Biblical Facts Are Laid Bare by Holy Land Archaeologists

Modern archaeological discoveries are gradually revealing verification of the age-dimmed geographical and historical data of Biblical times. Through one particular discovery in the field of archaeology this year, modern Biblical students have been able to establish quite accurately that the Exodus of the Israelites through southern Trans-Jordan could not have taken place before the thirteenth century B.C.

The checking up of this specific Biblical fact has been accomplished through the combined efforts of the second 1934 expedition of the American School of Oriental Research of Bagdad, the Trans-Jordan Department of Antiquities, the Hebrew Union College of Cincinnati, and the American Council of Learned Societies which finished its findings last May.

In an article printed in the Palestine Post of June 20th, the leader of the expedition Dr. Nelson Glueck, Bible and Semitic Languages professor at the Hebrew Union College, tells of the accomplishments of the expedition in ancient Edomite territory.

“Immediately outside of Petra, between Elji and the Sik leading into Petra, the expedition discovered the long sought Edomite site, called Tawilan, which is covered with masses of extraordinarily interesting Edomite pottery. There was a subsequent Nabataean and mediaeval Arabic occupation on the site. The Edomite pottery may be dated between the thirteenth and the eighth centuries B.C.”

FIND NABATAEAN SITES

The article points out that the expedition also discovered numerous Nabataean sites. Dr. Glueck declares that, “it may be accepted as axiomatic that wherever an Edomite site is located, a Nabataean settlement is certain to be found. The closest relationship has now been established between Edomite and Nabataean pottery. The Nabataeans were the immediate successors of the Edomites, whom they displaced and absorbed, and whose culture they adopted and transmuted into the marvelous forms fashioned by their own genius. The Nabataeans are superior Edomites.

“With the exception of Feinan,” the article continues, “no Bronze Age sites have been found in Edom. Certainly between the nineteenth and the thirteenth centuries B.C., in Edom, as in Moab, there were no settled communities. The period between these centuries represents an historical blank.

“As a result of the discoveries of the expedition into Edom and Moab, it follows that the Exodus of the Israelites through southern Trans-Jordan could not have taken place before the thirteenth century B.C. It is recalled that, according to the Biblical account in Numbers 20, the Israelites had to beg the Edomites for permission to traverse their territory on the way to Promised Land. It was refused them.

“Had the Exodus taken place before the thirteenth century B.C., the Israelites would have found neither Edomites nor Moabites who could have given or withheld permission.”

The article concludes that “because the Edomites and the Moabites had not occupied their respective territories before the thirteenth century B.C., the Israelites would probably have occupied all of southern Trans-Jordan themselves had they arrived there before the thirteenth century B.C., and left the Promised Land for late comers.”