# Historical evidence for other biblical figures? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 11, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470 "2002-06-11T16:26:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chekmate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@Chekmate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chekmate)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/1 "2002-06-11T16:26:32Z")
There seems to be a lot of debate back and forth about the lack of historical evidence for Jesus. I’m just wondering how much evidence there is outside the bible for some of the other major figures. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/2 "2002-06-11T16:30:44Z")
Well, for the latter biblical figures, there is plenty of evidence. Cyrus, Darius, Nebuchadnezzar, the later kings of Judah, etc. have all been confirmed historically. David has been mentioned in a find (an inscription mentioning “the house of David” was found), but no direct evidence of him personally, or any earlier biblical figure is known to exist (outside of the bible itself, of course). Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/3 "2002-06-11T16:37:48Z")
We have evidence of some of the Israelite kings, also. For example, from the Moabite Stone: > [@](#): > > And I made this high place for Kemosh in Qarhar . . . because of the deliverance of Mesha, and because he has saved me from all the kings and because he caused me to see [my desire] upon all who hated me. Omri, king of Israel – he oppressed Moab many days, because Chemosh was angry with his land. > > And his son succeeded him, and he also said I will oppress Moab. In my day he spoke according to this word, but I saw my desire upon him and upon his house, and Israel utterly perished forever. > > Now Omri had possessed all the land of Medeba and dwelt in it his days and half the days of his son, forty years, but Chemosh restored it in my day… While Israel wasn’t “utterly perished forever”, King Omri is mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/4 "2002-06-11T18:06:34Z")
**Chekmate** , I believe there may be some evidence for some of the other biblical “miscreants” 😉 I heard somewhere that a fair discussion of the historical John the Baptist can be found in Meier’s [A Marginal Jew v. 2](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385469926/InternetInfidelsA/103-8431075-2937443) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/5 "2002-06-11T20:13:04Z")
Isn’t the Pharaoh of Exodus Ramses? Isn’t he pretty well estabished as historical fact? ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/6 "2002-06-11T20:19:57Z")
It is not like you can go to the county courthouse and look in the records. 😕 & :eek: ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/7 "2002-06-11T20:23:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bup \* > \*\*Isn’t the Pharaoh of Exodus Ramses? Isn’t he pretty well estabished as historical fact? \*\* Well, the Exodus itself has never been verified historically, so it doesn’t really matter. There were Pharaohs in Egypt, no doubt. If the Exodus story is true, there was a Pharaoh then as well, no doubt. However, since the Pharaoh of the story is not named (indeed, none of the Pharaohs in the Bible until Pharaoh Necho in II KIngs are mentioned by name [and, I’m not sure if that’s a proper name or a title]), there is no way to be sure. In short - yes, there was a Pharaoh named Ramses. However, stating that he was the Pharaoh of the Exodus is not proven (the movie The Ten Commandments notwithstanding). Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/8 "2002-06-11T23:52:53Z")
Apart from the engraving refering to the house of David mantionned above, there’s also assyrian annals mentionning the king of Israel Achab. There’s no mention of Salomon outside of the Bible, and there’s no evidence that Moses ever existed. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/9 "2002-06-12T00:04:03Z")
Apart from the engraving refering to the house of David mentionned above, there’s also assyrian annals mentionning the king of Israel Achab. There’s no mention of Salomon outside of the Bible, and there’s no evidence that Moses ever existed. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/10 "2002-06-12T01:10:34Z")
Many of the Roman officials mentioned in the New Testament are probably confirmed (like, say, Caesar Augustus), though I don’t know all the names and cites involved. I do know that just a few years ago a grave was found marked “Joseph, son of [or family of] Caiaphas” . Joseph Caiaphas was the high priest at the time of Jesus’s crucifixion. While it’s possible this grave is that of his son or father, it’s still pretty strong independent evidence for his existence. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/11 "2002-06-12T03:21:45Z")
The concept of “original sin” proves that Adam & Eve existed. Or does the concept of “original sin” depend on whether Adam & Eve existed. [sup]nevermind[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/12 "2002-06-12T06:19:48Z")
Well, Cecil covers the question about the Pharaoh of the Exodus [here.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_035b.html) And I might note that we should keep in mind that some biblical figures, divinely aided or not, might be composites of several people, and/or could have events attributed to them that have been exaggerated or misrecorded through the ages. I wonder…if civilization fell today, would, few hundred years from now, inhabitants of what was once the United States would tell stories of the legendary Ben Jefferson, who, after failing to reach a peace agreement with English Emperor George I, led the Americans in revolt against their cruel oppressors, even swimming across the Delaware river alone to single-handedly vanquish the Bavarian mercenaries who had kidnapped his lover, Martha Hemmings. 😉 Ranchoth ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-evidence-for-other-biblical-figures/113470/13 "2002-06-12T06:50:57Z")
I vote that **Ranchoth** ’s post be deleted, on the grounds that too many American high school students will believe it and create a groundswell for a Summer, 2004 historical docudrama blockbuster.