Saturday, October 15, 2011

Jesus and Shiloh

I accompanied two tour guides on a refresher walkabout at Tel Shiloh last week.  There have been some new excavations, as my regular readers know, and they wanted to update.

One element is, of course, the Christian connection to Shiloh.  We have discovered three basillicas, each one with beautiful mosaic floors, and each one larger than the other: the Pilgrims' Church, the Danish Church and the New Church is how we refer to them.

The connection between Jesus, Shiloh and The Ark of the Covenant is found in several verses in the Torah and in the New Testament:

a)
Exodus 25:18 And thou shalt make two angels of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
John 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

b)
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah"
Jesus is the Lion of Judah - Revelation 5:5
But unto the Son a sceptre of righteousness - Hebrews 1:8

And at the new church we have found this inscription:


which translates as "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on Shiloh and its inhabitants"

second inscription was found at a bapistery:


which reads: "Lord Jesus Christ, remember and consider worthy in your kingdom Eutonius your bishop and Germanus your holy regional bishop. Draw near to Him and be enlightened."

Other photographs are here and also here.

And a third:




which reads, "Lord Christ, help your servant."

And we recall their discovery:

04 Dec 2006

Archaeologists claimed yesterday to have uncovered one of the world's first churches, built on a site believed to have once housed the Ark of the Covenant.

The site, emerging from the soil in a few acres in the hills of the Israeli occupied West Bank, is richly decorated with brightly coloured mosaics and inscriptions referring to Jesus Christ.

 According to the team, led by Yitzhak Magen and Yevgeny Aharonovitch, the church dates to the late 4th century, making it one of Christianity's first formal places of worship.

"I can't say for sure at the moment that it's the very first church," said Mr Aharonovitch, 38, as he oversaw a team carrying out the final excavations before winter yesterday. "But it's certainly one of the first." He said the site contained an extremely unusual inscription which referred to itself, Shiloh, by name.

"That is very rare and shows early Christians treated this as an ancient, holy place," said Mr Aharonovitch.

For a general view of mosaic floor and other pictures here and here.

And here's a fourth inscription which I snapped of a dedication of a bench:


(Photo credit: YMedad)


And a fifth inscription.
^

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

B"H - Jews are not interested in idol worshippers and their impossible new testicles. Worshippers of the golden calf State are usually interested in xtians, because they are the same.

YMedad said...

Jews are not interested in idol worshippers in a theological sense. true. but most Jews are not opposed to cordial relations and of course, political and diplomatic support for the Zionist enterprise.

but the point of the article was simply to relate why Tel Shiloh attracts Christian visitors.

Yochanan ben Ariel said...

Ariel ben Yochanan wrote,
"Worshippers of the golden calf State are usually interested in xtians, because they are the same."

What is "the golden calf State"? Who worships it?

Who is the same as what or whom?

Ariel ben Yochanan wrote, "Jews are not interested in idol worshippers and their impossible new testicles." Do I understand that Ariel ben Yochanan is interested in possible new testicles? How many would he like and how much is he willing to pay?

.

Anonymous said...

B"H - Something, a little voice inside me suggests that you are not sympathetic to the idea of having no idol worshippers, visitors or otherwise, in Shilo in particular and in Eretz Israel in general.

YMedad said...

define idol worshippers.

do you mean Catholics?

Anonymous said...

B"H - Yisrael, please, don't buy into the establishment thought that differentiates between the various xtian denominations just because they say "we love you". It has absolutely no basis, they ALL attribute godly status to subjects other than Hashem and they are now actively worshipping on the Land, an activity that exposes us to great dangers. We are put here to serve Hashem and if we fail to do this basic minimum, well, we'll be in trouble G-d forbid. Are we instructed to restore and preserve their pillars and stones of worship or to destroy them? No need to answer, the question is rhetoric. The fact is that Shilo should not attract xtians, not as visitors, not as workers and not as missionaries. Shilo should repel them. It is true that we are pressed by Ishmael, but running to the arms of Esav is no solution. The war is a three front one: Ishmael, Esav AND the erev rav. We have to be alert on ALL three fronts. See The Three Front War on thetorahrevolution.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Ymedad is obviously a Hellenist . They are the worst, the ones who have brought so much misery to Erez Israel.

Yochanan ben Ariel said...

The ignorance here abounds and disgraces some writers. Their hatred for fellow Jews should embarrass them beyond tears.

There can be no doubt that Xtianity is 2000 years of anti-Semitism.

