Archaeologists working in Turkey have unearthed an Assyrian tablet dating to around 670 BCE that "could have served as a model for the biblical description of God's covenant with the Israelites." What this fascinating discovery suggests, of course, is that the Bible tale of a divine pact does not represent "history" or a "factual" event, but is instead a fictional rewrite, borrowing or plagiarism of this older Assyrian treaty.
Over the centuries, many Bible critics, minimalists and mythicists have asserted that much of the Old Testament constitutes not factual history but a rehash of ancient myths and traditions dating to before the founding of the Jewish kingdom. This new find apparently adds more evidence to that theory, and it is quite refreshing that both the scholars and the media are spelling out clearly this possible "borrowing," without prejudice in favor of bibliolatry or upholding unprovable matters of faith.
Ancient treaty resembles part of the Bible
Canadian archeologists in Turkey have unearthed an ancient treaty that could have served as a model for the biblical description of God's covenant with the Israelites.
The tablet, dating to about 670 BC, is a treaty between the powerful Assyrian king and his weaker vassal states, written in a highly formulaic language very similar in form and style to the story of Abraham's covenant with God in the Hebrew Bible, says University of Toronto archeologist Timothy Harrison.
Although biblical scholarship differs, it is widely accepted that the Hebrew Bible was being assembled around the same time as this treaty, the seventh century BC.
"Those documents...seem to reflect very closely the formulaic structure of these treaty documents," he told about 50 guests at the Ottawa residence of the Turkish ambassador, Rafet Akgunay.
He was not necessarily saying the Hebrews copied the Assyrian text, substituting their own story about how God liberated them from slavery in Egypt on the condition that they worship only Him and follow His commandments.
But it will be interesting for scholars to have this parallel document.
"The language in the [Assyrian] texts is [very similar] and now we have a treaty document just a few miles up the road from Jerusalem."...
Science Daily provides more details about the tablet:
"The tablet is quite spectacular. It records a treaty -- or covenant -- between Esarhaddon, King of the Assyrian Empire and a secondary ruler who acknowledged Assyrian power. The treaty was confirmed in 672 BCE at elaborate ceremonies held in the Assyrian royal city of Nimrud (ancient Kalhu). In the text, the ruler vows to recognize the authority of Esarhaddon's successor, his son Ashurbanipal," said Timothy Harrison, professor of near eastern archaeology in the Department of Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations and director of U of T's Tayinat Archaeological Project (TAP)....
The researchers hope to glean information about Assyria's imperial relations with the west during a critical period, the early 7th century BCE. It marked the rise of the Phrygians and other rival powers in highland Anatolia -- now modern-day Turkey -- along the northwestern frontier of the Assyrian empire, and coincided with the divided monarchy of Biblical Israel...
Notable is the fact "it is widely accepted that the Hebrew Bible was being assembled around the same time as this treaty," i.e., during the 7th century BCE. The case for this "late" dating of the Old Testament's compilation - with a significant part of it also written later, after the Jews' "Babylonian Exile" (597-538 BCE) - has been made by Israeli archaeologists, including and especially Israel Finkelstein in The Bible Unearthed.
Although the article states that the archaeologist Timothy Harrison "was not necessarily saying the Hebrews copied the Assyrian text, substituting their own story about how God liberated them from slavery in Egypt," it is nonetheless raising that very issue in a manner which breaks with the centuries-old tradition of bending all finds in the "Holy Land" and other places of biblical interest to fit the Bible, in attempts to prove the "Good Book" as "history." It is obvious that this sort of bibliolatry appeasement from the more scientific segment of society is losing ground precisely because of such discoveries - and the implication of this one is a doozy.
No historical covenant with God?
It needs to be emphasized that this intriguing development concerns not just any biblical event but the very covenant between God and the Israelites - here indicated as not something supernatural that actually occurred but, rather, as mere human propaganda based on older texts from other cultures. This discovery, therefore, would essentially negate the basic premise of the Old Testament: To wit, that the Hebrews, Israelites and Jews are the "chosen people" of the Lord of the universe.
Needless to say, for those of us who have been stating as much for many years - and getting pilloried for our efforts - this archaeological find is very exciting, as it adds to the growing body of hard, scientific evidence that the Bible is not "God's Word" but a manmade cultural artifact designed for propagandistic purposes.
