overies link people from the Bible with archeological evidence recently found. One such example is David, who is described in the Old Testament as Israel’s greatest king. Given the information presented in the Bible, many biblical scholars suggested that David was nothing more than a fictitious identity. In 1993, at Tell Dan in Northern Israel, archeologists discovered a monument bearing the name of David. The monument had been broken and worn over the years. However, professors say that the monument mentions the fall of the “House of David” to the King of Damascus (Sheler). This could indeed be a reference to the event in the Bible found in 1 Kings 15:20, “Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel.” These towns that were conquered in Israel by the King of Damascus were of particular importance because they opened many trade routes to the coast and other areas during that period (NIV). The finding of this monument was especially significant because it is the first secular reference of David. Another discovery in the summer of 1996 proved the existence of yet another Biblical figure that was written off as being mythical. Herod was the King of Judea (the area where Jesus was born and raised) during the time of Jesus’ birth. King Herod is mentioned several times in the New Testament and the Gospels in particular. Six years ago at Masada, Israel (the southern tip where Judea was located), archeologists were filtering through a two thousand year old trash dump and discovered a wine jug inscribed with the name of King Herod. This discovery, much like that pertaining to David was the first non-biblical citation of King Herod (Briggs). A further discovery in 1990, “…added another name to the list of Biblical people whose historical existence has been attested to by physical artifacts” (Sheler 6). Caiaphas was that name. ...
