Recent reports about the time when domesticated camels first appeared in Israel, hundreds of years after they are mentioned in the Bible (with Abram in Genesis 12.16) are being used to attack the historical accuracy of the Bible. In this lesson we examine the claims that are made and present evidence of domesticated camels in both Egypt and Mesopotamia hundreds of years prior to Abraham. It’s reasonable to conclude that Abram could have had domesticated camels and that these attacks on the accuracy of the Bible are not valid.

1. Camels and the
Accuracy
of the
Bible
Genesis 12:16
Chinese Bible, Old T
estament, p. 16

8. Abraham
3000
BC
Moses
2000
David
1000

9. First mention of camel in Bible
And for her sake he dealt well with
Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male
donkeys, male servants, female
servants, female donkeys, and camels.
Genesis 12:16, CB OT p. 16
Abraham
3000
BC
Moses
2000
David
1000

10. Aravah Valley
Google Maps

11. CLAIM: First evidence of domesticated
camels in Israel
First mention of camel in Bible
And for her sake he dealt well with
Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male
donkeys, male servants, female
servants, female donkeys, and camels.
Genesis 12:16, CB OT p. 16
In all the digs, they found that camel bones
were unearthed almost exclusively in
archaeological layers dating from the last
third of the 10th century BCE or later —
centuries after the patriarchs lived and
decades after the Kingdom of David,
according to the Bible.
Finding Israel’s First Camels
(http://www.aftau.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=19673)
Abraham
3000
BC
Moses
2000
David
1000
c. 930

12. While there are conflicting theories
about when the Bible was composed,
the recent research suggests it was
written much later than the events it
describes. This supports earlier
studies that have challenged the
Bible's veracity as a historic
document.

13. There are too many camels
in the Bible, out of time
and out of place.

14. anachronism
something or someone that is not in
its correct historical or chronological
time, especially a thing or person that
belongs to an earlier time
There are too many camels
in the Bible, out of time
and out of place.
These anachronisms are
telling evidence that the
Bible was written or edited
long after the events it
narrates and is not always
reliable as verifiable
history.

15. The events recorded in the Bible happened so long ago that it's difficult to
say definitively how accurate they are. For some, like the creation of
the Earth, we can turn to science. But it's hard to gauge the validity of others.

16. The events recorded in the Bible happened so long ago that it's difficult to say
definitively how accurate they are. For some, like the creation of the Earth, we
can turn to science. But it's hard to gauge the validity of others.
We're treated to proof that the
stories included in what Christians
call the Old Testament suffered
from some ahistorical
tweaks when they were
finally committed to
writing.

17. The events recorded in the Bible happened so long ago that it's difficult to say
definitively how accurate they are. For some, like the creation of the Earth, we
can turn to science. But it's hard to gauge the validity of others.
We're treated to proof that the
stories included in what Christians
call the Old Testament suffered
from some ahistorical tweaks
when they were finally committed
to writing.
Now, these findings don't necessarily
disprove all the stories of the Bible. Rather,
knowing that there are camels where there
definitely shouldn't be shows that the Bible's
authors, working thousands of years after
the events they were describing were
supposed to take place, took a modern
lens to these ancient tales.

18. This is not a new claim:
“The assertion that the ancient Egyptians
knew of the camel is unfounded.”
T. K. Cheyne
(Encyclopeida Biblica, 1:634, 1899)
10th Century BC Relief from Tell Halaf (Syria)

19. This is not a new claim:
The Bible first mentions the camel in
Gen. 12:16, where the presents are listed
which the pharaoh gave to Abram. This is
generally reckoned to be a later scribe’s
addition, for it seems unlikely that there
were any camels in Egypt then.
George Cansdale
(All the Animals of the Bible Lands,
p. 66, 1970)
10th Century BC Relief from Tell Halaf (Syria)

20. CLAIM: First evidence of domesticated
camels in Israel
First mention of camel in Bible
Abraham
3000
BC
Moses
2000
David
1000
c. 930

21. All Scripture is breathed out by God
2 Timothy 3:16, CB NT p.

22. men spoke from God as they were
carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:21, CB NT p.

23. CLAIM: First evidence of domesticated
camels in Israel
First mention of camel in Bible
For if you believed Moses,
you would believe me;
for he wrote of me.
John 5:46, CB NT p. 171
Abraham
3000
BC
Moses
2000
David
1000
c. 930

24. Since the Bible is from God,
we should expect that it is
accurate in all respects.
All Scripture is breathed out by God
2 Timothy 3:16, CB NT p.

