Biblical story proved true as archaeologists discover Babylonians burned Jerusalem 2,600 years ago

Archaeologists have found that the Babylonians did burn Jerusalem around 600 B.C. when they conquered Israel. The evidence supports the Biblical account of the Babylonian conquest.

"The Destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar" by William Brassey Hole

Highlights

By Marshall Connolly (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
7/31/2017 (6 years ago)

Published in Middle East

Keywords: Bible, history, true, Babylonians, Jerusalem

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority have discovered charred artifacts which show that Jerusalem was burned by the Babylonians about 587 BC.

According to the Bible and other historical sources, Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptians in battle in 605 BC. He then turned against Judah, which was subject to Egypt at the time. To prevent the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, King Jehoiakim of Judah surrendered the city to Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar sent an army to Jerusalem and laid siege to the city in 597 BC. The siege was successful and Nebuchadnezzar installed a king of his choosing to rule Judah and send tribute back to Babylon.

The new king, Zedekiah was young, just 21 at the time of his installation. After a little more than a decade, Zedekiah broke his allegiance with Babylon and declared allegiance to Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar sent another army to Jerusalem which broke through the city walls and burned the city. The suffering of the people of Jerusalem was great.

Zedekiah was compelled to watch as his children were put to death. Then he was blinded, tied up, and taken to Babylon where he was imprisoned for the rest of his life.

In the book of Jeremiah, the Bible tells us that the destruction of Jerusalem was total, with the temple and the houses of all the great people of the city burned.

The passage in the Bible has now been affirmed by archaeological evidence. Archaeologists have uncovered large quantities of charred artifacts including pottery, statues, charred wood, grape seeds, fish scales and bones. Some of the pottery is stamped with seals dated to the period in question. The dating of the artifacts, their style, along with the charred remains proves that Jerusalem was burned in 597 BC.

Among many modern scholars, there is debate over whether the Bible can be taken as a history book, or it if is merely a collection of stories. As we learn more about the ancient world, we are finding that many stories recounted in the Bible are true, and supported by evidence.