Freethought & Rationalism Archive

chimaira · 02-11-2005, 09:24 AM

hello all .

Can you inform me if the Bible contain anachronisms, if she in contien that wants to say that the historicity of the authors of the Bible is not reliable?

thank you to inform me, hello

Diogenes the Cynic · 02-11-2005, 09:36 AM

Could you be more specific about which books/authors you want to discuss?

The blanket answer is that yes, the Bible the contains a lot of anachronisms.

Julian · 02-11-2005, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chimaira

hello all .

Can you inform me if the Bible contain anachronisms, if she in contien that wants to say that the historicity of the authors of the Bible is not reliable?

thank you to inform me, hello

One anachronism that comes to mind is the reference to domesticated camels used in caravans in the time of the patriarchs when, in fact, camels were not domesticated to that use until much later.

There are also geographical references to cities that didn't exist at the time as well as references to kingdoms which hadn't arisen yet.

See The Bible Unearthed for more info.

In the NT references to synagogues might be erroneous in addition to the city of Nazareth.

Julian

Julian

Anat · 02-11-2005, 11:17 AM

International trade as described in the days of Solomon only appeared some 3 centuries later in Judah. David's conflicts with Aram are an anachronism, as Aram became organized as a state with influence in the Levant in the 9th century BCE. Beer Sheba was settled in the 7th century BCE, not in the supposed days of the Patriarchs. Qadesh Barnea was also a 7th century BCE place, not a place where the Israelites spent 38 years after the supposed Exodus. Many of the cities described as conquered by Joshua weren't settled or were settled but do not show destruction at the supposed time.

LeeBuhrul · 02-11-2005, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chimaira

hello all .

Can you inform me if the Bible contain anachronisms, if she in contien that wants to say that the historicity of the authors of the Bible is not reliable?

thank you to inform me, hello

This is a good site

chimaira · 02-11-2005, 11:19 AM

Edom do not at the time of Moses numbers 20:23

chimaira · 02-11-2005, 11:24 AM

thank you all for information

John Kesler · 05-29-2005, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chimaira

hello all .

Can you inform me if the Bible contain anachronisms, if she in contien that wants to say that the historicity of the authors of the Bible is not reliable?

thank you to inform me, hello

My favorite anachronism, for which I have seen no satisfactory explanation, is found in Exodus 19:22. Farrell Till gets credit for this one.

Quote:

Exodus 19:21-22 (NRSV, with Yahweh instead of "the LORD")

21 Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people not to break through to Yahweh to look; otherwise many of them will perish. 22 Even the priests who approach Yahweh must consecrate themselves or Yahweh will break out against them."

The problem is that priests weren't ordained until Exodus 28.

Quote:

Exodus 28:1 (NRSV)
...bring near to you your brother Aaron, and his sons with him, from among the Israelites, to serve me as priests--Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

judge · 05-29-2005, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian

One anachronism that comes to mind is the reference to domesticated camels used in caravans in the time of the patriarchs when, in fact, camels were not domesticated to that use until much later.

I had thought this point may have been subject to dispute.
Just how does one demonstrate when camels were first domesticated?

Notsri · 05-30-2005, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian

One anachronism that comes to mind is the reference to domesticated camels used in caravans in the time of the patriarchs when, in fact, camels were not domesticated to that use until much later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by judge

I had thought this point may have been subject to dispute.
Just how does one demonstrate when camels were first domesticated?

Joseph Free notes in Archaeology and Bible History, p. 51:

Quote:

A study of archaeological material...reveals a knowledge of the camel in Egypt even before the time of Abraham. Archaeological evidence showing early knowledge of the camel in Egypt includes statuettes and figurines of camels, plaques bearing representations of camels, rock carvings and drawings, camel bones, a camel skull, and a camel hair rope. These objects, some twenty in number, range from the seventh century B.C. back to the period before 3000. In recent years numerous indications of the domestication and use of the camel in Mesopotamia and Syria during the patriarchal period have come to light. K.A. Kitchen (Ancient Orient and Old Testament) has collected some of this information.

Similarly in Cyrus Gordon & Gary Rendsburg's book The Bible and the Ancient Near East, p. 121:

Quote:

The mention of camels...in the patriarchal narratives is often considered anachronistic. However, the correctness of the Bible is supported by the representation of camel riding on seal cylinders of precisely this period from northern Mesopotamia.

Both of the above books direct the reader to what is presumably a more detailed examination of the evidence, found in Free's article, "Abraham's Camels," Journal of Near Eastern Studies 3, 1944, pp. 187-93. The latter also mentions the journal Iraq 6, 1939, pl. II, 9, for "the best of several illustrations" of the seal cylinders.

Regards,
Notsri

02-11-2005, 09:24 AM	#1
chimaira Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: France Posts: 169	Anachronisms in the Bible hello all . Can you inform me if the Bible contain anachronisms, if she in contien that wants to say that the historicity of the authors of the Bible is not reliable? thank you to inform me, hello

02-11-2005, 11:19 AM	#6
chimaira Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: France Posts: 169	hello Edom do not at the time of Moses numbers 20:23

02-11-2005, 11:24 AM	#7
chimaira Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: France Posts: 169	hello thank you all for information

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02-11-2005, 09:36 AM	#2
Diogenes the Cynic Moderator - Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Posts: 4,639	Could you be more specific about which books/authors you want to discuss? The blanket answer is that yes, the Bible the contains a lot of anachronisms.

02-11-2005, 11:17 AM	#4
Anat Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: home Posts: 3,715	International trade as described in the days of Solomon only appeared some 3 centuries later in Judah. David's conflicts with Aram are an anachronism, as Aram became organized as a state with influence in the Levant in the 9th century BCE. Beer Sheba was settled in the 7th century BCE, not in the supposed days of the Patriarchs. Qadesh Barnea was also a 7th century BCE place, not a place where the Israelites spent 38 years after the supposed Exodus. Many of the cities described as conquered by Joshua weren't settled or were settled but do not show destruction at the supposed time.

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