Israeli archaeologists announced this week that they have uncovered a 3,100-year-old inscription from the time of the Bible’s Book of Judges that may bear the name of the Old Testament hero, Gideon. Israeli archaeologist and tour guide Danny “The Digger” Herman joins Erick from Israel with the inside story.
“The name ‘Jerubbaal’ is familiar from Biblical tradition in the Book of Judges as an alternative name for the judge Gideon ben Yoash,” said Professor Yossef Garfinkel from the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University and Dr. Saar Ganor from the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“Gideon is first mentioned as combating idolatry by breaking the altar to Baal and cutting down the Asherah pole,” they explained. “In biblical tradition, he is then remembered as triumphing over the Midianites, who used to cross over the Jordan to plunder agricultural crops. According to the Bible, Gideon organized a small army of 300 soldiers and attacked the Midianites by night near Ma‘ayan Harod.”
Here Israeli archaeologist and tour guide Danny “The Digger” Herman joins Erick from Israel with the inside story.