Um...no.
There is a reference in the Amarna letters to Bethlehem. Further, when they finally got around to writing this shit down Bethlehem in Judah was made the home town of "David."
While it is true that there is no "Nazareth" mentioned in any text prior to the mid 3d century the archaeological evidence uncovered by the Franciscan priest, Bellarmino Bagatti, showed that significant settlement in the area ended during the Assyrian assault c 720 BC. Finds after that are extremely problematic and not indicative of a settlement. The noted xtain scholar, Stephen Pfann, found a family farm which is not so surprising as the main metropolis in the area, Sepphoris, a few miles away, would have been an obvious draw for farmers to bring their produce to market.
There is a reference in the Amarna letters to Bethlehem. Further, when they finally got around to writing this shit down Bethlehem in Judah was made the home town of "David."
While it is true that there is no "Nazareth" mentioned in any text prior to the mid 3d century the archaeological evidence uncovered by the Franciscan priest, Bellarmino Bagatti, showed that significant settlement in the area ended during the Assyrian assault c 720 BC. Finds after that are extremely problematic and not indicative of a settlement. The noted xtain scholar, Stephen Pfann, found a family farm which is not so surprising as the main metropolis in the area, Sepphoris, a few miles away, would have been an obvious draw for farmers to bring their produce to market.
