Page 8 - Good News February 2007 paper

Archaeology Supports Story of Samson
Continued from p. 1
he killed at his death were more than he had killed
in his life.”
Critics, of course, have doubted the story and
called it a myth. They have argued that a Philistine
temple would not have had two central pillars
supporting the roof since this wasn’t a typical
architectural design of Middle Eastern temples. stand silently before the
But after the remains of two Philistine temples Lord, waiting for Him to
have been excavated, what do they reveal? Both Irescue me. For salvation
had two main pillars supporting the roof. One of comes from Him alone. Yes, He
the Philistine temples is at Tell Qasile, now part of
the modern city of Tel Aviv. alone is my Rock, my Rescuer,
Archaeologist Amihai Mazar found the remains of Defense and Fortress. Why then
a small Philistine temple in the 1970s, and sure should I be tense with fear when
enough, he discovered two column bases for a troubles come?
pair of central pillars supporting the roof! They My protection and success come
were close enough together that a large man
could reach both of them at once. from God alone. He is my Refuge,
Some 20 miles away, at the Philistine site of a Rock where no enemy can reach
ancient Ekron, archaeologist Trude Dothan, me. O my people, trust Him all the
discovered another temple in the 1990s with the time. Pour out your longings
same characteristics - two central pillars before Him, for He can help!
supporting a roof. The city of Gath, where
Samson’s account takes place, has not been -Psalm 62:1,2,7,8 - Life
excavated, as a modern city has been built on top Application Bible, Tyndale House
of the remains. Yet, being one of the main Publishers, 1988.
Philistine cities, it is reasonable to imagine that it Placing all hope in God and
would have had a much larger temple, holding knowing that God is in absolute
many more people. control, allows us to wait
Archaeologist Bryant Wood explains the sig-
nificance of the discoveries: “Two Philistine patiently for Him to rescue us.
temples have been uncovered by archae- Prayer can release our tensions in
ologists... Both temples share a unique design - times of emotional stress. Trusting
the roof was supported by two central pillars! God to be our Rock, Rescuer,
“The pillars were made of wood and rested on Defense and Fortress changes our
stone support bases. With the pillars being about
six feet apart, a strong man could dislodge them entire outlook on life. No longer
from their stone bases and bring the entire roof are we held captive by hurtful
crashing down. The archaeological findings treatment from other people, but
match the Biblical story perfectly and attest to the we are released to follow an
plausibility of the account... unchanging God, and true relief
“The Bible writer knew his facts. He knew that
Philistine temples were supported by two pillars comes from an enduring hope in
and that this was how Samson pulled the temple God's ultimate salvation.
down. The report is that of an eye-witness, again
demonstrating that indeed the Bible is the world’s
most accurate textbook”.
M. Seiglie, T. Robinson, & S. Ashley www.ucg.org