By Arlene Bridges Samuels, Times of Israel—
The famous writer and Pulitzer Prize winner, E.B. White (1899-1985) once said,“Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts.” His quote is a precise description of anti-Israel propagandists who twist the facts of history and archaeology into an antisemitic pretzel of lies. The recent opening of the Pilgrim Road(photo above)located below Silwan in Israel’s capital is yet another chapter in the Jewish fact book that Israel is the ancestral Jewish homeland. Thousands upon thousands of ancient Jewish worshippers walked on the stones 2,000 years ago to ascend the Temple Mount. Every discovery validates the Holy Scriptures emphasizing that God Himself deeded the Land of Israel to the Jewish people. God’s real estate deal is the biggest deal in world history. Bigger than any billionaires. Bigger than the abortive,harebrained Sykes-Picot boundary lines drawn after World War I. Bigger!
The list of archaeological discoveries is massive. Let’s look at a few. Just this week, scientists announced their findings from extensive DNA research after archeologists uncovered a Philistine cemetery in Ashkelon in 2016. Ten Philistine skeletons confirmed that Philistines originated in southern Europe and that, once again, the bible proves true. In Amos 9:7 among other verses, God comments,…”Did I not bring Israel up from Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor (Crete)…?” Scientists concluded that modern Palestinians don’t share ethnicity, culture or religion with the Philistines. King David defeated the Philistines 3,000 years ago. Will the United Nations UNESCO reverse their declaration that Judaism’s holiest site, the Western Wall, belongs to the “ancient Palestinians?” Just asking.
In October 2018, excavations were underway to build a road in a modern part of west Jerusalem. Archeologists soon arrived at the site to examine a column the workers had uncovered. The pillar was engraved with the oldest word, “Yerushalayim,” ever discovered about Jerusalem, the capital city’s name! It’s date; 100 BC! Just two weeks later, I saw the column itself in the Israel Museum. Would the Jerusalem column impress Linda Sarsour, the infamous founder of the Women’s March? I’m guessing she would also describe the engraving as Arabic instead of Hebrew. She now claims Jesus is Palestinian. Really? They were not in existence 2,000 years ago, even if you think that they emanated from Philistines. But more importantly the bible, the world’s most factual, popular book repeatedly proves Jesus’ Jewishness.
During Israel’s Government Press Office Christian Media Summit last October, a group of us visited the Israel Museum to see the ancient “Jerusalem” column. As a Christian Zionist who reads the Old and New Testaments, I was thrilled to see it for myself!
Another archaeological jewel is the village of Magdala on the shores of the Galilee. Discovered in 2006, it’s one of the few first-century synagogues uncovered thus far. Seeing the mosaic floor and the Magdala Stone with a Menorah carved into it, brings the bible alive for both Jews and Christians. Staffing trips of Christian Leaders to visit Magdala was profound each time. Walking along paths where Jesus and His friends walked and touching the ancient stones deepened our faith. If US Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib strolled through the two thousand-year-old village, would they look at the Menorah on the Magdala Stone and dismiss the obvious? You know the answer. Continue Reading…