According to a study, a Bible story about Jesus' ancestor Josiah, “the last good king of Judah”, could be true.
In the book of Revelation, the Apocalyptic last collision between good and evil takes place in Armageddon before a new world is born.
Nowadays known as Tel Megiddo, located in the current day Northern Israel, the site is supposed to be where the ancestor of Jesus, King Josiah, was killed by the Egyptian Pharao Necho II, according to the Bible.
Now excavations reveal that during Josiah's time there was an Egyptian presence on the site, the first archaeological proof that supports the Biblical story.
Assaf Kleiman of Ben Gurion University in Beersheba, Israel, who co-author of a study about the discoveries, said that the findings were a “big surprise” for archaeologists.
He said: “Our recent excavations near the administrative quarter of Megiddo revealed the remains of a large structure from the late seventh century BC.
“Within this building we have imported large amounts of rough and rough and straw-stamped pottery vessels from Egypt, as well as a few East Greek barrels.
“The exposure of these findings was a big surprise for our team, because they have not been excavated at Megiddo so far.”
The Greek ships are considered “representing Greek mercenaries” who may have worked in the Egyptian army, according to the co-author of the study, Prof.
He said: “The Greek earthenware is usually considered to represent Greek mercenaries. From sources such as Herodotus and the Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal, we know that Greeks from Anatolia served as mercenaries in the Egyptian army.
“This scenario can be linked to the Biblical report on the killing of King Josiah of Judah by Pharaoh Necho in Megiddo in 609 BC.”
Profs Israel Finkelstein on the excavation site for Tel Megiddo – Israel Finkelstein via Pen News
Josiah is described in the Bible as a religious reformer who has ended the worship of every God except Yahweh (the Hebrew name for God).
He is also mentioned as ancestor of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.
But the Old Testament gives varied reports of his death.
Dr. Finkelstein said: “The Bible tells about the death of Josiah in Megiddo in two places. He is killed by Necho during a meeting in Megiddo in the Book of Kings and killed in a struggle with the Egyptians in the book Chronicles.
“Kings gives evidence close to 'real-time', while Chronicles represents centuries-slaterlater thoughts.
“In this background, the new evidence for an Egyptian garrison, possibly with Greek mercenaries, can offer the background of the event in Megiddo in the late seventh century BC.
“Moreover, in two places in prophetic works, Ezekiel and Jeremiah, the Bible hints that West -Anatolians – Lydians – were involved in killing Josiah.”
The Hebrew name of the site, Har Megiddo – what does Mount Megiddo mean – was made harmful in Greek, which led to the modern name, Armageddon.
There is a discussion among experts why Josiah was killed there. Some believe that his army blocked the path of the Pharaoh, which was en route to Syria with his troops.
Others think that he might have been called up as a vassal and was executed because he had not brought enough tribute to Egypt.
It has also been suggested that Josiah's death created his apocalyptic reputation there.
“It would be logical to the [final] Fight out of it because of the history of Israel of that location, “said Hope Bolinger on Christianity.com.
Dr. Kleiman, Dr. Finkelstein and their colleagues Matthew Adams and Alexander Fantalkin published their studies in the Scandinavian magazine of the Old Testament.
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