The Battle of Jericho: Myth vs. Archaeology
The ancient city of Jericho, known as Tell es-Sultan, has long been a focal point in discussions about the intersection of biblical narratives and archaeological evidence. While many Christian institutions have embraced archaeological dates that seem to align with biblical accounts, a closer examination reveals a more complex picture.
The Biblical Account
According to Joshua Chapter 6, the Israelites, led by Joshua, conquered Jericho through divine intervention. The story describes a week-long siege culminating in the city’s walls miraculously collapsing after the Israelites marched around them, blew rams’ horns, and shouted.
Archaeological Findings
Two major excavations at Tell es-Sultan have provided crucial insights:
- John Garstang’s 1930s dig dated the destruction to 1400 BCE.
- Kathleen Mary Kenyon’s 1950s excavation suggested an earlier date, either c. 1500 BCE or c. 1580 BCE.
Importantly, radiocarbon tests in 1995 corroborated Kenyon’s findings, dating the destruction layer to the late 17th or 16th centuries BCE. Both excavations concluded that fire, not a miraculous collapse, destroyed Jericho.
Conflicting Interpretations
Despite these findings, some Christian scholars, like Bryant G. Wood, a Young Earth creationist, argue for aligning the destruction with a biblical literalist chronology of c. 1400 BCE, echoing Garstang’s earlier dating.
However, other scholars present a different view:
- Thomas A. Holland, editor of Kenyon’s excavation reports, noted that Kenyon found no archaeological evidence supporting the existence of city walls around 1400 BCE.
- H.J. Franken, who worked on the Jericho excavation, stated that Kenyon’s work demonstrated the absence of a walled city during the periods associated with Joshua’s supposed conquest (c. 1400 or c. 1200 BCE).https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/explore-the-bible/the-walls-of-jericho.html
The archaeological evidence from Jericho presents a very real challenge to the literal interpretation of the biblical account. While the story of Joshua and the falling walls remains religious tradition, the physical evidence suggests a different historical reality. This discrepancy highlights the complex relationship between ancient texts and archaeological findings, which hardline religionists try to reconstruct into their religious agenda. What do you say?
Gwen Pugh, pp. Jero Jones
Jero Jones
Article URL : https://breakingnewsandreligion.online/discuss/