Archaeology Sticks It Up The Bible's Ass Again

[Polaris]

The number 40 was a popular estimate number used in Canaanite cultures (not just limited to the Israelites). To us, it would be like a cross between the numbers 7 and 10.

Also for Westerners, a generation is seen how long it takes for one generation to beget the next. For them, it was how long the average people were on the earth...in early times in the Bible, the generations were considerably longer.

I realise that, I was just curious as to how you arrived at the number forty. Your calculation appeared to me to be reverse-engineered, in the sense of taking the number from the bible passage and shoe-horning the twelve generations into it to arrive at forty, but if the number was indeed a popular estimate number at the time I can accept that. However, just as with the notion that biblical generations were longer than today's, "citation needed", as a wise man once said.

I have no idea what your second sentence means.

Genesis 15:16

In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.

That was roughly four centuries later.

Min. Tel Aviv is roughly 30 miles north of Jerusalem, which is considered Northern Canaan (aka Israel)....kind of like how San Francisco is Northern California.

[Cyberman]

I still have no idea what you're trying to say to me. Is there some basis for a 'biblical-era' generation being around forty years or isn't there?

I'm also still curious as to what you meant by "To us, it would be like a cross between the numbers 7 and 10", though purely in an academic sense, since it will either shed light on your words or be irrelevant to the topic at hand.

[Minimalist]

This map shows Joppa ( Tel Aviv ) about 30 miles WNW of Jerusalem on the coast. Beth Shean is well to the north just south of the Sea of Galilee.

http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/phot...201922.jpg

[Polaris]

I still have no idea what you're trying to say to me. Is there some basis for a 'biblical-era' generation being around forty years or isn't there?

I'm also still curious as to what you meant by "To us, it would be like a cross between the numbers 7 and 10", though purely in an academic sense, since it will either shed light on your words or be irrelevant to the topic at hand.

Exodus gives a clue stating that the only reason that they spent 40 years in the desert was for everyone from that generation to die out.

For us, 7 is considered to be a lucky almost spiritual number. For them, 40 had great cultural significance. Some Christian site's explanation Pay special note to the section on 40 lashes....well technically it was 39 in practice as I believe it was taboo to ever go over 40 lashes. There is some more symbolism beyond that from that site, but it focuses more on Jesus than the OT.

And 10 is the basis for our numerology.....likewise, their number system seems to center itself on increments of 40.

Min. That distance is 45 +/- 2 miles. The beauty of using spatial satellites courtesy of Google.

[Cyberman]

Ok, thanks for clarifying. I actually understood that! Though by "numerology" I presume you mean our decimal system of mathematics. Numerology is just smoke and mirrors bafflegab, up there with astrology and tealeaves.

I think the whole forty-years-in-the-desert thing has been pretty much debunked though, in an archaeological sense I mean.

[Minimalist]

It does not save your bible which fails to note that the area was controlled by Egypt for 4 centuries though, does it?

[Polaris]

It does not save your bible which fails to note that the area was controlled by Egypt for 4 centuries though, does it?

The Bible does not mention the history of the Chinese either. Why would you expect them to note a period of time for which most leading archaeologists don't even believe they were in Canaan as a separate people?

[Minimalist]

Because the Egyptians were ruling the fucking place. Somehow your bible bullshitters overlooked that.


In any event, to continue the original concept. Here is an excerpt from Dever's "Who Were The Early Israelites......"



This is scanned from Page 128 and I apologize for the crookedness. Tough to scan a book.

[Polaris]

They were slaves (one way or the other...the other being the theory that they were a second-class to a Canaanite tribe and overthrew them like the Geth did in the Mass Effect series) at that time. Pretty sure slaves aren't concerned who ruled a land two centuries before they arrived there.

The only similarities in the religions were that they used the same language to label God (though for the Canaanites, it was a different god or gods). It's not like they are going to start using their own language all-of-a-sudden.

[Minimalist]

They were slaves

Certainly not of the Egyptians who did not employ mass slavery at this time in their history.

The peasant revolt models of Mendenhall have been dismissed as well.

Try again.