Old Testament Related Artifacts
The Cyrus Cylinder (538 B.C)
-" ...I am Cyrus, king of the world, great king, mighty king,...son of Cambyses, ...from...to the cities of Ashur and Susa, Agade, Eshnunna, the cities of Zamban, Meternu, Der, as far as the region of the land of Gutium, the holy cities beyond the Tigris whose sanctuaries had been in ruins over a long period, the gods whose abode is in the midst of them, I returned to their places and housed them in lasting abodes. I gathered together all their inhabitants and restored to them their dwellings." (Cyrus Cylinder)
Dated 538-530 B.C. (From: Readings from the Ancient Near East by Bill Arnold and Bryan Beyer, pg. 147-8, 2002, Baker Academic Press)
-"'Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him and to loose the loins of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: 2 'I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze, and cut through their iron bars. 3 And I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.'" (Isaiah 45:1-3 from the NASB) Dated 740-680 B.C. Isaiah prophesied Cyrus' name and what he would do over 100 years before Cyrus existed as a ruler.
The return to the land of Israel and the rebuilding of the building of the temple in Jerusalem began about 538 B.C.
-"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 'Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.'" (Ezra 1:1-2 from the NASB) Dated 456-448 B.C. Ezra summarized these events. Note: Jeremiah stated that because of the sins of people of Judah they would be taken captive for 70 years to Babylon. After 70 years they would be returned to the Land again. Jeremiah 25 and 29. In 29:10 it says, "For thus says the Lord 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" (NASB) Jeremiah lived from 627-585 B.C. Some set the date for the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple at 586 B.C. and it's rebuilding/completion at 538/516 B.C. (Thus, a 70 year gap between the two events.) It is also known that Cyrus and Darius wrote their decrees in the languages of the people that were being sent back to the previous regions where they had lived-thus the difference between the affirmation in the Cyrus Cylinder to the god Marduk, and the Jewish God (Yehovah) in the Jewish scriptures of the proclamation. (See Commentary by Charles Ryrie.)
-Josephus also documents, "Thus saith Cyrus the king: Since God Almighty hath appointed me to be king of the habitable earth, I believe that he is that God which the nation of the Israelites worship; for indeed he foretold my name by the prophets, and that I should build a house at Jerusalem, in the country of Judea." (From Josephus: The Antiquities of the Jews Book XI:1 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+44%3A28...NASB) Dated 3rd Century A.D.)
Photograph above is by jgl.
Dated 538-530 B.C. (From: Readings from the Ancient Near East by Bill Arnold and Bryan Beyer, pg. 147-8, 2002, Baker Academic Press)
-"'Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him and to loose the loins of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: 2 'I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze, and cut through their iron bars. 3 And I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.'" (Isaiah 45:1-3 from the NASB) Dated 740-680 B.C. Isaiah prophesied Cyrus' name and what he would do over 100 years before Cyrus existed as a ruler.
The return to the land of Israel and the rebuilding of the building of the temple in Jerusalem began about 538 B.C.
-"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 'Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.'" (Ezra 1:1-2 from the NASB) Dated 456-448 B.C. Ezra summarized these events. Note: Jeremiah stated that because of the sins of people of Judah they would be taken captive for 70 years to Babylon. After 70 years they would be returned to the Land again. Jeremiah 25 and 29. In 29:10 it says, "For thus says the Lord 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" (NASB) Jeremiah lived from 627-585 B.C. Some set the date for the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple at 586 B.C. and it's rebuilding/completion at 538/516 B.C. (Thus, a 70 year gap between the two events.) It is also known that Cyrus and Darius wrote their decrees in the languages of the people that were being sent back to the previous regions where they had lived-thus the difference between the affirmation in the Cyrus Cylinder to the god Marduk, and the Jewish God (Yehovah) in the Jewish scriptures of the proclamation. (See Commentary by Charles Ryrie.)