Furthermore, as the Old Testament is thus apparently in significant part a rehash and rewriting of the traditions and myths of other cultures, so does the New Testament story of Jesus Christ represent a remake of the mythical motifs of pre-Christian cultures, combined with OT scriptures serving as "blueprints" for the gospel tale's creation.
D.M. Murdock is the author of controversial books and articles on comparative religion and mythology that can be found at TruthBeKnown.com, Stellar House Publishing and Freethought Nation. For more articles from the Freethought Examiner, be sure to subscribe!
Further Reading
Is Jesus a myth?
Man Made God
Did Jesus Fulfill Prophecy?
The Origins of Christianity and Quest for the Historical Jesus Christ
Oldest Hebrew writing proves Bible?
Oldest piece of the Bible ever found?
Comments
Thanks for writing this outstanding blog!!!
The "Truth" is beginning to be unveiled and it is constantly confirming what you've written in your books over the last decade, Acharya.
Can't thank you enough for your work.
Truth always dilutes lies and myths
Mulder had it right... the truth is out there... thanks Acharya...
Read "Evidence for Christianity" by Josh McDowell and all you atheists won't have a wooden leg to stand on. This is more grasping for straws by the damned and ignorant.
Could you specify which Covenant you are speaking about, there were several, some much older than the date of this tablet. With regards to Jesus, you should know that the Romans recorded crucifying Jesus in their records, so that is another source you will have to wrestle with.
Is it not true that the 10 commandments are carved in stone and the Assyrians were the authors of these rules.
John HENRY said "Read "Evidence for Christianity" by Josh McDowell and all you atheists won't have a wooden leg to stand on. This is more grasping for straws by the damned and ignorant."
Akhem, yeah, she addressed Josh McDowell in Who Was Jesus? and it didn't appear to be any problem at all. So, who's "grasping at straws"?
Chris said "Romans recorded crucifying Jesus in their records"
What a load of crap. I hear these outrageous claims but Christians just can't substantiate them.
Murdock epitomizes the most apt definition of an atheist. Which is - "One who attempts to hurt God, by claiming He doesn't exist."
Another increasingly accurate definition these days might be thus: Atheist: One who seeks revenge for having been created.
Miss Murdock would to well to quit leaping through the past, stand up, and lift up her head and see what is folding and unfolding all around her. Luke 21:25-28 Divulgence.net
"Our race is the Master Race. We Jews are divine gods on this planet. We are as different from the inferior races as they are from insects. In fact, compared to our race, other races are beasts and animals, cattlce at best. Other races are considered as human excrement. Our destiny is to rule over the inferior races. Our earthly kingdom will be ruled by our leader with a rod of iron. The masses will lick our feet and serve us as our slaves." - Menachem Begin, Israeli Prime Minister to New Statesman magazine on June 25, 1982
The bible is a self-authenticating text.
www whatabeginning com / Misc / Wonders / P.htm
And maybe M.M. Robinson could actually address the merits of the article at hand, rather than going off on the typical Christian apologist style attack on the individual with ad homs and stupid straw man fallacies?
Give it try
"Every religion is true one way or another. It is true when understood metaphorically. But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors, interpreting them as facts, then you are in trouble. "
-
Joseph Campbell
John HENRY
Josh McDowell's "Evidence" for Jesus
Is It Reliable?
infidels. org /library/modern/jeff_lowder/jury/chap5. ht ml
Oh dear, we have the predictable religious apologists doing what they do best. Yammering nonsensically. Anyone would think Murdock made this up, or wrote the Assyrian texts herself with a hammer and chisel, just to get at their faith.
Deal with the facts you fruitloops, and save your faith for when there are no facts.
BWAHAHA!
SOMETHING FROM 670BC IS THE BASIS FOR ANTOHER THING FROM 1447BC.
THAT'S A GOOD ONE. THANKS FOR THE LAUGH!
@M.M. Robinson--Do you know Miss Murdock?! She is not an atheist, BUT what does that have to do with the manmade sewage called the Bible (I prefer 'Babble' cause it reflection of the pronouncements of so many ignorant lunatics like yourself).
@vincent--the earliest known engraving of codes on stone dedicated to a 'god' was that of King Khammurabi (aka. Hammurabi) cira 2000 BCE. The entity it was dedicated to was the SUN, an object of worship extremely long time in a long lineage of Kings from whom he descended and the nations of people who had brought it to the lands of the middle east and many other lesser enlightend lands.
