Five Significant Biblical Archaeological Discoveries Of 2020

 

            These are the five significant discoveries in Biblical Archaeology in 2020:

1. Remains of Manasseh’s Reign – 2 Kings 21 

Discovery of “three decorated capitals in the remains of a palatial structure.  The capitals (column heads) exhibit a design that is known from the Kingdom of Judah.”¹ “Experts believe the residence was built between the reigns of kings Hezekiah and Josiah, after the Assyrian siege on the city was lifted,” reports Times of Israel.² “The structure dates to the 55-year rulership of Manasseh, who took over the southern kingdom from his father King Hezekiah,” reports Christianity Today.³

2. Kingdom of Judah Government Complex 

“One of the largest collections of royal Kingdom of Judah seal impressions has been uncovered at a massive First Temple-period public tax collection and storage complex being excavated near the new United States Embassy in Jerusalem. The main Iron Age structure is exceptional in terms of both its size and architectural style, said Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Neri Sapir... Over 120 jar handles stamped 2,700 years ago with ancient Hebrew script seal impressions were discovered at the site, clearly indicating the location’s use as a storage and tax center...Prevalent among the stamped inscriptions is “LMLK,” “LamMeLeKh,” or “Belonging to the King,” a way of marking that the foodstuffs stored in the jars had been tithed to the Judean ruler,” reports The Times of Israel.⁴  “The sheer number of inscribed jar handles discovered makes this one of the most important collections ever discovered in the ancient kingdom of Judah and will help scholars better understand the the [sic] period of the kings.”⁵

3. Ancient Hebrew Nametag 

According to Bible Archaeology Report, “Scholars analyzing the broken remains of a large wine jug unearthed at Abel Beth Maacah, have discovered an ancient Hebrew inscription on one of them. The inscription reads, “LeBenayau,” meaning “Belongs to Benayau.” This is a Hebrew name, with the classic Israelite “Yahwehist” ending yau (later, yahu). Archaeologists believe the wine jar was found in a storehouse that belonged to a Hebrew man named Benayau, indicating a Hebrew presence in the city in the 10th or 9th century BC, based on the dating of the jug... this discovery affirms the biblical description Israelites living at Abel Beth Maacah in the 10th century BC. In 2 Samuel 20:19, during the days of King David, Abel Beth Maacah is called “a city that is a mother in Israel.”⁶

4. Church in a House at Laodicea

Christianity Today reports, “Turkish archaeologist Celal Şimşek discovered sacred items used in Christian worship while excavating a house in Laodicea. The peristyle house—built around a central garden or courtyard—was located next to a theater and was likely owned by wealthy people. The apostle Paul sent an epistle to the church at Laodicea, which is mentioned in Colossians but appears to have been lost. The church is also mentioned in Revelation, when Jesus condemns the Christians for saying, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing,” when actually they are “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17).”⁷

“Şimşek explained that with the spread of Christianity, the first believers had secretly transformed some parts of this large house into a place of worship... This house with the church is very important in terms of reaching data on how Christianity spread in Laodicea since the middle of the first century A.D.,” reports Hurriyet Daily News.⁸

5. Church Built on a Solid Rock

The Jerusalem Post reports, “A church from the Byzantine period dating to around 400 CE was discovered in the Banyas Springs Nature Reserve, also known as the Nahal Hermon Nature Reserve...”⁹ This church was built atop a shrine to another god, according to Christianity Today, “Banias was a cultic center of worship of the god Pan, and the shrine was likely for worship of the Greek deity associated with sex and spring. Christians in the fourth century, however, would have recognized the location as the biblical Caesarea Philippi, near the location where Peter told Jesus, “You are the Christ” and Jesus replied, “On this rock, I will build my church” (Matt. 16:13–19). One stone in the ruin is marked with cross etchings left by pilgrims who visited the church shortly after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.”¹⁰

            How are these findings significant? Every archaeological discovery further strengthens the historic credibility of the Bible and thus that of Historic Christianity.

            Many more archaeological discoveries occurred in 2020. Do visit the websites cited in the Endnotes, if you are interested.

Endnotes:

¹https://biblearchaeologyreport.com/2020/12/28/top-ten-discoveries-in-biblical-archaeology-in-2020/

²https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-popular-jerusalem-promenade-archaeologists-find-a-first-temple-era-mansion/

³https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/december/biblical-archaeology-new-discoveries-2020-bible-artifacts.html

⁴https://www.timesofisrael.com/huge-kingdom-of-judah-government-complex-found-stones-throw-from-us-embassy/

⁵https://biblearchaeologyreport.com/2020/12/28/top-ten-discoveries-in-biblical-archaeology-in-2020/

⁶Ibid.

⁷https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/december/biblical-archaeology-new-discoveries-2020-bible-artifacts.html

⁸https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/house-with-church-unearthed-in-laodicea-159481

⁹https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/byzantine-church-discovered-in-banias-nature-reserve-647223

¹⁰https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/december/biblical-archaeology-new-discoveries-2020-bible-artifacts.html

Websites last accessed on 23-May-2021