev.20:14; 21:9: Those guilty of sexual immorality.  Josh. 7:15,25: Those under a curse such as Achan and his family were to be burned. Occurrence of cremation is rare and exceptional.

2. Lack of proper burial was a great misfortune 1 Kgs.13:22; Jer. 16:6.

3. Related passages: Amos 2:1: He (Moab) burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime. cf. Amos 6:10.

4. Quotation from Edersheim: “Cremation was denounced as a purely heathen practice, contrary to the whole spirit of Old Testament teaching.” (Sketches of Jewish Life, p. 16).

5. The Bible Almanac, p.95:

Ghassul flourished during the latter half of the [?] fourth millennium. Archaeologists have documented the Ghassulian custom of burying the dead in ossuaries (ceramic receptacles for bones) in many other areas, particularly the coastal cities near modern Tel Aviv. These ossuaries were usually shaped like animals or houses, in imitation of those used in daily life. After the body was cremated mourners buried the ossuary in a stone cistern together with provisions for the afterlife.

6. Guy Woods:

Life is the union of the body and spirit; death the condition resulting from their separation. Once the spirit has flown, the body is lifeless and begins its return to its original elements. Whether the return is the slow disintegration of the body through the processes of decay or is achieved in seconds by fire, the result is the same–the return of the body’s elements to their original state. In the resurrection, these “building blocks” will be re-assembled… We are taught in the New Testament, largely by example, to exhibit proper respect for the dead and to deal with them in dignified and respectful fashion…

7. N.T. Emphasis. As I reflect upon the question, emphasis is placed on using one’s body in life to glorify the Lord (Rom. 12:1,2; 1 Cor. 6:18- 20); and upon the entrance of the soul into the hadean world at the point of death. Emphasis is not given to the disposal of the body. Stress is not placed on the funeral, but upon the life one lives prior to the funeral. cf. Lk.12:4; Matt. 10:28. Our hope is the resurrection with the new, spiritual, immortal body (see 1 Cor. 15; Rom. 8:18ff.; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1-4).

8. Personal Preference. The question does not ask for my personal preference… but I do not want cremation for myself, or for any member of my family. But I know of no New Testament principle that is violated by cremation, if one does make that choice.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

On to Ceske Budejovice

August 7, 2010

The lectures at Kamenice were well attended and enjoyable in every way.  It is wonderful to see folks we’ve known for many years, and also to meet new brethren.  My wife and I were both tired last night (actually we still are today), but it’s a good kind of tired. As I mentioned on my previous post, families and individuals traveled in some cases great distances, plus there were folks from various places in the Czech Republic.  See group photo below: (Click on image for larger view).

I was speaking each morning, and Bill Bynum each evening.  We also conducted a 2 hr Q&A session each afternoon.  Photo below shows Bill (on right), and my wife Linda and me.

Leon & Linda Mauldin, and Bill Bynum. Kamenice Lectureship 2010.

As I surveyed the Old Testament, I began by giving the setting of the biblical world.  We talked about the amazing variety of the land of Israel.  At Joppa you are at sea level; at Jerusalem 35 miles inland you are 2500+ feet above sea level, and another 14 miles NE at Jericho you are 800 feet below sea level!

In the Bible Jericho is called the “city of palm trees” (Deut. 34:3).  In the photo below you can see why:

Jericho, biblical "city of palm trees." 800 feet below sea level. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

In the distance you can see across the Jordan the hill country of Moab.  This was the home of Ruth, who was the great-grandmother of David (Ruth 4:18ff).

Here’s another shot of Jericho. In the foreground you see a portion of the ancient tel.  This was the first city taken by Joshua and the men of Israel after crossing the Jordan for the conquest of Canaan (see Joshua 6).  Because it was a kind of “first-fruits” of the land, the city was devoted to the Lord, instead of the spoils being divided up among the men of war.

OT Jericho. Ancient tel in foreground. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

Today it has rained all day.  This morning, Mira, a friend and brother from Ceske Budejovice, arrived at Kamenice and drove my wife and me to Ceske Budejovice.  I am to preach here in the morning at worship services, and then spend some time visiting Mira and his good family on Mon.

This is my fourth trip to the Czech Republic.  I met Mira back in 1992 on that first trip.  It is a joy to see him again.  This city has an ancient history, dating back to the 12 century.  This is Linda’s first opportunity to travel here; I’ve wanted her for a long time to see a place which has been very special to me.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

Lectures at Kamenice

August 3, 2010

This evening completes day two of the lectures at Kamenice.  Sessions are scheduled from 9 AM to 9 PM, so we’ve not had much time for posting.  We are sure enjoying the association of Christians who have gathered here for the week, many of whom have traveled hundreds of miles to be here.  I am thankful to God for such opportunities.

I have been asked to do a historical survey of the Old Testament.  I’m making use of hundreds of photos of Bible places as the events of scripture are narrated.

Lectures Kamenice Czech

My slides which include text are in both English and Czech.  As I speak a Czech translates for me.