To others...there is NO ROMAN RECORD of a Jesus, crucified or otherwise in any sense. Don't just make worthless statements.
OK, Time to give the West Bank to the Assyrians, sorry Jews.
As with most media today, this article is written with a gross amount of ineptitude in the areas of biblical, historical, and archaelogical knowledge. This woman is a self-loathing white or a jew, either way just full of jewish propaganda and have most of you illiterates hook, line, and sinker. "fact is" left a very appropriate quote which wasn't even touched by any of you. If there are any of you who believe you're a true Christian, quit reading this garbage and check out christogenea.org if you want to learn The Truth!
"BWAHAHA!
SOMETHING FROM 670BC IS THE BASIS FOR ANTOHER THING FROM 1447BC.
THAT'S A GOOD ONE. THANKS FOR THE LAUGH! "
HAHAHAHAHAAH. So you just buy the Bible fairytales hook, line and sinker and think they're history! Hilarious!!!!!!!!
Yeah, don't read this scientific analysis, go to Matt's stupid Christian brainwashing site!
Now, about that business of Abraham and Sara... or is it perhaps Brahma and Sarasvati..
Jesus is Lord.
I have a suggestion. If you come across information that is new and different, please share it with us.
Tell ya what..get in a room with a black and white checkered floor, put 2 columns up on the west side of the room. Now, take a marker and make a pentagram with the circle around it and put a candle at each star tip and light them. O.K what you do next is, turn off the lights and start playing with your Ouija board. These simple directions if followed correctly will help you vibrate to an awakening real quick.
"Every religion is true one way or another. It is true when understood metaphorically. But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors, interpreting them as facts, then you are in trouble. "
-
Joseph Campbell
"The problem is that no ethical system has ever achieved consensus. Ethical systems are completely unlike mathematics or science. This is a source of concern. "
Daniel Dennett
For Horus sake when will people actually learn about religion instead of simply practicing it. When you learn about The literally thousands of God's out there one is inclined to ask which one is "THE GOD" and how do I know I playing on the right team. Furthermore if God is omnipotent why in the Zeus does she need mindless pleabs like us to bow at her feet and pray. Religion prohibits progress, have your God if you like but Don't project her onto others that just starts wars. The case is stacked againt the prosecution I'm afraid. This ones not gonna be a hung jury. Niche put it best when he said "God is dead, we have killed him". If only that were true.
Robinson, are you serious? Come on man. First of all, what does your post have to do with this article? Acharya is not claiming god doesn't exist, just that there is more evidence that he didn't inspire the old testament. As though we really needed archeological evidence to figure that out.
And by the way, those definitions of "atheist" are ridiculous on so many levels. Atheists aren't trying to hurt God or get revenge, they don't believe God exists. That would be like me saying you don't believe in Santa Claus because you're trying to get revenge on him for bringing you presents.
Jesus was an advanced spiritual being sent to awaken and enlighten.
He was not sent to die for the remission of sin but to show the "WAY" ( I AM (the name of the creator)THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT)to live "IN" this world but not be "OF" this world.
He stated " My Kingdom is not "OF" this world" and Christians "BELIEVE" he was speaking of a place in the clouds but he was not he was speaking of the world we live in and the Priest and Pharisees murdered him because they just could not have that truth being taught as they would loose their control over the sheep.
He also stated "The Kingdom of Heaven is Within" but Christians are taught that it is out there.
You can go there now if you will "DIE" to this world (Beast/Mammon system)and learn the "WAY" to live "IN this world but not be "OF" this world. Also Jesus didn't go for "BELIEF" he was into "KNOWING" He never advocated being Worshiped but rather wanted people to "FOLLOW" his example of how to live. Come out of her my people!
Slowly but surely , out of the dark ages we come!
Of course believers dont want their little imaginary world to change, so just as they blindly believe it, they will blindly defend it.
Keep up your vitally important work Ms. Murdock!
I love when today's "scholars", scientists etc. try to explain with their "ideas" what happened thousands of years ago!
Remember that what they "think|" happened is NOT that what actually happened!
This is an idealistic society which wants to change historical facts according to their likings and to get in to "our times history books".
Sorry, but I prefer stay with the Original story because it just make more sense to believe someone who lived around the time when the event actually happened!
D.M. Murdock wrote that "...it is widely accepted that the Hebrew Bible was being assembled around the same time as this treaty, the seventh century BC."
