Why so little archaeological evidence for the Patriarchs?
The fathers of Biblical Israel, often called the Patriarchs,
are decidedly difficult to date primarily due to a lack of abundant physical
evidence. It is estimated that that the Biblical
account places the Patriarchs to around the Middle Bronze Age (2166-1805). This
is not alarming given our overall ignorance of that time period. John J. Bimson
notes, “Our knowledge of the centuries around 2000 BC is very small, and our
ignorance very great.”[1]
Dr. David Gottleib states, “Archaeology has uncovered a
myriad of details, details that the Bible records about the quality of life and
the conditions of life of the Patriarchs which turn out to be accurate to the
last detail.”[2]
The quality of life and lifestyles recorded in the Genesis account reflect
those in early extra-biblical source such as the Code of Hammurabi. The
Egyptian and Hittite texts, thousands of clay tablets from the Amorite city of
Mari, the Horite city of Nuzi, and the cities of Leilan and Alalakh all support
the statements of Gottleib.
Marriage contracts and inheritance laws contemporaneous with
the Biblical story are accurately reflected in extra-biblical sources. For
example, the Hurrian Law at Nuzi and the Code of Hammurabi in Babylonia gave
legal precedence for a man to adopt children he may have fathered through
slaves as legitimate heirs. This is identical to the custom we see in Genesis
17-20 when Sarai, the wife of Abraham, gives Hagar (slave) as a means of producing
an heir. Understanding even small elements of life during such times helps to
correctly understand the Sitz im Leben of the Old Testament accounts.
NOTES:
[1]
""Archaeological Data and the Dating of the Patriarchs" by John
J. Bimson." "Archaeological Data and the Dating of the
Patriarchs" by John J. Bimson. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2013.
[2]
Gottlieb, David "Bible Veracity and Archeology" Mesora: Discussions.
Retrieved from www.mesora.org. Internet accessed 16 November 2009.
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