Archeology and the LXX

There is a relatively new line of thought being expounded by many, both Christian and non-Christian, spurred by recent development in the areas of Archeology and the Septuagint.

In Archeology, the main approach to understanding the dating of extant findings as they relate to the Bible, has been called the "traditional or conventional chronology". Recently, however, a number of archeologists have considered a "new chronology" which not only accounts for many new findings, it uses the Septuagint rather than the Massoretic texts as its basis of comparison.

This page will reflect my own interest, not being an archeologist or an Old Testament theologian, but one who is a bit amazed of the convergence of these two notions coming together at this particular time in history, especially in light of the immanent production of the Orthodox Study Bible with the Old Testament Septuagint version.

The links below serve as some reference to the subject by others and their materials.*

David Rohl seems responsible for bringing these two notions together. From what I have found, he is an agnostic archeologist who uses the LXX as a history book in his endeavors.

David Rohl’s Bibliography - a contemporary British Egyptologist. Additional bibliography can be found at these sites 1

• From Eden to Exile: The Epic History of the People of the Bible
• A Test of Time: The Bible - from Myth to History
• Legend: The Genesis of Civilisation
• Pharaohs and Kings: A Biblical Quest

This site, contained in the Wikipedia, has many links to David's materials and seems to contain a good assessment of the subject:

Egyptian Chronology

Institute for the Study of Interdisciplinary Sciences

Anthony’s Egyptology Discussion Group, http://www.osirisweb.com

History, The Heretics-David Rohl http://www.tekline.co.uk/h_rohl.htm

Craig’s World; Pharaohs and Kings: A Biblical Quest, http://craigr.com/books/pharaohs.htm

David' work is discussed on the Yahoo Groups NewChronology discussion board

Predating David Rohl is a Russian archeologist, Immanuel Velikovsky

In oposition to the New Chronology is Professor Kenneth Kitchen, also from England.

Tree ring dating calibrating Carbon 14

Book Report ISIS

Problems with Mt. Sinai in Saudi Arabia

The Egyptologists Electronic Forum - Archive

The Ancient Habiru/Apiru By Marvin W. Huddleston - Apologetics,...(1) has been getting help from some unusual and unexpected places lately. These sources of support come from a number of varied viewpoints. Two recent examples include a secular magazine article (2) suggesting many of the formally hotly contested "myths" of the Bible (such as the Flight from Egypt, the rule of David, and the days of Jesus) may now bear scientific archaeological evidence (and thus prove to be true). A second example was the analysis of the story of Noah's Flood as told in the Bible on MSNBC's Internet webpage (3) this past summer which supported the idea that new evidence appears to substantiate the historical accuracy of the Genesis Flood account. MSNBC published yet another such story concerning scientific evidence for an ancient great flood in its November 18th online newsmagazine.(4) Thus it seems that a study of the people known as the Habiru and their relationship to the ancient Hebrews comes during a climate of almost political correctness.

Ron Wyatt, quoting James Henry Breasted's work, A History of Egypt

The Origin and Fate of the Temples at Jerusalem
Philip E.H. Thomas

Notes on the Septuagint

Validity of LXX for Messianich Prophesy

Patristic and Other Early Christian Guidance for the Translation of the Septuagint into English

* references contained in this page are not well organized as yet...but serve me and others quick references to materials on both sides of the argument.