There is also no doubt that SOME posqim have defined Xtianity as avoda zara, while others have defined it merely as shittuf. Avoda zara is forbidden for Jews and non-Jews, while shittuf is permitted for non-Jews and forbidden for Jews.

The rishonim and most aharonim were familiar with only one -- or at the most two forms -- of Xtianity: Roman Catholicism and perhaps Eastern Orthodoxy.

Modern rabbis whose knowledge of Xtianity is very limited and base themselves on SOME posqim --
who obviously had no knowledge of modern Xtian theology -- are out of their depth. For example, if they do not know how to distinguish between Xtians who believe in replacement theology and those who reject it, they are advised not to offer their opinions on Xtianity.


.

Yochanan ben Ariel said...

Ariel ben Yochanan wrote,
"Worshippers of the golden calf State are usually interested in xtians, because they are the same."

1. Perhaps he could clarify what he meant by "the golden calf State"?

2. Who worships "the golden calf State"?

3. The same pundit wrote, "because they are the same." Who is the same as what or whom?

4. Ariel ben Yochanan wrote, "Jews are not interested in idol worshippers and their impossible new testicles." Do I understand this to mean that Ariel ben Yochanan *IS* interested in possible new testicles?

5. How many "possible new testicles" would Ariel ben Yochanan like, and how much is he willing to pay for them?

6. Perhaps Ariel ben Yochanan can be so kind as to clarify his obscure posting.

.

Anonymous said...

Yochanan, you should be ashamed of yourself if ou are a Jew. Our ancestors gave their lives in order to steer clear of the yushkee worshippers and youmake fun of people who try to warn the Jews of their dangers? You my friend are a fool!

Xtians are dangerous to the Jewish people and have always been in may ways When they are not a physical threat they are a spiritual threat.

I am involved in anti missionarry work and ill tell you the for Jews who dont know much better, when they are showed pictures of settlers hugging xtians, picking grapes with them etc they see nothing wrong with xtians and see nothing wrong with being a j for j..

So keep cracking your jokes and making fun of Jews who try to warn of the dangers, laugh it up but know that you are a contributor to the assimilation of these unassuming Jews.

Yochanan ben Ariel said...

Anonymous says "I am involved in anti missionarry work and ill tell you the for Jews who dont know much better. . ."

I am sorry to say that for someone who claims top be working against missionaries, you are unable to tell missionaries from plain Xtians, and certainly cannot discern which Xtians accept replacement theology and which reject it. It follows that you cannot identify Xtian Zionists who love Israel, as oppose to missionaries.

You might want to study a bit before taking part in anti-missionary work. Otherwise your action is no more than sherut dov.

You have no idea what avoda zara is, nor whether halakhically all, some or no Xtians are ovdei avoda zara.

You can't tell the players without a scorecard.

.

Yochanan ben Ariel said...

To replace my previous comment:

Anonymous (I presume this is Ariel ben Yochanan) says "I am involved in anti missionarry work and ill tell you the for Jews who dont know much better. . ."

I love your English. You may want to take a remedial English course before you write in English.

I am sorry to say that for someone who claims to be working against missionaries, you are unable to tell missionaries from plain Xtians, and you certainly cannot discern which Xtians accept replacement theology and which reject it. It follows that you cannot identify Xtian Zionists who love Israel, as opposed to missionaries.

You might want to study a bit before taking part in anti-missionary work. Otherwise your action is at best sherut dov.

You have no idea what avoda zara is, nor whether halakhically all, some or no Xtians are ovdei avoda zara.

You can't tell the players without a scorecard.

.

Anonymous said...

Yochanan,
I am very well aware of the differences but since your ignorant ill map it out for you so you can get a better understanding of how xtians work even though they have different theologies, causes and ideas.....

say foolish Jew takes money from a so called xtian group friend of Israel for building a nice playground in their settlement. After all these people are our frinds, right? we are anti muslim...so are they... now the Rabbit of the yishuv and other Jews come out to kiss this yushkee followers rear end and thank him for the generous gift. They are even given awards, certificates, photo ops etc.

J4J, a separate organization uses these photo ops, certs and other recognition to bait and trap unassuming Jews that re pro Israel.

Do you understand how it works now?

As far as Avoda Zarah, I am not a rabbi and from your comments I can tell you definitely arent one either. There are other reasons that we should ksteer clear of these xtians like v'hivdalta min haamim, am lvadad yishkon, and so forth.

Is it possible that there may be a loopholle to find some xtians not idol worshippers? possible, but that still doesnt mean we should mingle with them, be friendly with them or align ourselves with them.

By doing so we desecrate G-ds name since in essence what are really saying is we dont have enough faith in Gd to save us we need yushkees men....

