Ancient 'Dead Sea' Stone Tablet Predates & Might Rewrite the Bible

A three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew found near the Dead Sea in Jordan that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of Jesus is raising eyebrows in biblical and archaeological circles, especially because it is believed to speak of a messiah called Simon who will rise from the dead after three days, suggesting that the story of Christ's death and resurrection was not unique but part of a recognized Jewish tradition at the time.

The tablet, which is similar in style to the Dead Sea Scrolls, is written, not engraved, across two neat columns, similar to columns in a Torah. But the stone is broken, and some of the text is faded, meaning that much of what it says is open to debate.

A fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls which set the word talking when they were discovered 60 years ago. The new text seems to imply the life and death of Jesus was predicted before his birth

But a leading scholar says it confirms his theory that some Jewish sects before Christ believed a messiah would save them  - but not before he was killed and brought back to life after three days. Israel Knohl, Professor of Biblical Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, says one line of the text tells the 'prince of princes' slain by the evil government, 'in three days you shall live'. He suggests the story refers to the death of a Jewish prince called Simon who led a revolt against King Herod.

Daniel Boyarin, of the University of California at Berkeley, said that there was growing evidence suggesting that Jesus could be best understood through a close reading of the Jewish history of his day.
'Some Christians will find it shocking  -  a challenge to the uniqueness of their theology, while others will be comforted by the idea of it being a traditional part of Judaism,' he said.

Source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1032642/The-ancient-scripts-predate--rewrite--Bible.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/world/middleeast/06stone.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

Comments

[Saudi]

The Jews dominate influence on and making up of Christians and Christian faith were from the very early start, and continued so today, the Christian America is no exception and; the whole American Nation and its resources indispensably put at the Israeli nation service.

[1] In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[2] Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
[3] Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
[4] Master of the Day of Judgment.
[5] Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek,
[6] Show us the straight way,
[7] The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

http://www.islamtomorrow.com/

[Inginious]

Hey Saudi, Your comment suggest a lot about you. First off, know your history, and question your own as well - like why Islam is based exclusively on the words of one mere man who's own history is shady. And as far a Israel being our allies, are you jealous or something? i have one word for you.. SO! hahahaha.
... as far as the article goes, it is very interesting, we'll see where this leads to?

[Andrew]

As I was reading this article I was thinking to myself "the Muslims will love this one." Yet another reason for them to show the Christianity as a false religion. But to replace it with another religion based on the very same standards of evidence is just plain silly and intellectually dishonest. Religion is poison.

[Rowdy]

Saudi,
If you're agreeing that Judaism had a massive impact on the origins of Christianity, then can you name another religion born in the same region that one might also suspect was massively influenced by Judaism? Hmm?
Rowdy.

[Stumbler]

Reading this article reminds me of the first portion of the film 'Zeitgeist: The Movie,' which can be found on Google Films. Simply put, the story of Jesus Christ is a personified explanation of basic astronomical events, such as the Vernal Equinox (Easter) and the Winter Solstice (Christmas). Check it out.

And Andrew, I agree: Religion is Poison.

[Claire]

Probably shouldn't make my first comment one about religion, but why not jump in feet first?

The idea that Jesus was "prefigured" in Jewish tradition is NOT radical, new or particularly upsetting to Christianity. Christianity teaches that Jesus is the messiah that God promised Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis, and prophecies believed to refer to him are found through the Old Testament (Isaiah in particular). That's why Christian bibles include the Old Testament (Jewish scriptures) as well as the New Testament. So, I don't imagine that this discovery--which is very, very cool, historically speaking--will make huge waves in the Christian world, because it affirms, not contradicts, what most Christians believe.

[R. J.]

There have been resurrection stories since the beginning of human history. The Egyptians had one, the Babylonians, the Assyrians, etc. It's nothing new. This tablet is just one of many. Aside from it's historical significance, who cares? Religion is one of the greatest scams ever perpetuated on the human race. It's the 21st century, people and you're still buying the fairy tales? The bible is nothing more than a collection of stories told over and over and used mainly as a means of societal control. The three "great" religions deny people their basic humanity. Why do you think they run on guilt? If you break one of the rules, you're screwed later on. They make you think that life is something to be endured to ensure something better after you die. Guess what, there isn't. When you die, you die. There's no evidence anywhere that you go to "heaven" or "paradise". You just become worm food. Wake up people and smell the BS.

[Brian Timmins]

I am reminded that religion is founded on that which we call "faith"... and nothing else, since proving the existence of a god would change a religion into a science, and proving his (or hers) non-existence would make all religions be as one with the snows of yesteryear.

Now we reach the question "What is faith?".

Simple really...