-Josephus also documents, "Thus saith Cyrus the king: Since God Almighty hath appointed me to be king of the habitable earth, I believe that he is that God which the nation of the Israelites worship; for indeed he foretold my name by the prophets, and that I should build a house at Jerusalem, in the country of Judea." (From Josephus: The Antiquities of the Jews Book XI:1 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+44%3A28...NASB) Dated 3rd Century A.D.)
Photograph above is by jgl.
Image of Cyrus Cylinder taken by jgl while it was on tour in the United States, The image, drawing, of the cuneiform writing on it done by J G Pinches 1905-now public domain.
Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet (Ministry 626-587 BC)
"Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah, a kohen (Jewish priest) from the Benjamite village of Anathoth. The difficulties he encountered, as described in the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations, have prompted scholars to refer to him as "the weeping prophet".
Jeremiah was called to prophetic ministry c. 626 BC by YHWH to give prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction that would occur by invaders from the north. This was because Israel had been unfaithful to the laws of the covenant and had forsaken God by worshiping Baal. Jeremiah condemned people burning their children as offerings to Moloch. This nation had deviated so far from God that they had broken the covenant, causing God to withdraw his blessings. Jeremiah was guided by God to proclaim that the nation of Judah would be faced with famine, plundered and taken captive by foreigners who would exile them to a foreign land.
According to Jeremiah 1:2–3, Yahweh called Jeremiah to prophetic ministry in about 626 BC about five years before Josiah king of Judah turned the nation toward repentance from idolatrous practices (2 Kings 22:3-13). According to the Books of Kings, and Jeremiah, Josiah's reforms were insufficient to save Judah and Jerusalem from destruction, because of the sins of Manasseh, Josiah's grandfather, and Judah's return to Idolatry (Jeremiah 11:10ff.)." Wikipedia online 4-6-19 Seal of Baruch,scribe of Jeremiah, below:
Jeremiah was called to prophetic ministry c. 626 BC by YHWH to give prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction that would occur by invaders from the north. This was because Israel had been unfaithful to the laws of the covenant and had forsaken God by worshiping Baal. Jeremiah condemned people burning their children as offerings to Moloch. This nation had deviated so far from God that they had broken the covenant, causing God to withdraw his blessings. Jeremiah was guided by God to proclaim that the nation of Judah would be faced with famine, plundered and taken captive by foreigners who would exile them to a foreign land.
According to Jeremiah 1:2–3, Yahweh called Jeremiah to prophetic ministry in about 626 BC about five years before Josiah king of Judah turned the nation toward repentance from idolatrous practices (2 Kings 22:3-13). According to the Books of Kings, and Jeremiah, Josiah's reforms were insufficient to save Judah and Jerusalem from destruction, because of the sins of Manasseh, Josiah's grandfather, and Judah's return to Idolatry (Jeremiah 11:10ff.)." Wikipedia online 4-6-19 Seal of Baruch,scribe of Jeremiah, below:
Rulers and Others in the Late Iron Age Among the Jewish People
A Flood Tablet (650 B.C.)
Epic of Gilgamesh Tablet 11-a copy of a Flood Story produced during the time of Ashurbanipal, 650 B.C. at Nineveh. At British Museum. (Image from Wikipedia 3/2013 with permission CCO).
col. 1, line 21-24 "...make a ship after this...I destroy? the sinner and life...cause to go in? the seed of life all of it to go into the midst of the ship."
col. 1, line 39-40...the flood which I shall send you, into it enter and the door of the ship turn."
col. 2, line "I entered to the midst of the ship and shut my door."
col. 3, line 1-3 "the surface of the earth like...it swept, it destroyed all life from the face of the earth...the strong deluge over the people, reached to heaven."
col. 3, line 19-28 "Six days and nights passed, the wind, deluge, and storm, overwhelmed. On the seventh day in its course was calmed the storm, and all the deluge which had destroyed like an earthquake, quieted. The sea he caused to dry, and the wind and deluge ended....like reeds the corpses floated. I opened the window, and the light broke over my face, it passed...."
col 3, line 32- 33 "To the country of Nizir went the ship; the mountain of Nizir stopped the ship,..."
col. 3, line 38- 46 "I sent forth a dove...I built an altar." From the Chaldean Account of Genesis, by George Smith 1876, Scribner, Armstrong and Co., NY.
