How closely do the Biblical accounts of the final siege of Jerusalem correspond to extra-Biblical accounts? Take a look at a remarkable artifact called the Nebuchadnezzar Chronicle.

A statue from Assyria that may represent the god of wisdom known as Nabu (or Nebo) was one of two inscribed limestone statues found at the temple of Nabu in...

False imprisonment due to the treachery of a double-dealing family member, friendships in prison, vindication, and murder. No, this isn’t Game of Thrones; it’s history. Want to know more? Read...

Some critics have questioned the historicity of the book of Jeremiah. The Nebo-Sarsekim Tablet provides a resounding rebuke to such criticism.

Caiaphas has been depicted as a scheming, self-serving religious tyrant. Sounds suspiciously like a literary trope and a stereotypical bad guy. Was there really such a person as Caiaphas? Read...

Because the “first name” of Pilate is unknown from anywhere else in antiquity, many have suggested that Pontius Pilate is a made-to-order villain, needed for a fictitious narrative. Recent archaeological...

Although Quirinius is mentioned in only one sentence in the book of Luke, that verse has come under a great deal of scrutiny. Just who was Quirinius?

Are the Gospel accounts of coinage in the time of Jesus accurate?

“Belshazzar is unknown to history,” crows one book skeptical of the historicity of the Bible. Unknown… until an incredible discovery in Ur (Iraq). Read about the phenomenal story of the...

An archaeological find provides remarkable corroboration of the Biblical accounts of King Jehoiachin’s fate at the hands of his Babylonian captors. Read about the Babylonian Ration Tablets.

The conquest of Babylon by the Persian army is surely one of the most significant events of the ancient world. Why doesn’t the book of Daniel mention anything about the...

It seems odd that a conquering king would simply let the captured enemy people go home, without a ransom, without tribute, and without an oath of loyalty. Yet, that is...

Nehemiah wrote that he faced great opposition while trying to rebuild Jerusalem. Is there any record of his opposition, or was he just trying to look heroic? Read an independent...

Is there any evidence outside the Bible that confirms what the prophets foretold about the final siege of Jerusalem? There is! Check out The Lachish Ostraca.

Many of the artifacts that have been found pertain to the “major players” of the Bible. Is there any evidence for any of the lesser-known people? There is! Look closer...

Just a note to begin: an ostracon (plural: ostraca) is a piece of broken pottery or earthenware that was used in the distant past as a casual writing surface… think...

Hezekiah has a reputation as a reformer, but was he really that zealous? Look at what happened to the Horned Altar of Beersheba.

The Bible asserts that the Assyrian empire waged a brutal assault on Jerusalem in the time of Hezekiah. Is there any actual evidence that such a siege took place? There...

Some skeptics have scoffed at the notion that workers in the 8th Century BC would have been able to have built an underground water tunnel. The Siloam Inscription provides answers...

The idea of offering a child as a burnt sacrifice seems so cruel and inhumane that it seems more like propaganda — a story someone would tell about an enemy...

What can you learn about an ancient city just by examining its pottery? Quite a lot, say some archaeologists who studied the city of Laish… which later became Dan. Take...

A house of ivory? Did Ahab really have such a luxurious facility? Learn more about the Samaria Ivories.

Scripture tells us that the Israelites could recognize Jehu for his “furious” driving style, reminiscent of the American folktale of Casey Jones. But are there any archaeological finds that indicate...

Do the building projects of Osorkon I shed any light on the Biblical accounts of the Egyptian plundering of Israel and Judah? Take a closer look at the Shoshenq I...

Some of the prophets accuse the people of Israel and Judah of being “unfaithful” to Yahweh, “prostituting themselves” with other gods. Is this just prophetic hyperbole, or is there evidence...

There is perhaps no greater insult to something cherished or valued than to turn it into a toilet. That’s what the Old Testament says happened to some of the pagan...

Once upon a time, there was a commoner, born of the peasant class, who distinguished himself as a warrior. Then, he ran away from his own country and lived in...

