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Biblical Truth at the British Museum
13 July 2007
It is not often that our national newspapers acknowledge the historical truth of the Bible, but that is precisely what has taken place this week. The Times, followed by The Telegraph, reported an announcement from the British Museum that has lent further weight to the historical reliability of the Old Testament.
Professor Michael Jursa, a scholar from Vienna, had been visiting the museum to examine some of the 100,000+ cuneiform tablets that the museum holds. The tablets date as far back as 3,000 BC, and Prof Jursa was primarily looking for records of Babylonian financial transactions. As he did so, he came across a name that he remembered: Nebo-Sarsekim. In a tablet that dated to 595 BC, Nebo-Sarsekim was named as an official in Nebuchadnezzar's court. Professor Jursa realised that the same official was named in the book of Jeremiah, and on checking found the reference in chapter 39 verse 3. Nebo-Sarsekim (NIV translation) is named there as Nebuchadnezzar's "chief officer" at the time of the siege of Jerusalem in 587 BC. It was undeniably the same man.
It is rare, though not unheard of, for such minor biblical characters to have their identity confirmed archaeologically, and this is a perfect example. One of the experts at the British Museum, Dr Irving Finkel, highlighted the importance of the discovery: "If Nebo-Sarsekim existed, which other lesser figures in the Old Testament existed? A throwaway detail in the Old Testament turns out to be accurate and true. I think that it means that the whole of the narrative [of Jeremiah] takes on a new kind of power."
Perhaps, even more significantly, Professor Geza Vermes - who is one of those scholars to repeatedly cast doubt on the historical truth of the Bible - acknowledged that this finding indicated "the biblical story is not altogether invented".
Indeed it is not. The Bible we hold in our hands always has been, and always will be the truth. Repeated attempts at discrediting its reliability are made. However, the discovery this week joins a long list of archaeological findings that support its credibility. Our faith is not based on such findings, but they do nibble away at the excuses some people hold for not taking God or the Bible seriously - a point we might want to make this weekend.
Justin Thacker, Head of Theology, Evangelical Alliance