This series gives us an opportunity to study the theme of the Bible, the unfolding of God’s plan to save mankind through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.  The first promise of Christ is found in Genesis 3:15, depicted below:

Lectureship at Kamenice

Kamenice is a very nice Czech village.  Perhaps I can share a few photos with you in the next day or two.

It is great to be associated with my friend and fellow preacher Bill Bynum.  He makes two trips per year to encourage European Christians in remote places.  Previously he has lived and worked as evangelist both in Czech as well as Hungary.

Click on photos for larger view. More later.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

Crete, cont’d.

July 16, 2010

After the Apostle Paul left the younger evangelist Titus at Crete, he wrote, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1:5). There were many cities (Greek polis) on the island of Crete, as can be seen from this map by bibleatlas.org:

Cities on the Island of Crete. ©bibleatlas.org

In each of these cities where congregations of Christians were established, qualified men were to be appointed to serve as elders (bishops, pastors are biblically interchangeable terms).  The list of qualifications was given in Titus 1:6-9:

if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.  For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,  but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,  holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

The island of Crete was not only populated, but highly developed, going back to the time of Abraham (ca. 2000 B.C.) and even beyond.  In the years 68-66 BC, Crete was conquered by the Romans, and became a Roman province.  Today it is one of the Greek islands.

In our previous post we mentioned the archaeological excavations of Arthur Evans, which got underway in 1900. He is credited with inventing the term “Minoan,” naming the civilization after King Minos, who ruled the island of Crete, according to legend.

Religion. A deity worshiped by the Minoans was the bull.  In the Biblical Archaeology Society publication (2008), Island Jewels: Understanding Ancient Cyprus and Crete, we read:

Again, we rely on the evidence of frescoes and gems that show how the Minoans practiced an astonishing ritual that consisted of grasping a bull by its horns and leaping over its back.  When we add this to the ubiquity of stylized bulls’ horns, so-called “horns of consecration,” as well as the bull’s head rhyta (drinking vessels; singular, rhyton) and vivid portraits of individual beasts, there can be no doubt that the Minoans treated the bull with deep reverence…The bull may well have represented the young male consort of the goddess of love, a pattern that recurs throughout the ancient near east from Tammuz and Ishtar to Venus and Adonis, although if this is the case we cannot even give names to the Cretan versions of the divine couple (pp. 49-59).

In keeping with this information, note our photo of the gigantic bull’s horns below:

Bull's horns at Knossos, Crete. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

These restored horns symbolized the sacred bull.  They once adorned the top of the palace at Knossos, Crete.

The bull’s head rhyton (ceremonial drinking cup) in photo below is made of steatite (black metamorphic rock) and decorated rock crystal eyes and mother-of-pearl snout.

Bull's Head Rhyton. Knossos, Crete. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

This libation vase is displayed in the Irakleio Archaeological Museum, which is said to house the world’s most important collection of Minoan artifacts. This artifact is dated at 1600-1500 B.C.

Click on images for higher resolution.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

“For this reason I left you in Crete…”

July 14, 2010

With our previous post on Laodicea we completed our look at the cities of the seven churches addressed in Revelation 2-3, sites which we visited in March of this year.  We were also able to see some of the biblical islands, including Crete.

Crete is mentioned on two occasions in the New Testament; in Acts 27:7ff., in connection with Paul’s journey (as a prisoner) to Rome, and then later in Titus 1:5. Additionally, Cretans are mentioned as being among those present on the Day on Pentecost (Acts 2:11). In the Titus text Paul wrote the evangelist, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.”

Crete is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean, following Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus.  Excavations at Knossos, Crete have  confirmed the existence of well established civilizations dating back to the time of Abraham (ca. 2000 B.C.), and beyond.

Palaces were located at such coastline cities as Knossos, which served as the heart of economic, political and religious life.

Palace of Knossos at Crete. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

Sir Arthur Evans, British archaeologist, excavated this site beginning in 1900. He used what was then newly developed methods of stratigraphy, and kept accurate and careful records of his findings.  His many years of work were published in a four-volumes, The Palace of Minos (1921-1936), Minos being the ancient legendary king.

Large storage jars at Knossos, Crete. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

More to come on Knossos, Crete.  Remember to click on image for larger view.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

More on Laodicea

June 28, 2010

One interesting find at Laodicea in a large house just off Syria Street, was this filter connected to indoor plumbing.

Water Filter at Laodicea. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

The right side and center is for water entering the building, while the left side is designed for water leaving the building. In another post we want to discuss further the water situation at Laodicea.

In our articles/photos posted on the Seven Churches of Rev. 2-3, we have repeatedly seen evidence of temples devoted to various pagan gods.  It is difficult to overstate how widespread and pervasive idolatry was in the biblical world, in both Old Testament as well as New Testament times.  At Laodicea one can see the remains of a temple, known as Temple A, located on the north side of the city.

Temple A. Laodicea. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

Of course, every city of significance had a theater.  Pictured here is the Hellenistic theater, located on the west side of the city.

Hellenistic Theater at Laodicea. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.

Click on image for larger view.  More to come.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

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