YMedad said...

Anon. 9:48 - quite simply, you have no idea of what actually happens and are divorced from reality. you are imaging situations, which is dangerous. complexity is a problem for you, as is your simplicity.

Anonymous said...

B"H

"Yochanan ben Ariel" o9:38 you assume wrong. By the way, Jews don't make fun of names either, so I don't accept a confrontation with your, pro-yeshu statements. Want to be a xtian? Please, help yourself and be a xtian. Not on G-d's Land though an not against the Jews who live here. As far as your argument is concerned Medad, it is only a personal attack on your adversaries and therefore not a point with which you can score. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

B"H

Here is a quote from A Three Fronts War for you xtians experts:

http://thetorahrevolution.blogspot.com/2011/09/on-israel-is-threatened-on-three-fronts.html:

"No one who hasn't been a xian can understand the way they think or talk or anything else. First of all the whole concept of tshuva is completely different for xians than it is for Jews. xians believe yeshu "paid" for their sins so they are not punished or even held responsible for their sins. So if they are claiming they have done tshuva that statement means absolutely nothing to them. I guaranty if you ask them if they believe it is a sin to tell a Jew about yeshu they will say no. Of course they can say they don't want to convert Jews because the Jewish concept of conversion does not exist in evangelical xianity (it does in catholism). Evangelicals believe in "messianic judaism" which says a Jew who accepts yeshu doesn't convert to another religion he just fulfills judaism by becoming a "completed Jew". Paul teaches in the NT that a xian can use any means, including lying, or financial help or emotional support to "spread the gospel". You have to assume that the wallers and their minions will tell you whatever it is you want to hear so that they can get closer to Jews. The number one method used by xians to spread the gospel throughout the world is humanitarian works. The xian offers help to people in need to foster trust and build relationship then slowly they will convince you that this help has come to you because of yeshu and he can solve all your problems and heal all your pain if you just believe in him. Jews who are falling for their lies should take into account that the Wallers and many if not all of the people volunteering with them have recieved alot of money from people who support their "ministry". Why are these people supporting them financially why they are here? It is because they believe the Wallers "ministry" is to open the Jewish hearts and eyes to yeshu. Even if some Jews want to believe that the Wallers and their friends are not here to missionize, they should be worried about the judgement they are bringing on the yeshuvim for allowing idolators to read their NT, pray to their false god( while they are picking the grapes that are to be made into jewish wine), and worshipping their false god with instruments, singing and dancing." (Credit omitted)

Anonymous said...

Medad,

I am not imaging or imagining situations. I am heavily involved in anti missionarry work and I am speaking from experience.

The examples I showed are just the tip of the ice berg. You can not comprehend how sophisticated their networks are.

Do with this information as you please but know that you are endangering other Jewish souls by giving them any bit of legitimacy...

YMedad said...

and you are endangering Israel's political and diplomatic standing by an unconceivable inability to discern between missionary work, Christian behavior, ability of Jews to work with non-Jews, Halachic frameworks, etc. you represent the amateurish, unsophisticated, anti-intellectual approach. no pride. no confidence.

Anonymous said...

B"H - Medad, cool it: As a pseudo-intellectual you know very well that Anonymous is right: The secular State of Israel may need your "political" and your "diplomatic" standing, being blackmailed and blackmailable. Jews only need our G-d, Hashem's Torah way. You don't need to be frum to understand this. With the second set of values we survived all nations, talking about "complexities".

YMedad said...

"pseudo"? let's not get carried away with deprecatory remarks. arrows can be slung in any direction. "blackmail"? what are you referring to?

as for complexities, how complicated is understanding Christians and their various divisions? read.

Anonymous said...

B"H - By blackmail I mean that the secular golden calf State of Israel traces its legitimacy to the approval of the nations, therefore it is only natural that it wants to be loved by them, especially by America. That’s where your tick comes in - in support of "cordial relations and of course, political and diplomatic support [of the nations] for the Zionist enterprise.." You say that most Jews support it. Well, there are a few problems with this:
a) I'm not sure it is so. Are you?
b) Even if it was so, what difference would it make? Are we going by numbers or by truth?
c) Torah teaches us that we are to dwell alone (Num.23:9) Longing for international support is, per definition, an anti-Torah, erev rav mentality. Jews refer to Torah and trace their rights, one of which is to the Land, and duties to G-d.
With other words, Jews (supposed to) have a "Hashemist" enterprise, not a Zionist one and that is precisely why xtians should not be allowed in, even if they "love us". Their “love” of us does NOT mean they love Hashem. In fact, by the very fact that they see it fit to worship yeshu, even if in conjunction with Hashem, makes them idol worshipers (Rambam, Hilichot Avoda Zara, chapter two, halacha one). Conclusion: They hate Hashem and hate Jews having Jewish souls.
Besides, lifting the Land above Torah and doing anti-Torah things on it is at least counter-productive, wouldn't you say? At worst of course it is a lot worse. A lot.
As far as your reading suggestion is concerned, no thank you, I won't take it up. It would not only be a waste of time for me to study the xtians, instead of Hashem and/or the Jews but actually it would be an outright prohibited activity: "The worshippers of false gods have composed many texts concerning their service, describing what is the essence of their service, what practices are involved, and what are its statutes. The Holy One, blessed is He, has commanded us not to read books at all, not to think about them or any matters involved with them". So much for your portrayed dig in Shilo of all places: Boo-Hoo!