Widely accepted? Liberal scholars support the 7th century B.C. date, but the conservative scholars, who constitute the majority, do not.
Here is a list of ten non-Biblical (mostly Roman) sources confirming that Jesus really existed:
1. Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman historian in 112 AD, Governor of Asia Minor. He wrote, “Christus [Latin for Christ], the founder of the name [of christians], was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius...”
2. Lucian of Samosata
3. Flavius Josephus
4. Seutonius
5. Plinius Secundus
6. Tertullian
7. Thallus
8. Phlegon
9. Justin Martyr
10. The Jewish Talmuds
EVERY EASTER there's stories like this one whose purpose is to PROVE THE BIBLE WRONG.
Please read, "Why Critics of the Bible Do Not Deserve the benefit of the Doubt" at tektonics.org
The God of the bible is a man made tool of fear and control and not the creative source of all which is "consciousness"
The god of the bible is the Delusion (delu-ZION) created by the Jews to dominate the world they the Jews after murdering Jesus made up the story of him being the virgin son of this man made god to subvert his true teachings and through their
Agent "Saul of Tarsus AKA Paul" they have utterly destroyed his true teachings that we all are one and a part of the source of creation and can overcome the world if we would only know ourselves and who and what we truly are spiritual beings experiencing a human existence not as we are indoctrinated a human being waiting to experience a spiritual existence. this world is all we have there is no physical heaven or Hell it is all in what you make of this life on earth be it heaven or hell it is your choice but it all takes place here on this planet every moment.
anyone else noticed the huge uptick in earthquakes out there? mmm?
Experiencing "God" is fundamentally different from reading about other people's ideas of what it might be, in books. Arguing opinions back and forth has nothing to do with attaining said experience.
I also recommend John Shelby Spong's book: "The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love." Christians are not asked to defend lies, conditioning, or "bibliolatry" (I love that word! ha). It is possible to be well-informed without losing your faith.
Anna, you said: "I prefer stay with the Original story because it just make more sense to believe someone who lived around the time when the event actually happened!" Surely you realise that, often, "the victors write history", so we certainly cannot ever be sure that we are given the right information about the past.
RE "Source of Bible Covenant with God discovered?" by JM Murdock: Maybe the Assyrian treaty was copied from the Bible or from ancient Israelite culture. Maybe the Bible and the Assyrian treaty have common roots and are like siblings sharing an ancestor. Maybe it is a type of coincidence stemming from the common humanity of the Israelites and the Assyrians. It's shocking the article should pompously prematurely and immaturely jump to the conclusion, that similarities between the structure of an Assyrian treaty and the Bible, indicate the Bible was copied from the Assyrian treaty.
This reminds me of self-righteous scientists who assume that: one fossil gives an accurate picture of all life that existed during a given hundred thousand year time period; and, a newer fossil that resembles an older fossil is always descended from the older fossil.
The middles east suffers from a lack of water.
Canada and the USA are in conflict over water.
Learn about the Water War Crimes between Canada and the USA
Visit www.waterwarcrimes.com
No no no this can't be right, but gods word is final and this book the bible was made by god not men! Shhh who am I kidding?! It's a load of tosh, sorry to sound harsh but the Sumerians 6000 years ago had historical documents way before Christ such as the seven tablets of creation as opposed to the seven days of creation, they talked about the great flood without mention of a guy called Noah and they also knew every planet I'm the solar system plus their rotation colour and that sort of thing so when you get right down to it, you can only conclude that the bible is a rehash of other cultures works to spear propaganda, and without blowin smoke up their rectum they did a bloody good job convincing the masses. Shame they won't believe any of this ever because their all xenopobes!
I believe nothing that comes from the scientific community. They always have an agenda from their "funders" to twist the truth and brainwash the dumb public. I believe the word of God over man!
There wasn't a written Bible till Israel was captured by the Assyrians. The Sumerians have the real story of creation and they predated all of these groups. Maybe these artifacts are coming back to us as gifts to better understand our history.
Yes, we know Jesus existed per the Dead Sea Scrolls and that he went thru their three year Essen degree program which had beliefs similar to those of the Myat in Egypt and modern day Masons
Mason
There is not one shred of evidence, Historical or Archaelogical that any of the Comic characters ever existed. Anything they've ever found were writings of fables and legends passed down by elders.
God has never healed anyone or lifted anyone out of danger.
