It is incredibly unfortunate that today there are reports of Israel having no ancient root in the Promised Land, therefore having no rightful claim to the land. The confusion about this sacred land brings out strong opinions. However, when confusion and opinion enter the equation, truth must be unearthed.
A Gate…
In 2 Kings 18, we read the story of how King Hezekiah began his reign of Judah. And then a few chapters later, in 2 Kings 28, we read where King Hezekiah purges idols and purifies the temple. His dedication was clearly to the Lord.
“And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image…”—2 Kings 28:3-4
This king may not be well known in today’s Christian culture, however, recently his rule is remembered as an ancient gate has been discovered in Tel Lachish National Park.
According to the Bible the city gates were where the people would sit on benches and the business of life at the time would happen all round them. During an excavation, the 2,900-year-old gate was completely exposed, giving archeologists access to its measurements. The measurements of the gate are consistent with that of the gate to the city of Lachish, the second most important city in the Bible only to Jerusalem.
Silver Amulets…
In the Book of Numbers, the Lord gives instruction to the priests how to bless the Israelites.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”—Numbers 6:24-26
In 1979, two small silver amulets, that contained biblical passages, part being the priestly blessing, were unearthed at the archeological site Ketef Hinnom, part of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem.
These amulets date back to 2,600 years ago. Not only are part of the priestly blessing from Numbers 6 written on them, but “Yahweh is the rebuker of evil” is also engraved. They were thought to be worn as protection by the Hebrew people.
The Word of God…
These are only a couple of the archeological finds confirming Israel’s pre-Palestine existence. More and more evidence is discovered daily in Israel and the Middle East that give credibility and authenticity to the Word of God and His promise to Israel.
“Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you’… Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land…’”—Genesis 12:1, 7
Genesis 15 provides instruction on Israel’s northern and southern borders.
“…the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates…’”—Genesis 15:18
The area from the Nile River in the south, to the great river, Euphrates in the north, includes all of modern-day Lebanon and three-fourths of modern-day Syria.
As more archeological evidence is unearthed, our faith should continue to be rooted in God’s Word. The Bible provides us the direction and instruction we need. The finds discovered only encourage our faith, and expose more depth in the biblical importance of this Holy Land and the restoration that will continue in it’s future.
God is faithful to His Word and His covenant promises. We can be sure that the nation of Israel and her land will be restored, just as it is prophesied.