YMedad said...

(sigh) methinks you are tending towards mental instability in your rambling.

thanks for stopping by in anycase.

Anonymous said...

B"H - Do you know that declaring your adversaries mentally ill is a Stalinist idea? Anyhow, doesn't matter. I won't change you and the more I ramble, as you say, the more you dig in. Enjoy your "good" xtians!

YMedad said...

actually, I did ABY but I'm not Stalinist but you very well, on the testimony of your writing style and thought processes, may be. I don't 'dig in'. I express my opinions, discuss, debate and argue. If presented with facts, stats and better logic, I will yield. Keep trying.

Yochanan ben Ariel said...

Ariel ben Yochanan at Tue Oct 18, 10:45:00 AM:

Your copying and pasting without having the vaguest idea of what you have copied does not speak well for you.

You have totally ignored my statements and have fulfilled my suspicion that you and your followers (although I suspect that you are your own follower) do not understand diddly twat about Xtianity and its nuances in terms of theology.

You are not going to fight missionaries by showing your ignorance. If anything, people will compare your blathering with the seeming logic of the missionaries, and you will come out the loser.

Please learn your subject before you preach. You are on the right side, but you come off looking foolish. That is called in Hebrew "sherut dov."


.

YMedad said...

accept my pity.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

B"H - This is nonsense and you must stop making fun of my name. The Rambam lists 51 mitzvot in his Hilichot Avoda Zara and the first one is: Not to show interest in the worship of false gods. Instead of learning of xtianity, if you are a Jew, you'd better learn Jewish sources, if you want to stay a Jew, that is. Thinking that missionaries can have logic is a bad, very bad sign. They don't have logic, they have a more or less hidden agenda to convert Jews to believe in yeshu. Even if this wasn’t so, you are defecating on the memory of the countless millions of Jews killed and burned alive by xtians over the centuries. So, be very, very careful with your un-Jewish ignorant words, “Yochanan Ben Ariel”, whoever you are!

Anonymous said...

B"H - "Accept my pity" is "expression of your opinion? Is it “discussing, debating and arguing"? Is it "Presenting a better logic"? Well, good for your so called intellectual standing Medad!

Yochanan ben Ariel said...

Ariel ben Yochanan wrote,
"Worshippers of the golden calf State are usually interested in xtians, because they are the same."

1. Perhaps Ariel ben Yochana could clarify what he meant by "the golden calf State"?

2. Who worships "the golden calf State"?

3. The same pundit wrote, "because they are the same." Who is the same as what or whom?

4. Ariel ben Yochanan wrote, "Jews are not interested in idol worshippers and their impossible new testicles." Do I therefore understand this to mean that Ariel ben Yochanan *IS* interested in possible new testicles? Are his all used up?

5. How many "possible new testicles" would Ariel ben Yochanan like, and how much is he willing to pay for them?

6. Perhaps Ariel ben Yochanan can be so kind as to clarify his obscure posting.

Yochanan ben Ariel said...

Ariel ben Yochanan wrote,
"Worshippers of the golden calf State are usually interested in xtians, because they are the same."

1. Perhaps Ariel ben Yochana could clarify what he meant by "the golden calf State"?

2. Who worships "the golden calf State"?

3. The same pundit wrote, "because they are the same." Who is the same as what or whom?

4. Ariel ben Yochanan wrote, "Jews are not interested in idol worshippers and their impossible new testicles." Do I therefore understand this to mean that Ariel ben Yochanan *IS* interested in possible new testicles? Are his all used up?

5. How many "possible new testicles" would Ariel ben Yochanan like, and how much is he willing to pay for them?

6. Perhaps Ariel ben Yochanan can be so kind as to clarify his obscure posting.