What can the mysterious word “PYM” tell us about the Biblical books of Samuel?

What can a long-lost letter tell us about the reliability of the Biblical history of the united kingdom in Israel?

Can the Biblical stories about David be trusted? Or was he just a mythical “giant-killer” propaganda character in Israelite folklore? Read about the Tel Dan Stele and see for yourself!

The book of Judges in the Old Testament is full of episodes of the Israelites forsaking Yahweh and chasing after Ba’al (or the Baals). What can archeology tell us about...

Historians have long debated whether the Bible is accurate when it describes the timing of the Israelites arrival and settlement of Canaan. Does the Merneptah Stele shed light on the...

The Pozo Moro monument was discovered in an ancient Phoenician graveyard in what is now southern Spain. It contains many examples of ancient Near Eastern iconography dating to the end...

Of the 382 known Amarna Letters, over 150 were written from Canaanite kings to the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III around 1400 BC. In several of these letters, various Canaanite kings...

Can a scarab found in the ruins of Jericho shed light on when the city was conquered? Does the evidence support what we read in the book of Joshua? Read...

One of the most colorful characters to appear in the first five books of the Old Testament is Balaam, whose whimsical encounter with a talking donkey has delighted readers for...

An Egyptian artifact clearly demonstrates Egypt’s artistic influence on the craftsmen of Israel during the time of Israel’s captivity. The cross-cultural influence is clearly seen in the remarkable archaeological find...

Three hieroglyphic inscriptions could rightfully be called blockbusters in demonstrating Biblical accuracy. Not only do they give independent corroboration of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, they give the first...

Political intrigue in the court of the Pharaoh? The Dream Stele lends incidental credence to the Biblical account of the plagues in Exodus.

Scholars comparing the chronological data from the Egyptian king lists to the time-referenced information in the Bible have concluded that Amenhotep II was almost certainly the pharaoh at the time...

A wise man in ancient Egypt wrote a poetic lament over the sufferings of Egypt during a time when the natural order seemed to be in chaos. This disruption took...

“Let my people go,” demanded Moses, “and do not harden your heart.” The first part is pretty clear, but what did he mean by the phrase “harden your heart”? Archaeologists...

The enslaved Israelites being forced to make bricks in the hot sun is loudly bewailed in the book of Exodus. But did it really happen that way? Check out the...

The Hebrews’ time in Egypt could be summarized by 3 S-words. While Joseph was alive, they were Settlers. Many years after Joseph, they were Slaves. But in the time between...

Modern governments have different ways to recognize outstanding service to the nation, whether military or civil service. Pharaohs in ancient Egypt had the Gold of Valor. Read more about it...

Neither Jacob nor Joseph left a written record of their life and times. How can we be truly sure that they existed, and lived in the time recorded in the...

There are times when a photograph or painting captures not only the intended subject but also details about the life and times of the era in which it was created....

Camels are mentioned in the book of Genesis being used as transportation and as pack animals during the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Laban. Critics have long been skeptical of...

It is often possible to identify the time period of a document by identifying keywords and analyzing word usage. The same is true of the book of Genesis. Discoveries of...

Throughout history, humans have needed a standard code of law to which all citizens could look and refer when settling matters of civic life. The Code of Hammurabi is one...

The use of a voodoo doll to symbolically cause harm to an enemy is well-known to modern audiences of action-adventure movies. But did you know that the Egyptians used something...

Long before dystopian epics became fashionable in books and films, there was a true tale written about the destruction of a major empire at the hands of a ruthless enemy....

The story of Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta was composed prior to 2000 BC, and it tells the story of how Enmerkar, the king of Uruk, attempted to build...

The Atra Hasis artifact and the Gilgamesh tablet tell ancient epic stories of a great flood stories with striking similarities to the Biblical account of Noah and the ark.

Almost everyone has wondered about the early history of Earth and about human life. Would you be surprised to learn that there are stories about the early earth and about...