Jayhawker Soule

And your credentials for this evaluation would be what? That you read a 298-page book? We're so very proud of you.

King Arthur

I need credentials to call people idiots?

Oh well, you wouldn't belivee me if I told you my credentials and it doesn't matter if you believe me because I'm right and that's enough for me.

[ July 20, 2002: Message edited by: King Arthur ]</p>

Major Billy

How many times do the Tell Dan stele and the Mesha stone mention King David and King Saul?

[ July 20, 2002: Message edited by: Major Billy ]</p>

King Arthur

Neither mentions Saul. Tell Dan mentions the name David once and the phrase "King of Israel". Mesha mentions Israel and Yahweh. However, I'm sure you knew that already, though I doubt you read it directly from the inscriptions.

BTW, my point is that there is real history back during that time period. If you've only read and believe the biblical minimalists like the ones I mentioned above, then the point of this thread is to tell you to grow a brain and read something more intelligent like Dever.

King Arthur

Here, let me be helpful again:

Mesha Stele (for your reading pleasure:
<a href="http://www.louvre.fr/img/photos/collec/ao/grande/ao5066.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.louvre.fr/img/photos/collec/ao/grande/ao5066.jpg</a>
Yahweh is clearly marked on there, BTW.

Tell Dan stele:
<a href="http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/15_telldan.html" target="_blank">http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/15_telldan.html</a>

David is quite clear.

Vorkosigan

And? There has been a raging feud between the minimalists and mainstream archaeology going on in BAR for several years now. Do you really think there's been some major discovery in the past year or so to change everyone's mind? Thompson's book "The Mythic Past" which I've seen you use in your posts was written in 1999. "The Bible Unearthed" was written (without footnotes to check the claims) only early last year (not incredibly long after this symposium). Dever's book was also written last year (with plenty of footnotes to check his claims). The article in NEA would obviously have been updated for publication. It would be boneheaded to put an article in a scholarly journal that was not up-to-date.

I was providing information. I had no axe to grind either way, and was not making a specific point. I am well aware of the long existence of this controversy.

Jayhawker Soule

An outstanding insight. One might even extend it to suggest that "there is real history back during [any] time period." Perhaps you might wish to suggest

• to what particular time period you are referring and, with respect to that period,
• what specific assertion(s) of Finkelstein/Silverman you reject, and
• your specific reasons for maintaining this position.

In order: No, you need only those social and intellectual defects that you seem so eager to flaunt. No, I would tentatively assume that you were lying simply because such dishonesty would be most congruent with your childish egotism. And, yes, it does not matter.

King Arthur

If you knew the swirling controversy, you would know that the Iron Age is that to which I refer.

I didn't just say Finkelstien, now did I? And Silberman is no archaeologist.

I refer to things like Davies suggesting that the Siloam inscription (among other finds which don't fit with his theories) is a forgery that dates to the 2nd century AD.

Stupid stuff by Thompson like, "The literary nature of the Mesha stele needs to be taken seriously. It is quite doubtful that it refers to an historical person when it refers to Israel's king.

Finkelstien's complete about-face from his previous convictions on "Israelite ethnicity" when there is no data to back his change. He has apparently left many other scholars dumb-founded by his change.

The archaeological data speaks for itself. Authorities on the subject speaking out against this silly "postmodernistic" view of history help as well.

I love it!!! You're stoopin' to my level! Ha! Great job, man! You're pretty good at it too. Keep it up!

I knew you wouldn't believe me anyway.

Actually, truth goes along quite well with a military-type personality like mine. I love to drive it home.

[ July 21, 2002: Message edited by: King Arthur ]</p>

Darkside_Spirit

"bunch of idiots"
"scholarship is junk"
"the puny"
"junk is called"
"other crap"
"ignorant mythicists"

Remove this unnecessary and pointless hyperbole, and maybe I'll take you seriously.

l-bow

About tel dan inscription:

<a href="http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/5210/tel_dan.htm" target="_blank">http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/5210/tel_dan.htm</a>