Does History Support the Bible:

Many maintain the opinion that the Bible is full of historic inaccuracies. However, throughout the centuries, passages in the Bible that were once thought to be myth or historically inaccurate have been later confirmed to be accurate. Below are just some examples of history and archaeology confirming the accuracy of the Bible:

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah:

For centuries the scientific community assumed the story of Sodom and Gomorrah was a myth. However, in the late 1980s archaeologists discovered the site of Sodom and Gomorrah which included a mass, simultaneous burial. The site appeared to have been destroyed by volcanic activity:

Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah-from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities-and also the vegetation in the land.

Genesis 19:24-25

The early domestication of Camels:

For many years the scientific community rejected the idea of domesticated camels as early as the time of Abraham (Abram). However, archaeologist have since discovered paintings of domesticated camels on the walls of the temple of Hatshepsut dating to the time of Abraham:

He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.

Genesis 12:16-25

The discovery of the Tower of Babel:

For centuries, the scientific community dismissed the story of the Tower of Babel as a myth. According to the Bible, a society living near Babylon attempted to build a tower tall enough to reach the gods. God was so offended by this that he disrupted their progress by plaguing them with many languages, or babel. Archaeologist eventually discovered a fragment of a clay tablet in Babylon which describes a temple atop a ziggurat (a tall tower) that “offended the gods.” Their progress was interrupted by “speech made strange.”

But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

Genesis 11:5-7

Written language prior to 1400 B.C.:

Many archaeologist dismissed Moses’ authorship of the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) because they believed written language did not exist at the time of Moses. However, they have since discovered examples of written language within Babylon dating to the time of Moses:

Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said.

Exodus 24:4

The fallen wall of Jericho:

Archaeologist were initially skeptical of the existence of Jericho, let alone the Biblical story of the fall of the wall of Jericho. However, archaeologist have since discovered the city. Along with the city, archaeologist found one of the walls of the city had fallen outward, away from the city:

When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.

Joshua 2:20

The existence of iron prior to the Iron Age:

Archaeologist criticized the Bible for claiming Tubal-Cain forged tools out of “bronze and iron,” claiming Iron was not used until the Iron Age at around 1200 B.C. However, archaeologist have since discovered iron weapons near Baghdad dating to at least 2700 B.C.

Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

Genesis 4:22

The existence of Belshazzar:

Initially, critics claimed Belshazzar, a King of Babylon mentioned in the Bible, was a fictional character. Archaeologist have since discovered the Nabonidus Chronicles. Within the Nabonidus Chronicles contains the name of Belshazzar and describes him as a “leader of Babylon.”

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.

Daniel 5:1

The existence of Edom:

The nation of Edom mentioned in Obadiah was once thought to be historically inaccurate. Archaeologist argued Edom did not exist until at least the 8th century B.C. However, archaeologist have since discovered ruins that date Edom to at least the 10th century B.C., the time indicated in the book of Obadiah:

The vision of Obadiah.
This is what the Sovereign LORD says about Edom-
We have heard a message from the LORD :
An envoy was sent to the nations to say,
“Rise, and let us go against her for battle”

Obadiah 1:1

The existence of King David:

Many archaeologist once claimed King David was a mythical character. However, in 1933 fragments from a stone monument was found at Tel Dan which identifies King David and the “House of David.” The monument was erected in honor of a battle sited in 2 Kings 8:25-26 between King Jehoram and Ahaziahu. This battle was also once believed to be a myth:

Jehoram rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.
In the twelfth year of Joram son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign. Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.

2 Kings 8:24-26

Many of the cities described in the Gospels:

The cities mention in the Gospels have been a point of controversy between archaeologist and Christians. However, many of the cities mentioned in the Gospels have been discovered and found to be Biblically consistent. Below is a list of these cities:

• Bethany – Matthew 21:17
• Bethlehem – Mathew 2:1
• Bethphage -Mark 11:1
• Bethsaida -Luke 9:10
• Caesarea Philippi – Matthew 16:16
• Cana – John 2:1
• Capernaum – Matthew 4:13
• Emmaus – Luke 24:13
• Gadara – Luke 8:26
• Gennesaret – Matthew 14:35
• Gergesa – Matthew 8:28
• Jericho – Mark 10:46
• Nain – Luke 7:11
• Nazareth – Mark 6:5
• Sidon – Matthew 15:21
• Sychar – John 4:5
• Tyre – Matthew 15:21

These examples of science and archaeology confirming the claims of the Bible is only a small sample. There are literally thousands of examples of the scientific community maintaining a position in conflict with the Biblical account only to be disproven when further study is conducted.