Bethsaida Found
For one hundred years scholars have debated the location of Bethsaida, one of the most-mentioned cities in the New Testament. Some have even thought it was buried in the delta of the Jordan River on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Obviously, a city of its importance should yield a great deal of information related to the life of Jesus and the disciples.
Details of the recent confirmation of the location appeared in the Schenectady Gazette (1/30/88) as well as other news sources. Bible and Spade (predecessor to Archeology and Biblical Research) carried a full article on the new location, however, as early as 1982 (Spring-Autumn, pp. 78-86). Much more is contained in the Bible and Spade article than we can give here. For those who have it already, we hope you will read it and note the maps. (For those who do not, see elsewhere in this issue for information how to obtain a set of back issues.)
The location is Et-Tell on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee.3 Last April a complete kitchen from New Testament times was discovered with its vessels still in place, but not destroyed by fire. This may indicate the residents left in great haste, likely during a Roman invasion about 67 AD. It is mentioned in connection with: restoring a blind man’s sight (Mark 8:22), Jesus’ walking on water off the shore of Bethsaida (Mark 6:45), feeding 5000 (Luke 9:10), the birthplace of Peter, Andrew and Philip (John 1:44), and more.
Although the present site of Bethsaida is more than a mile inland from the Sea, during Jesus’ time, Bethsaida was on the shore of the Sea. The Bible and Spade article solves the problem. The simple explanation is that the delta of the Jordan River has expanded that far in the last 2000 years.
Geshur Also Found?
You ask, “What is Geshur?” We had not been aware of it, either, until a recent dig a few miles southeast of Bethsaida. Now some very interesting new information is available. Insight magazine (1/25/88, pp. 60-61) reports that a 2 acre site named Tel Hadar (“splendid hill” in Hebrew) has ruins more than 2500 years old. Could it be Geshur?
The Bible records in 2 Samuel that Absalom, David’s son, was born to the daughter of the king of Geshur (a politically inspired marriage?). After Absalom tried and failed to overthrow David, he fled to the palace of his grandfather, the king of Geshur. Is what seem to be palace walls at Tel Hadar the very walls of this palace? They could be.
The latest habitation level, designated Level 1, was about 600 BC.
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It was only a few inches beneath the soil and seems to have been a late Israelite fishing village. But, the floors of Level 1 covered the walls of Level 2. Barely beneath the floors, perfectly preserved mudbrick and stone walls of Level 2 appeared. Compared to the inferior walls of Level I, the Level 2 walls look like those of a castle. Further, massive 12 foot wide basalt fortress-llke walls appear on the surface at the outer edge of the site. Reused by the Level 1 inhabitants, they are more likely the outer walls of the earlier castle itself. And it could very well be the castle of Talmai, king of Geshur. If so, the finds that will be made this season, and following, could shed enormous light on Israel’s early kingdom period and add new chapters to the history of Bible backgrounds.
Talmai, king of Geshur, was an Arainean. In David’s day he apparently was independent of the stronger Aramean kingdom to the north and friendly to David. But when the Aramean’s of Damascus expanded their control over Geshur 100 years later, Geshur became one of Israel’s enemies.
Head archaeologist of the excavation is Israeli Moshe Kochavi of Tel Aviv University. He works in cooperation with a consortium of colleges from New Jersey.
Huge Gold Coin Cache Pound in Egypt
Normally we would not report this find from 1300 years ago because it has no biblical significance. However, by any standard, 820 gold coins found under a monk’s cell is NEWS!
The coins were found in a Coptic Christian monastary about 280 miles south of Cairo. The monastary has been in use continually since 400 AD. According to tradition, the original church in Egypt, out of which came the Coptic Church, was founded by Saint Mark in 51 AD. This makes them one of the oldest denominations in the world.
The Des Moines Register (1/4/88) reported the discovery of these 6th and 7th century coins of Justinian the Great, Phocas and Heraclius. The coins were minted in Constantinople (now Istanbul) during the Byzantine rule over the eastern Mediterranean area. The Byzantine Empire, centered in Constantinople, is known also as the eastern Roman Empire. While Rome itself was disintegrating in power, it gained control of the Empire in about 325 AD and became known as a “Christian” Empire. This was due to its famous founder Constantine becoming a Christian. During the reign of the emperors mentioned, the grandeur of Byzantium was at its peak. Shortly after them, the Muslim scourge swept
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through the Middle East and the Byzantine Empire began its decline. Later, in the 1500’s, even Byzantium fell and the religious and political center moved north to Moscow, with that city then taking the title “The Third Rome.”
New Find of 1100 Clay Tablets in Syria
These 3700 year old records are from the time of Hammurabi and written in his Akkadian language. Found in northeastern Syria, their location is not too far from the now well-known city of Ebla. 300 or so already translated mention the capture and ransom of spies, the early use of homes in battle, and the allocation of the royal wine supply.
Since they were written after the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and during the time Israel was sojourning in Egypt, they will not have directly related biblical material. However, it is almost certain they will contain customs, records, vocabulary and much more that will illuminate the Bible. Much like the Nuzi tablets (described elsewhere in this issue) and other literary finds have done. (From the Des Moines Register, 12/29/87.)
Program Puts Babylon on the Map Again!
Babylon on the Euphrates is rising again. The Jewish Voice (11/87) reports that Iraq is restoring it “2500 years after the Hebrews fled from exile with curses upon it that echo across history.”
Babylon was the scene of the Tower of Babel, Daniel in the Lion’s den, three men in a fiery furnace, and the handwriting on the wall. It was also one of the Seven Wonders of the world and held the Hanging Gardens around which Nebuchednezzar probably walked as he bragged about his grandeur From Genesis to Revelation, Babylon was a byword for splendor and sin. Even Rome was likened to it.
The Iraqi government has placed so much importance on the restoration of Babylon that they are exempting some men from the war to work on it. The ancient Temple of Ishtar has been rebricked, replastered and whitewashed. They are also rebuilding several major structures from Nebuchednezzar’s time and plan to unveil them in an international culture festival.
(What are the implications of all this for biblical prophecy?)
Stela with Hammurabi’s Code