Maybe killed billions, but I don't beliieve that either.
whywontgodhealamputees dotcom
There never was a God! However, there are worthless religions and the feeble minds that follow them and their lying leaders. What a sickness to really believe there is an all powerful entity that sits back and silently watches humans suffer and demands their servitude...idiot kooks!
Phares-Wilson
Ah yes spoken like a true loving caring Christian
Pure hate!!!
The Jews are so proud of you as you are certainly the result of their teaching of the lie.
and when this leader you so anxiously await rules you with a rod of iron you then will realize you have been duped .....only too late for redemption.
“OUR JEWISH RACE IS THE MASTER RACE. WE ARE DIVINE GODS ON THIS PLANET.
WE ARE AS DIFFERENT FROM THE INFERIOR RACES AS THEY ARE FROM INSECTS. IN FACT,
COMPARED TO OUR RACE, OTHER RACES ARE BEASTS AND ANIMALS, CATTLE AT BEST.
OTHER RACES ARE CONSIDERED AS HUMAN EXCREMENT. OUR DESTINY IS TO RULE OVER THE INFERIOR RACES.
OUR EARTHLY KINGDOM WILL BE RULED BY OUR LEADER WITH A ROD OF IRON.
THE MASSES WILL LICK OUR FEET, AND SERVE US AS OUR SLAVES.”
–Menachem Begin (Israeli Prime Minister,1977-1983)
It must make you feel very powerful to be deceived by the Jew
but you are being used and you and all Christians will be sacrificed to their god per their global
The Jewish name for god is represented by the tetragrammaton ???? (YHVH) can be pronounced Yahweh or Jehovah. The significance of God's name is repeatedly emphasized throughout the scriptures.
When dissected in the Hebrew, the true definition of Jehovah (Yah-Hovah) is revealed. "Yah" (#H3050) means "god". "Hovah" (#H1942) translates to "eagerly coveting, falling, desire, ruin, calamity, iniquity, mischief, naughtiness, noisome, perverse, very wickedness."
Jehovah is synonymous with Baal:
"Baali (#H1180) From ba'al with pron. Suff.; my master; Baali, a symbolical name for Jehovah -- Baali."
The Jewish Encyclopedia ("Adonai and Ba'al") reveals: "The name Ba'al (), apparently as an equivalent for Yhwh."
The foundation of Cabalism is identical to Satanism: the reversal of the roles of God and Satan. It is the pursuit of hidden (occult) knowledge which allows one to achieve god-like abilities by calling on the so-called names of god. These are the names of fallen angels/demons/spirit guides who are the gatekeepers to occult knowledge (Gen 6:4, Jubilees, Enoch). While not all Jews actively practice Cabala, they all accept the highest Cabalistic name as their god--YHVH.
The infamous Cabalist and Satanist Aleister Crowley writes, "There are thus 72 'Angels'...these [names] are derived from the "Great Name of God"...The "Name" is Tetragrammaton: I.H.V.H., commonly called Jehovah. He is the Supreme Lord of...the whole Universe ("The Book of Thoth," 43). A number of other secret pronunciations of YHVH are used in the occult in addition to Yahweh and Jehovah.
"Of the 54 sacred names in the Jewish kabbalah, the primary one is YHWH" (R. Hathaway "Sacred Name of God? Or Blasphemy," remnantr
remnantradio.org/Archives/articles/sacred_name.htm).
what not another attempt to try to dicredit the bible.Its stood the test of time in the face of those who have tried to destroy it but you know its still here.Reminds what it says itself...Eph;4.14....in order that we should not be babes,tossed about hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men,by means of cunning in contriving error.Men keep changing their ideas but the bible stays the same forever as you dont have to change truth.Eg.men use to teach the earth was flat the bible said the earth is a circlr or sphere.Isa;40.22.investigate for yourself.
The Sumerian Creation myths found copied in Genesis predate the Judaic religion- Abraham and Sarah themselves were Sumerian in origin- so you would expect those myths to be carried over into their new religion. However- the Assyrian empire was thousands of years later- and is after the events detailed in Exodus. Isn't it likely that both accounts were written at the same time- by nearly the same people? The KJV Bible and Shakespeare - for example- use the same style of English- but it doesn't mean one is a rip off of the other.
Even if stories in the Bible can be verified. Even if the personage of Jesus can be proven as historical -- so what? That would not prove the divinity of Jesus, or that he was resurrected, or that he will return. Those are ancient myths that point to something far different and far more interesting
Pages
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!