Associates For Biblical Research

The Ongoing Saga of the Cyrus Cylinder: The Internationally-Famous Grandam of Ancient Texts 8/18/2010 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

The Cyrus Cylinder is one of the most important discoveries in biblical archaeology. She was aroused from her 2,400-year sleep in the ruins of Babylon in 1879 by Hormuzd Rassam. Rassam, an evangelical Christian, was a native Iraqi born in 1826 in Mosul, across the Tigris River from the remains of ancient Nineveh. He met the famous British archaeologist Austen Henry Layard in 1841. Layard recognized Rassam’s potential and became his patron. Under Layard’s tutelage, Rassam developed into a competent archaeologist, becoming a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, the Society of Biblical Archaeology and the Victoria Institute. In 1876, with the help of Layard, who was now the British ambassador to Turkey, he obtained a permit from the Turkish government to conduct archaeological investigations in Assyria and Babylonia on behalf of the British Museum.

Comments (1)

Signed, Sealed and Delivered: An Archaeological Exposition of Jeremiah 32:1-15 7/6/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

In this essay we will examine the command that God gave to Jeremiah to redeem a field from his cousin, Hanamel of Anathoth. Particular attention will be given to the archaeological background to this chapter and how it illustrates the Biblical text. Jeremiah’s obedience to God’s command, in spite of a hopeless situation, was a vivid lesson to the people of Judah that God would return His people from the Babylonian captivity...

Comments (0)

Earthquakes on the Increase? Or Warning of Judgment to come? 4/16/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

Earthquakes play a role in Bible prophecy. They are mentioned in the Book of Revelation (6:12-17; 8:5; 11:13,19; 16:16-21) as well as the books of Isaiah (2:19,21; 5:25; 24:19), Ezekiel (38:19,20), Joel (2:10; 3:16) and Zechariah (14:4,5). A number of prophecy teachers point to what they assume to be an increase in the number of earthquakes and associate these quakes with the words of Jesus to show we are in, or near, the last days (cf. Matt. 24:7)...

Comments (4)

The Biblical Cities Of Tyre And Sidon 1/26/2010 - by Gary Byers MA

The names Tyre and Sidon were famous in the ancient Near East. They are also important cities in the Old and New Testaments. Both are now located in Lebanon, with Tyre 20 mi south of Sidon and only 12 mi north of the Israel-Lebanon border. Today each is just a shadow of their former selves...

Comments (2)

The Blessing of the Silver Scrolls 1/6/2010 - by Stephen Caesar MA

Excavations in Jerusalem in 1979–80 by Gabriel Barkay turned up two amulets dating from the late seventh century BC. They were found in the fourth of several burial caves he discovered on an escarpment known as Ketef Hinnom, which overlooks the Hinnom Valley just opposite Mt. Zion. Each amulet contained a rolled-up sheet of silver which, when unrolled, revealed the Priestly Benediction inscribed on them...

Comments (2)

The Ultimate Sign: Isaiah 7 12/17/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

In Isaiah chapter 7, God demonstrates His faithfulness to a promise that He made with King David concerning the Davidic dynasty by giving the ultimate sign to the House of David. The sign would be a virgin born Son named Immanuel, God with us. As we examine this passage carefully, we will see from the historical context that Matthew is not taking verse 14 out of context in order to “proof-text” the virgin birth of Jesus. Moreover, the context is clearly pointing to the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus as the fulfillment of this passage in Isaiah 7. The Lord Jesus Christ is the sinless Immanue and God manifest in human flesh.

Comments (2)

Ezekiel 26:1-14: A Proof Text For Inerrancy or Fallibility of The Old Testament? 12/7/2009 - by Paul Ferguson PhD

This article seeks to give Ezekiel 26:1–14 a close reading. Special emphasis will be given to its literary structure and the use of metaphors. The history of Tyre will be examined in the light of archaeology and ancient records. It is our contention that when the passage is exegeted carefully and properly, these verses are excellent witnesses to the divine inspiration of the Bible. More liberal Biblical scholars, however, have seized upon these verses as a parade example of the fallibility of Biblical prophecy.

Comments (0)

Nahum, Nineveh and Those Nasty Assyrians 5/28/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

The prophet Nahum predicts the fall of Nineveh in the mid-7th century BC, several decades before the city actually fell in 612 BC. When he prophesied, the Neo-Assyria Empire was at the height of its power...

Comments (0)

The Geography and Military Strategy of King Uzziah: An Expansionist Policy That Led to His Destruction 4/30/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

The consequence of King Uzziah’s military strategy associated with his foreign policy is summarized by a proverb of wise King Solomon. He stated: “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Let us examine the geography of King Uzziah’s military expansionist policies and show how these policies led to a proud heart and eventually to his downfall...

Comments (0)

The Prophets’ Knowledge of Contemporary Idolatry 1/22/2009 - by Stephen Caesar MA

Some critics have claimed that the prophets greatly misinterpreted the true theology behind the idol-worship of Israel’s ancient neighbors...

Comments (0)

Seal of Jezebel Identified 9/19/2008 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

Jezebel was zealous in her efforts to stamp out Yahwism and promote the worship of Baal. She mounted a campaign to kill the Lord’s prophets...

Comments (3)

Evidence for Inerrancy from an Unexpected Source: OT Chronology 8/15/2008 - by Rodger C. Young MA

Theories of an errant Scripture cannot explain the accuracy of the OT chronologies. The authenticity of approximately 124 exact statistics in six major books of the Bible, covering more than 400 years of history, is exactly what would be expected if the doctrine of inerrancy is true and all doctrines of limited inspiration that assume errors in the historical statements of Scripture are false...

