Another Push for Biblical Archaeology

Donovan R. Palmer · 2025-04-09T07:15:37+00:00

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It has been a while since I advocated for greater coverage of Biblical Archaeology in Logos. Before I make my case again, there is a feedback item to vote on related to this:

https://community.logos.com/discussion/227188/archaeology-data-set

This morning in reading Isaiah 22:15, Shebna, who was a high ranking figure in Hezekiah's court (some say kind of a like an American President's chief of staff), becomes part of this series of prophetic pronouncements of judgment.

Personally, I can find this passage of scripture quite dull, but by consulting archaeology, the story comes alive. He says, 'you have hewn a tomb for yourself here… a tomb on the heights… a dwelling place for yourself in the cliff?'

So I ask myself, what has archaeology uncovered regarding this passage of scripture about Shebna, which could bring it alive? Is there speculation where this tomb was? What is behind this story?

If I go to Factbook, there is very little. So I have a collection of archaelogical resources which I perform my own searches on. There are a lot of hits on this, in great resources like BAR, Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin, Biblical Archaeologist, etc. (many thanks to @Rick Mansfield (Logos) trying to bring BAR back to Logos). None of these show up in Factbook in a Journal section.

I find images and even artefacts at the British Museum down the road, that are related to this story. Whilst I have been to the British Museum a number of times, I have not made the connection to this passage of scripture. I of course make a note in my Logos notes to add it to my list of things to do. (Along with my bucket list if I get back to Jerusalem)

I pull up a map of Jerusalem, and dig around to try to locate some of the research (and speculation) - sadly, having a layer to a modern map of Jerusalem is not possible in the software, but I am able to situate some of the archaeological resources.

Of course, the whole time of Isaiah, Hezekiah is a fascinating point of archaeology, with the tunnel being a major tourist attraction.

I start to understand this passage of scripture differently, Isaiah is saying… hey, you think you are so high up, symbolised by your fancy tomb, but you are going down. (OK, not a very academic statement, but I hope you get the picture). This was Biblical drama, as Isaiah was running around naked at the time - or at least he was in 20:2. Maybe he had put his clothes back on by this point!

Software configured correctly, can be a portal of going back to this time of antiquity. I really, really, really hope that Logos in the evolution of this software can make this sort of exploration more user friendly. I think Biblical Archaeology brings things alive and makes original language exploration and learning, that much more interesting. 🙂

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Comments

NetworkGeek

You are right @Donovan R. Palmer about the need for more Archaeology! I was lucky enough to have 30 years of Biblical Archaeology Review in Logos before it stopped, I too hope @Rick Mansfield (Logos) can make progress getting BAR back - I would by it in a second!

As for your friend Shebna - great story powered by archaeology. I am sure you know the story - battle was imminent with Assyria, and Shebna, the 'prime minister' of sorts under Hezekiah, was convinced this was not going to end well. So he builds this great tomb for himself so he is not at the mercy of Assyrians when killed. God thru Isaiah is not pleased - "Behold the Lord will hurl you away violently" - presumptively into the wilderness/desert. Great lesson in 'trust God'. But your point is great - archaeology would enrich this story no doubt - with details about the tomb, its location of prominence, etc. Shebna thought he had it all figured out!

DMM

Something like this would be AMAZING!!!

I would also love to see Logos get BAR and other journals back (and updated).

I would love to see Logos do a subscription to journals (not where you're renting them), but instead of paying BAR, for example, a subscription to get a year's worth of journals in the mail, you pay for a year's subscription and you get them (to keep!) added to your Logos account, added pretty much the same day the print version is released (with perhaps all the tagging added in the coming weeks).

Rick Mansfield (Logos)

@Donovan R. Palmer this doesn't directly address your desire for more archaeological content, but if you have it, the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary has mention of the "Shebna Inscription." A smart search for this phrase brings up some helpful additional information.

Donovan R. Palmer

Yes, definitely. To keep my post short and to the point, I didn’t include this. In addition to another collection for Background and Encyclopedias, of which ZIBBCOT is part of, SmartSearch always locates a few gems in my library.

EastTN

You are right @Donovan R. Palmer about the need for more Archaeology! I was lucky enough to have 30 years of Biblical Archaeology Review in Logos before it stopped, I too hope @Rick Mansfield (Logos) can make progress getting BAR back - I would by it in a second!

Me too.