The Jews are the indigenous people of Israel.Can’t ignore that Bible is the oldest record of title in existence and other documentary and archeological evidence summarized below.
The Jews are the indigenous people of Israel.Can’t ignore that Bible is the oldest record of title in existence and other documentary and archeological evidence summarized below. Most other written title records are relatively newly minted by comparison, dating back only to 13th century Scotland. The Bible is thus an incomparable documentary source that has stood the test of time.
It is undeniable that the Bible is ancient in origin, with verifiable texts dating back more than 2,000 years and other evidentiary support dating back more than 3,000 years. Like any other ancient source, the Bible should, at the very least, be accorded scholarly respect for what it says. It’s provenance is unparalleled. It would be foolhardy to ignore or disdain it just because of some bias against those who treasure it as sacrosanct.The mere fact that the Bible, including the Five Books of Moses, Prophets and Writings, were uttered at the time is probative. Extant copies are more than 2,000 years old. Jewish people’s link to Land of Israel is also confirmed in Quran (5:21, 17:104, 7:137, 26:59 and 10:93.) and New Testament. See: https://academia.edu/108465878/The_Matter_of_Title_to_Israel_Has_Long_Been_Resolved_in_Favor_of_the_Jewish_People. Consider too, The Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery is more than 3,000 years old. No comparable Arab cemetery in Israel; oldest is 11th century. Other documentary sources confirming Jewish presence in Israel include:
9th-century BCE Tel Dan Inscription, which references the House of David.
9th-century Mesha Stele, which references the House of David.
4th century BCE, Menander, a Greek historian.
4th century, Hecataeus of Abdera, a Greek historian.
3rd century BCE, Berossus, of Babylon.
3rd–2nd century BCE, Aristeas, a Greek official in the court of Ptolemy II, in Egypt.
1st century BCE, Cicero, a Roman statesman.
1st century BCE, Edict of Augustus.
1st century, Strabo, a Greek geographer.
1st century, Tacitus, a Roman historian.
1st century, Arch of Titus.
1st century, Plutarch, a Greek Historian.
2nd century, Cassius Dio, a Roman Historian.
3rd century, Eusebius, a Greek Christian Historian and Bishop of Caesarea.
More than a dozen Islamic Hadiths.
9th-century Muhammad ibn Jair Al-Tabari.
The 9th- or 10th-century Nuba inscription noted above.
10th-century geographer and Jerusalem resident, Muhammad ibn Ahmad Shams al-Din al-Muqaddasi.
11th-century Abu Bakr Muhammad Ahmad al-Wasiti.
12th-century geographer Muhamad al-Idrisi.
12th-century geographer Yaqut al Hamawi.
13th-century theologian, Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah.
14th-century historian, Abd al Rahman ibn Khaldun.
15th-century historian Mujir al-Din.
15th-century Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti.
There is also a substantial and growing body of compelling archeological evidence of the Jewish presence in Israel that is undeniable, including the following:
8th century BCE, Hezekiah stone tablet inscription.
8th century BCE, Isaiah Seal.
8th century BCE, King Hezekiah Seal.
Temple Warning Inscriptions (one of the two found) discovered by French archeologist, Charles Simon Clermont-Ganneau, in 1871; it warns gentiles not to enter further into the Temple compound. Josephus reports that slabs were found at regular intervals along the balustrade, in Greek and Latin, warning of the law of purification and that no foreigner was permitted to enter the holy place.
Beit HaTekia Inscription found by archeologist Prof. Dr. Benjamin Mazar, in 1972, which, in Hebrew, said, “lebeit hatekia lehachriz”, which means, to the house of blowing (of the trumpets) to announce. The Mishna and Talmud record the custom of sounding trumpet blasts from the Temple Mount to announce, among other things, the Sabbath (to alert people to stop work), Holidays and certain sacrificial and other rituals.
The lower course of the Eastern Wall of the Temple Mount, north and south of the Golden Gates, which are from the First Temple period (i.e., Solomon’s Temple).
High Priest’s (Kohen Gadol’s) golden bell, found by Archeologist Eli Shukron, in 2011. It is dated from the Second Temple period and is believed to be one of the bells described in the Bible, which were sewn into the bottom hem of the High Priest’s robe (Me’il).
The Herodian Stones, comprising the retaining wall of the Temple Mount, including the extensive portions below the present grade level, which can be seen in the Museum of the Western Wall, adjacent to the Western Wall. Similarly, the Herodian architecture and art, including in the entry halls of the Double Gate, under the Al-Aqsa Mosque structure, which was a part of the two sets of southern gates, known as the Hulda Gates and referenced in the Mishna.
A water cistern at the southeast corner of the Temple Mount platform, near Robinson’s Arch, dated back to the First Temple Period.
Seals and pottery shards, dating back to the time of King Solomon (10th to 9th centuries BCE), as well as, those from the First Temple period generally, including seals inscribed as belonging to the Immer family, a well-known priestly family from the First and beginning of the Second Temple period, found by the Temple Mount Sifting Project.
Also found by the Temple Mount Sifting Project are silver half shekel coins from the Second Temple period, many of which seem to be burnt, presumably, from the fire that led to the destruction of the Second Temple.
Stone tiles, dated to the late Second Temple period, based on parallels to Herodian palaces of the period, found by the Temple Mount Sifting Project.
Wooden beams dating back to the First and Second Temple periods were found repurposed as beams and as bond timbers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, when it was seriously damaged in earthquakes and rebuilt.
A Second Temple era Mikvah (Ritual Bath) was found under the Al-Aqsa Mosque, when it was being rebuilt after the earthquake that seriously damaged it in 1927. This is in addition to the two others previously identified on the Temple Mount.
Remains of a defensive wall, dating back approximately 3,000 years ago, to King Solomon’s reign, situated on the edge of Jerusalem, between the Temple Mount and the City of David.
Pilgrimage Road, built by King Herod to ascend from the Pool of Siloam, where would ritually purify themselves on route, to the Second Temple on the Temple Mount.
Recently discovered charred beams from time of destruction of the First Temple.
This and other indisputable facts are described in my book, Because It’s Just and Right. Here’s a link: https://amazon.com/Because-Its-Just-Right-Recognition-ebook/dp/B0C82R56PN
