A team of researchers from four Israeli universities says they have used a new scientific method they call “groundbreaking” to examine a frequently debated event from the Bible's Book of Kings. Announced.
Biblical events described in 2 Kings 12:17, includes the battle at Gath. Then he tried to attack Jerusalem. ” The Biblical city is Tell es-Safi in present-day Israel.
Researchers from four Israeli universities – Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bar-Ilan University and Ariel University – say a new method has proven that the bricks discovered by archaeologists at the site were destroyed in a fire. There is. It was set up by King Hazael's army. Skeptics of the Bible's account argue that the building did not burn down, but rather collapsed over several decades, and that the fired bricks found inside the building were fired in a kiln before construction. I had theorized. news release Said.
Their research results were published in the scientific journal Plos One.
The researchers' method involves measuring the Earth's magnetic field, which is “recorded” in burnt bricks.
“Applying their method to the discovery of ancient Gath…the researchers verified the Biblical account,” the news release said.
“Our findings are critical to deciphering the intensity and extent of the destruction of Gath, the largest and most powerful city in the Land of Israel at the time, and for understanding the building methods prevalent at the time. ,” the professor said. Arlen Meyer of Bar-Ilan University.
Professor Yoav Vaknin of Tel Aviv University said anciently fired bricks have different magnetic fields depending on how they are cooled and how they are used.
“When bricks are fired in a kiln before construction, the direction of the Earth's magnetic field at that particular time and place is recorded. In Israel, this means north and down. “When you take it out and build a wall, you put the bricks in random directions, so the recorded signal is randomized,” Vaknin said. “On the other hand, if the wall were to burn in place, which could happen if it were destroyed by an enemy, the magnetic fields of all the bricks would be fixed in the same direction.”
He said the gas-burnt bricks indicated a fire caused by fighting.
“Our findings show that the bricks burned and cooled on the spot where they were found, that is, in the building itself, and collapsed within a few hours,” Vaknin said. “If the bricks had been fired in a kiln and then placed on the wall, the magnetic orientation would have been random. Additionally, if the structure collapsed over time rather than a single fire, the collapse The debris would have exhibited random magnetic orientation.”
The new method “scientifically corroborates” the events of the Bible, according to the release.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Yoav Vaknin
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His story was published in Baptist Press. Christianity Today, Christian Poecent, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star and of knoxville news sentinel.
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