Comments (13)

Nebo-Sarsekim Found in Babylonian Tablet 4/28/2008 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

Nebo who? You mean you don’t remember Nebo-Sarsekim? No wonder, because if you consult your concordance, you will find that he is referred to but once in the Old Testament...

Comments (1)

The Persians in Hollywood and History 8/8/2007 - by Brian Janeway PhD (c)

The recent surprise success of the movie 300 and the amount of controversy it engendered once again reminds us of the power of movie-making and history and its impact on modern conceptions of national, ethnic and religious identity. How accurate is Hollywood's retelling of one of the most famous battles of antiquity?

Comments (0)

The Tyrian Shekel and the Temple of Jerusalem 11/1/2006 - by Gordon Franz MA

Every year, a Jewish man, 20 years old and older, paid a voluntary half shekel Temple tax to the Jerusalem Temple. This tax, instituted by Moses (Ex 30:11–16), was paid in either the Tyrian shekel...

Comments (0)

Mesha, King of Moab 9/27/2006 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

2 Kings 3 and the Mesha Inscription, describe the same event, the revolt of Mesha, but from entirely different perspectives. Mesha made his record of the event on a stone slab, or stela, 3 ft high and 2 ft wide. Unfortunately the stone was broken into pieces...

Comments (0)

Nahum and Nineveh 9/6/2006 - by Gordon Franz MA

The prophet Nahum predicts the fall of Nineveh in the mid-7th century BC, several decades before the city actually fell in 612 BC. When he prophesied, the Neo-Assyria Empire was at the height of its power...

Comments (0)

Tel Ta'yinat 4/5/2006 - by Brian Janeway PhD (c)

The University of Toronto began excavations at Tel Ta'yinat in southeast Turkey during the summer of 2004. A four-man team, led by Dr. Tim Harrison, worked at securing an excavation permit and completing an extensive and detailed topographic survey...

Comments (0)

Ahab the Israelite 1/2/2006 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

Ahab, who ruled the northern kingdom for 22 years, ca. 874–853 BC, was perhaps the wickedest king of Israel. The Biblical record is anything but complimentary...

Comments (0)

The Bible, Archaeology and the Study of Military Affairs 10/24/2005 - by Col. (Ret.) David G. Hansen PhD

Almost all scholars of the art and science of warfare believe that the basic principles of war, strategy and tactics have changed little throughout time. Most will concede that...

Comments (2)

Omri, King of Israel 10/10/2005 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

Omri was commander-in-chief of the army of the Northern Kingdom of Israel under Elah, who ruled for two years, 886-885 BC. Zimri, an official in charge of half the chariot force, assassinated Elah in his palace in Tirzah, the capital...

Comments (0)

Iraq and the Bible 9/15/2005 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

Iraq is called the "Cradle of Civilization," as evidence has been found there for the earliest writing system, urban centers, literature, metallurgy, science, medicine and business, as reflected in the Bible (Gn 2:14; 4:21-22; 10:10-11; 11:1-5). Our modern culture has its roots in ancient Iraq...

Comments (0)

Khorsabad, the City Built by Israelites 9/5/2005 - by Brian Janeway PhD (c)

In the Book of Kings (2 K 17: 6), we are told that during the reign of Hoshea a three-year siege was concluded against the capital city of Samaria. The mass deportations that followed were recorded in both the Bible and the annals of King Sargon of Assyria...

Comments (0)

Research Articles: Divided Kingdom

The Ongoing Saga of the Cyrus Cylinder: The Internationally-Famous Grandam of Ancient Texts 8/18/2010 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

Signed, Sealed and Delivered: An Archaeological Exposition of Jeremiah 32:1-15 7/6/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

Earthquakes on the Increase? Or Warning of Judgment to come? 4/16/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Biblical Cities Of Tyre And Sidon 1/26/2010 - by Gary Byers MA

The Blessing of the Silver Scrolls 1/6/2010 - by Stephen Caesar MA

The Ultimate Sign: Isaiah 7 12/17/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

Ezekiel 26:1-14: A Proof Text For Inerrancy or Fallibility of The Old Testament? 12/7/2009 - by Paul Ferguson PhD

Nahum, Nineveh and Those Nasty Assyrians 5/28/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Geography and Military Strategy of King Uzziah: An Expansionist Policy That Led to His Destruction 4/30/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Prophets’ Knowledge of Contemporary Idolatry 1/22/2009 - by Stephen Caesar MA

Seal of Jezebel Identified 9/19/2008 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

Evidence for Inerrancy from an Unexpected Source: OT Chronology 8/15/2008 - by Rodger C. Young MA

Nebo-Sarsekim Found in Babylonian Tablet 4/28/2008 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

The Persians in Hollywood and History 8/8/2007 - by Brian Janeway PhD (c)

The Tyrian Shekel and the Temple of Jerusalem 11/1/2006 - by Gordon Franz MA

Mesha, King of Moab 9/27/2006 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

Nahum and Nineveh 9/6/2006 - by Gordon Franz MA

Tel Ta'yinat 4/5/2006 - by Brian Janeway PhD (c)

Ahab the Israelite 1/2/2006 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

The Bible, Archaeology and the Study of Military Affairs 10/24/2005 - by Col. (Ret.) David G. Hansen PhD

Omri, King of Israel 10/10/2005 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

Iraq and the Bible 9/15/2005 - by Bryant G. Wood PhD

Khorsabad, the City Built by Israelites 9/5/2005 - by Brian Janeway PhD (c)

Recent Articles

Browse Associates for Biblical Research Articles