Faith is the belief in something you know NOT to be true.

Hmmmm...

[Saudi]

to Inginious | July 08, 2008 at 02:33 PM ,

You are saying we are Jealous or something?

Way more than that!

We are hurt and suffering.

[Saudi]

R. J. | July 08, 2008 at 06:28 PM

Because of its effect and influence Faith is a believably knowledge of something unseen and touched others don't acknowledge. Like Oxygen that keeps us alive and love that we all live by.

[Papawhale]

People have been trying to sell that "Faith is Knowledge" jazz for centuries.
It still won't fly if you can't prove it, see it. That doesn't mean there isn't a higher power or an awesome force alive in the Universe. It just means that no one has a monopoly on It.

[BobR]

Hey R.J., I have to respond to your comment: "Religion is one of the greatest scams ever perpetuated on the human race."
I have to say: "Amen" to that!, that's the truth, and the reason is - unfortunatelly some of us have a religious gene, and can't help themselves, it must have been an advantages at some point in our species evolution, that this genetic trait survived until out time. I call religion "crutches of the mind" as it probably helps to endure the difficulties of life to truly religious people, it works like a drug.

[Saudi]

Jews, Christians and Arabs

1. Jews = Selfish, Smart, exploiters and skillfully manipulative.

2. Christians = intelligently productive but Naïve, single minded, and can be lucked in and confined to persuasively, inherently and unbreakable deceptive ideas, therefore effectively manipulated and fully utilized by the Jews.

3. Arabs = Donkeys.

[Future Pope (who would allow woman priests, bishops, cardinals and even pope)]

My favourite quote: daddy, if Adam and Eve only had to sons were did there babys come from? Does that mean they did it with their mother.....

btw, adam and eve is just a story used to give Context to a deeper regligous meaning.

[thegodlessswami]

For those that say, "Aha!!! See? Jesus was predicted, foretold, promised by God...etc.!!!" First, the tablet mentions someone named Simon, and, as Jesus had a disciple named Simon, why not him? Some interpretations say that the name Simon means "twin"... So, I wouldn't jump to conclusions about your "god" being predicted as no one can say which twin was "foretold". Also, why not take the simpler explanation: and look at this story and the Christian story as one that was perpetuated around the world and throughout the last 1500-2000 as the same, if not eerily similar story reverberates at different times and with different cultures; i.e., there was a story, the ones telling that story came into power, the ones in power wrote history and made the story into gospel truth

[thegodlessswami]

BTW to Saudi, all other "faith-based" Muslims and anyone else who sits there and talks about faith being like "Oxygen that keeps us alive and love that we all live by.": If your basis of comparison is oxygen, it is a bad one... oxygen is a demonstrated substance with a definite mass and volume... while you may not "see" it with your eyes, it has been captured, quantified and described... while your "god" doesn't hold up to that test. Even if you talk about "love" in the same way, love has also been demonstrated and can be replicated through a series of neural, chemical and physiological events in specific parts of the brain...and your "God" still fails that comparison.... faith is trying to accept and describe what you can't understand, yet saying you're OK with it.

[Jin Jones]

Sorry dude, the Holy Bible is just that, the Holy Bible. Others have tried to "rewrite" it before but it aint going to happen.

www.FireMe.To/udi

[UniBob]

"If your basis of comparison is oxygen, it is a bad one..."

I don't know about that; oxygen is corrosive and lethal in high concentration.

[Jimmy]

Hey Saudi,

Muhammed is dead!

[andy]

agreed with the zietgiest comment. a movie every one should watch in their lifetime. youll never think the same again.

[Mr. America]

FukK Israel! Israel is a stinking rotting corpse, and hopefully it will soon be blown off the map!

[Saudi]

BTW to thegodlessswami | July 09, 2008 at 02:47 PM

What you want to demonstrate?

Finding and seeing colossal majestic almighty God setting on a heavenly chair to take his pictures and show them in TV for people to see and believe?

I and millions like me never saw Oxygen but have faith on it and who can encounters it.

If only believing is and necessarily seeing then nothing would have worked, you would have to demonstrate Oxygen for every body to believe in it!

[David Johnson]

There are no gods - just deal with it...

[knifeum]

Hey Andy outer darkness Hut!

[glenn]

My personal opinion is, religion is like a Noah's ark. If you're in the wrong boat, you MIGHT not make it. It is said the Noah took 120 years to build the ark on top of a mountain. While he is still building it, people must be mocking him. But when the rain came and the big flood was doing its damage, the very same people could be screaming for God's help. You can call religion a scam, you can call the Bible faulty but as far as its prophesies has shown, there will be a day when a lot of us will regret why we did not listen.