Throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s, a group called the Bible minimalism was advancing. Minimalists think the Bible is of very little worth traditionally, considered that it’s not truly dependable, in their viewpoint. Among their prime targets was King David. For instance, University of Sheffield Teacher, Dr. Philip R. Davies, specified, “I’m not the only scholar who presumes that the figure of King David has to do with as historic as King Arthur.” Archaeologist, Israel Finkelstien has actually declared, “The joined kingdom of David and Solomon, explained in the Bible as a local power, was at the majority of, a little tribal kingdom … David’s kingdom was just 500 individuals with sticks in their hands screaming and cursing and spitting.” Bible minimalists asserted that King David’s broadened kingdom, as explained in the Bible were absolutely nothing more than legend and misconception.
In 1993 archaeologists were excavating at Tel Dan, the area of the ancient city of Dan situated in north Israel. While excavating, they found a damaged stone, roughly 32 cm high by 22 cm broad, with an Aramaic engraving on it. The next year, 2 more pieces of the inscription were uncovered. The engraving triggered an instantaneous feeling, and put minimalists, who had actually crowed about the reality that there was no proof for King David beyond the Bible, directly on the defensive.
The inscription records the success of the King of Aram (probably Hazael, although he is not called) over Omni, the King of Israel, and his ally, the king of the “Home of David.” It dates to the ninth century B.C., about 200 years after David’s guideline. The expression, “Home of David,” set the historical world afire. For the very first time, there was a clear, widely-acknowledged recommendation to David. Archaeologist, Yosef Garfinkel discusses the significance of the engraving: “‘ Home of David’ implies ‘dynasty of David’. So now we understand that there was a man called David and he had a dynasty … this is definitely clear that David is not a mythological figure. So the mythological paradigm collapsed in one minute.”
We recommend George Athas’ book, “The Tel Dan Inscription: A Reappraisal and a New Introduction” for further reading.
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