This account, written in cuneiform has key points similar to the Genesis Account of the Flood. However, it contains a less precise timeline and the multiple gods with good and bad qualities which are in contrast to the characteristics portrayed with the majesty of the One Holy Righteous Jewish/Christian God. It, the Epic of Gilgamesh, lacks the precision of a true eye witness account. There are other flood tablets as well They all discuss probable local floods but are distorted derivatives of the True Narrative Account written by Noah. As the Biblical Flood was certainly worldwide this supports the concept that all the other stories were/are derived from the true narrative of Noah, and not the other way around. (see JGL dissertation on this web site).
col. 1, line 21-24 "...make a ship after this...I destroy? the sinner and life...cause to go in? the seed of life all of it to go into the midst of the ship."
col. 1, line 39-40...the flood which I shall send you, into it enter and the door of the ship turn."
col. 2, line "I entered to the midst of the ship and shut my door."
col. 3, line 1-3 "the surface of the earth like...it swept, it destroyed all life from the face of the earth...the strong deluge over the people, reached to heaven."
col. 3, line 19-28 "Six days and nights passed, the wind, deluge, and storm, overwhelmed. On the seventh day in its course was calmed the storm, and all the deluge which had destroyed like an earthquake, quieted. The sea he caused to dry, and the wind and deluge ended....like reeds the corpses floated. I opened the window, and the light broke over my face, it passed...."
col 3, line 32- 33 "To the country of Nizir went the ship; the mountain of Nizir stopped the ship,..."
col. 3, line 38- 46 "I sent forth a dove...I built an altar." From the Chaldean Account of Genesis, by George Smith 1876, Scribner, Armstrong and Co., NY.
This account, written in cuneiform has key points similar to the Genesis Account of the Flood. However, it contains a less precise timeline and the multiple gods with good and bad qualities which are in contrast to the characteristics portrayed with the majesty of the One Holy Righteous Jewish/Christian God. It, the Epic of Gilgamesh, lacks the precision of a true eye witness account. There are other flood tablets as well They all discuss probable local floods but are distorted derivatives of the True Narrative Account written by Noah. As the Biblical Flood was certainly worldwide this supports the concept that all the other stories were/are derived from the true narrative of Noah, and not the other way around. (see JGL dissertation on this web site).
The Invasion of Judea (702-701B.C.)
The Taylor Prism
(photograph with permission David Cantor)
In the BIBLE 2 Kings 18:13, "Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the king's house"....Sennacherib was apparently not satisfied and he sent soldiers under Tartan, Rabsaris, and Rab-shakeh to take Jerusalem. They shouted to the Jews on the walls warning them. In vs 21 he says not to trust on the "staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt"..., and then in vs 22 "But if you say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God: is it not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem.?" In this they distorted the True God and false gods. Then in vs 29 "Thus says the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand; Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria"... vs 35-36 "who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand?" What arrogance by king Sennacherib. "But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was. saying, Answer him not."... 19:22, "And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord." He had other priests and elders place sackcloth and then notified the prophet Isaiah. He, Isaiah, said in vs 6-7, "And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumor, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land." Note that bold and underlining put in by myself JGL. From KJV of Bible.
The ASSYRIAN ACCOUNT is found on the Taylor Cylinder B, lines 31-58; and fragments of Cylinders C and D; the Bull Inscriptions, No. 2 and 3 and several others. The sections with some variance are in ( ). On the Taylor Cylinder Col. II and III lines 11-20: "And Hezekiah of Judah who did not submit to my yoke, of his strong cities, fortresses, and small cities which were round them, which were without number, (with the marching of a host and surrounding of a multitude, attack of ranks, force of battering rams, mining(?) and missiles) I besieged, I captured, 200,150 people, small and great, male and female, horses, mules, asses, camel, oxen, and sheep, which were without number, from the midst of them I brought out and as spoin I counted. Him like a caged bird within Jerusalem his royal city I had made, towers round him I raised..." ...Line 32 "and (they inclined to submission) with 30 of gold, 800 talents of silver talents..." Line 40 " he sent, and to give tribute (and to make submission), he sent his messenger."
