Israel: Bible’s Assyrian Attack Matches Archaeological Find

Israel — The Bible’s Assyrian attack story may be confirmed. Archaeologists have unearthed ancient ruins that appear to be protective walls.

The walls were discovered in the city of Ashdod, just outside Tel Aviv. They are estimated to be nearly 3,000 years old.

As reported by NBC News, the age of the walls suggest they were built during the Iron Age. The crescent-shaped walls are constructed of mud bricks. The largest sections are 12 feet long and 15 feet high.

The fortress surrounds a man-made harbor and more than 17 acres of land.

Researchers in Israel suggest the Bible’s Assyrian attack story matches their findings. As discussed by Bible Gateway, the Assyrian attack is described in the Bible’s Book of Isaiah:

“In the year that the supreme commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it… the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old… “

Researchers with Tel Aviv University suggest that the age and placement of the walls point to a connection. However, they cannot prove whether the walls were built before or after the Ashdod rebellion.

Dr. Alexander Fantalkin explains that “an amazing amount of time and energy was invested in building the wall.” The time spent building the walls may suggest they were built by the Assyrians following the attack.

Fantalkin points out that it would be difficult to build such an impressive fortress in the midst of a rebellion.

As reported by Science20, the late Dr. Jacob Kaplan, of the Tel-Aviv-Jaffa Museum of Antiquities, explored the Ashdod-Yam site in the 1960s. Through his research and exploratory digs, Kaplan concluded that the walls were indeed built by Ashdod rebels.

In addition to the walls, archaeologists also discovered structures and artifacts from the Hellenistic period.

Some researchers in Israel believe the Bible’s Assyrian attack story has been confirmed. The walls certainly suggest a conflict. However, the nature of the conflict will be difficult to confirm.

[Image via Wikimedia]