25. Bible
vs.
Science

26. God both
is the source of
scripture and nature.
Bible
{
}
agreement
when understood
correctly
Science

27. Interpretation
of the
Bible
vs.
Interpretation
of
Science

28. Evidence of Ancient Domesticated Camels

29. CLAIM: First evidence of domesticated
Tablet with men riding & leading camels
camels in Israel
3150 BC
First mention of camel in Bible
Abraham
3000
BC
Moses
2000
David
1000
c. 930

30. CLAIM: First evidence of domesticated
Tablet with men riding & leading camels
camels in Israel
3150 BC
First mention of camel in Bible
Camel hair rope
2686-2498 BC
Abraham
3000
BC
Moses
2000
David
1000
c. 930

31. CLAIM: First evidence of domesticated
Tablet with men riding & leading camels
camels in Israel
3150 BC
First mention of camel in Bible
Camel hair rope
2686-2498 BC
Camel Rider
2600 BC
Abraham
3000
BC
Moses
2000
David
1000
c. 930

32. Shahr-e Sukhteh
(Burnt City)
Google Maps

33. CLAIM: First evidence of domesticated
Tablet with men riding & leading camels
camels in Israel
3150 BC
First mention of camel in Bible
Camel hair rope
2686-2498 BC
Camel Rider
2600 BC
Abraham
3000
BC
Moses
2000
David
1000
c. 930

34. CLAIM: First evidence of domesticated
Tablet with men riding & leading camels
camels in Israel
3150 BC
First mention of camel in Bible
Camel hair rope
2686-2498 BC
Camel Rider
2600 BC
Camel Pot with basket
2650 BC
Abraham
3000
BC
Moses
2000
David
1000
c. 930

35. CLAIM: First evidence of domesticated
Tablet with men riding & leading camels
camels in Israel
3150 BC
First mention of camel in Bible
Camel hair rope
2686-2498 BC
Camel Rider
2600 BC
Camel Pot with basket
2650 BC
Caravan Camel reference
2500 BC
Abraham
3000
BC
Moses
2000
David
1000
c. 930

36. Aravah Valley
Google Maps

37. All Scripture is breathed out by God
2 Timothy 3:16, CB NT p.

38. and you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.
John 8:32, CB NT p.

39. For “everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13, CB NT p.

40. So faith comes from hearing, and
hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17, CB NT p.

41. Will today be the day
you decide
to go to
heaven?

42. Photo Credits: (All photos from istockphoto.com, crestock.com, bigstock.com, dreamtime.com, thinkstock.com, and shutterstock.com are copyright protected.They are used by permission. Please do not reuse without permission.)
Camel Shadows: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ultracrepidate/2553031448/sizes/l/
Maps: Googlemaps.com
Preacher: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kkanouse/4102626606/sizes/o/
Scientist: Pixabay: man-219928_1280: http://pixabay.com/en/man-coat-people-laboratory-lab-219928/
Camel Relief: http://ancientart.tumblr.com/post/43196242543/ancient-syrian-slab-with-dromedary-rider-from-tell
Bible: http://dl.creationswap.com/18227.jpg

43. Miscellaneous 2014
Compiled and Presented by:
Dave Stewart
16 February, 2014
www.churchofchristmiranda.com
#01
Camels and the Accuracy of the Bible
Genesis 12:16
Synopsis: Recent reports about the time when domesticated camels first appeared in Israel, hundreds of years after
they are mentioned in the Bible (with Abram in Genesis 12.16) are being used to attack the historical accuracy of
the Bible. In this lesson we examine the claims that are made and present evidence of domesticated camels in both
Egypt and Mesopotamia hundreds of years prior to Abraham. It’s reasonable to conclude that Abram could have
had domesticated camels and that these attacks on the accuracy of the Bible are not valid.
"Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway
Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
“Let all that you do be done with love.”

44. Resources;
1) http://archaeology.tau.ac.il/ben-yosef/pub/Pub_PDFs/Sapir-Hen&Ben-Yosef13_CamelAravah_TelAviv.pdf
2) http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=13&article=858
3) http://www.bible-archeology.com/2014/01/abraham-and-camels-did-bible-get-it.html
4) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140210-domesticated-camels-israel-bible-archaeology-science/
5) http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/11/science/camels-had-no-business-in-genesis.html?_r=2
6) http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/proof-bibles-tales-were-tweaked-180949715/
7) http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/camels-in-the-bible-182042100.html
8) http://www.studylight.org/ls/ds/index.cgi?a=518
9) http://www.academia.edu/2065314/
_The_Domestication_of_the_Camel_Biological_Archaeological_and_Inscriptional_Evidence_from_Mesopotamia_Egypt_Israel_
and_Arabia_and_Literary_Evidence_from_the_Hebrew_Bible_in_Ugarit_Forschungen_42_2010_Munster_UgaritVerlag_2011_331-384