From: History of Sennacherib Translated from Cuneiform Inscriptions, George Smith Ed. A.H.Sayce, Williams and Norgate, Edinburgh, 1878. Note: It is well known that the Assyrians did not recount their defeats, and may have confabulated their victories, thus the Assyrian account does not mention the failure in overcoming Jerusalem during Hezekiah's time.
The ASSYRIAN ACCOUNT is found on the Taylor Cylinder B, lines 31-58; and fragments of Cylinders C and D; the Bull Inscriptions, No. 2 and 3 and several others. The sections with some variance are in ( ). On the Taylor Cylinder Col. II and III lines 11-20: "And Hezekiah of Judah who did not submit to my yoke, of his strong cities, fortresses, and small cities which were round them, which were without number, (with the marching of a host and surrounding of a multitude, attack of ranks, force of battering rams, mining(?) and missiles) I besieged, I captured, 200,150 people, small and great, male and female, horses, mules, asses, camel, oxen, and sheep, which were without number, from the midst of them I brought out and as spoin I counted. Him like a caged bird within Jerusalem his royal city I had made, towers round him I raised..." ...Line 32 "and (they inclined to submission) with 30 of gold, 800 talents of silver talents..." Line 40 " he sent, and to give tribute (and to make submission), he sent his messenger."
From: History of Sennacherib Translated from Cuneiform Inscriptions, George Smith Ed. A.H.Sayce, Williams and Norgate, Edinburgh, 1878. Note: It is well known that the Assyrians did not recount their defeats, and may have confabulated their victories, thus the Assyrian account does not mention the failure in overcoming Jerusalem during Hezekiah's time.
The Akkadian Cylinder Seal known as "Adam and Eve"
British Museum comments “The tree, serpent and figures carved on this greenstone cylinder seal suggested to George Smith, an Assyriologist working in the British Museum between 1840 and 1876, that the scene was related to the Old Testament story of the temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden. In fact, it is one of a well- known class of banquet scenes.” 4-25-2024
jgl comment: However, Banquet Scenes are often portrayed as individuals holding goblets facing each other. The serpent is not explained well either in modern views. Age estimate 2100 B.C.
jgl comment: However, Banquet Scenes are often portrayed as individuals holding goblets facing each other. The serpent is not explained well either in modern views. Age estimate 2100 B.C.
George Smith 1876 The Chaldean Account of Genesis page 90-91
“One striking and important specimen of early type in the British Museum collection has two figures sitting one on each side of a tree, holding out their hands to the fruit, while at the back of one is stretched a serpent. We know well that in these early sculptures none of these figures were chance devises, but all represented events or supposed events, and figures in their legends; thus it is evident that a form of the story of the Fall, similar to that of Genesis, was known in early in Babylonia.
The dragon which, in the Chaldean account of the Creation, leads man to sin, is the creature of Tiamat, the living principle of the sea and of chaos, and he is an embodiment of the spirit of chaos or disorder which was opposed to the deities at the creation of the world.”
“One striking and important specimen of early type in the British Museum collection has two figures sitting one on each side of a tree, holding out their hands to the fruit, while at the back of one is stretched a serpent. We know well that in these early sculptures none of these figures were chance devises, but all represented events or supposed events, and figures in their legends; thus it is evident that a form of the story of the Fall, similar to that of Genesis, was known in early in Babylonia.
The dragon which, in the Chaldean account of the Creation, leads man to sin, is the creature of Tiamat, the living principle of the sea and of chaos, and he is an embodiment of the spirit of chaos or disorder which was opposed to the deities at the creation of the world.”
The Akkadian ADDA Cylinder Seal-2300 B.C.
