Biblical Archaeology #1: Ramet Haram Al-Khalil
{8 Minutes}
This is the first in a new series covering some Biblical Archaeology. Archaeology is the study of human history through excavation of sites of interest and examining the artifacts recovered. Dating methods in Archaeology vary, but for most ruins, pottery can be used to date when a structure existed. By knowing the time eras of pottery styles, we can date the ruins of past humans. This series is based on the book “Where God Came Down” by Joel P. Kramer and may continue beyond the contents thereof. Let's begin with the first site of interest, Ramet Haram Al-Khalil.
Ramet Haram Al-Khalil
The name is Arabic for “The Height of the Sanctuary of the Friend,” and it was excavated twice: in 1926 by Evaristis Mader and in 1984 by Yitzhak Magen. The first excavation revealed multiple layers of different dated pottery styles; the deeper the layer, the older the date. Five layers were uncovered, and Mader recorded his findings in a journal (you can google his drawing of the site). The oldest layer contained pottery that dated as far back as 2000 BC {Red Circle}. Once Mader’s team hit bedrock, they found two large holes on the site and the corner of a structure in the middle. The next layer {Grey Arrow} dates to the Iron Age (1000-586 BC), and the one atop was Early & Late Roman {Orange Arrows} (63 BC-AD 70). Evidence showed that the Early Roman structure was renovated around the second century during the Late Roman Period. The next layer {Yellow Circle} was dated to the Byzantine Period (AD 324-638) where there was construction inside the previous enclosure, and the last layer {Circled in Green} was dated to the Islamic Period (AD 600s). Mader identified this site as Abraham's Site of Mamre in Genesis.
The First Layer (Circled in Red, Purple, and blue)
This layer is from the time of Abraham in 2000 BC. Genesis 13:18 tells us “So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.” It says that Abraham’s camp was in Hebron, and this very site fits the location and description given. The verse mentioned the great trees of Mamre, and the two bedrock holes (Circled Blue) fit this like a glove. In the Middle East, trees often grow up through bedrock, creating a cavity, and when the tree dies and decays, a giant hole is left behind. This is exactly what Genesis 13:18 tells us, that there were trees in this location, and since there is a freshwater spring (Circled in Purple), we should expect remains from trees, flourishing trees. Genesis also says that Abraham built an altar to the LORD there, the center structure (Circled in Red) is the corner remains of a previous build, the foundations of an altar.
Since Abraham was a Nomad, and was traveling at the time, it makes perfect sense that we should expect some evidence of human activity at this site. We find just that, with the pottery dating to the time he would have been here.
The Second Layer (Off Picture, Grey Arrows)
The second layer had pottery that dated to the Kingdom of Israel Period (1000-586 BC) and only consisted of two separated structures right off the corner of the gate of a later layer. These two structures served as an entrance gate and both date to the Iron Age when the Kings ruled over Israel. This gate ruin provides evidence that there was a previous enclosure constructed around the Altar (Most likely similar to the present premises.
The Third Layer (Orange Arrows)
This next layer dates to the time of Herod the Great sometime during the first century BC. When Herod came to power, he was known for his building projects, and during his rule, the previous Israelite structure was destroyed and replaced with another building. Flavius Josephus informs us that Herod the Great did reign during the latter part of the first century BC and the masonry style of the ruins matched that of his other buildings, so we have good reason to trust that this is the case. Herod the Great only built three individual sites for his Jewish subjects, and since the Altar still remained the centerpiece, one of those three was the Altar at Mamre.
The Fourth Layer (Circled in Yellow)
This layer dates to the Byzantine Period, which was the time of Constantine during the 4th century AD. It is rather self-explanatory why there are remains from the time of Constantine. In AD 324, Constantine defeated Licinius and thus Rome was under the rule of a Christian Emporer, known important locations are bound to be celebrated and preserved now. Constantine’s Mother-in-law even wrote to him during a visit to Mamre, in her letters she addresses the pagan worship occurring there. She wrote, “...We find that Abraham dwelt has been defiled by certain of the slaves of superstition in every possible way… and that impure sacrifices are continually performed.” (Eusebius, The Life of the Blessed Emperor Constantine (London: Samuel Bagster and Sons, 1845), 156). Multiple fragments of carvings and idols have been found in this layer, which makes sense in the eyes of Roman pagans. To them, the Angel that visited Abraham would have been Hermes, a messenger god, and so they made their sacrifices there.
After Constantine’s Mother-in-law reported these vents to him, he ordered the worship to halt by burning the idols and establishing a church at Mamre. “That Every Idol… Cosigned to the flames; that the altar be utterly demolished.” (Eusebius, The Life of the Blessed Emperor Constantine, 156-57). Out of all of Constantine’s Churches, Mamre’s ruins are the best-preserved
The Fifth Layer (Circled in Green)
This final layer dates to the Islamic Period which began in the 600s AD, and the explanation here is also self-evident. Abraham is a revered figure in the Islamic tradition and culture, so we should expect that once this area was under the control of Muslims they’d not decimate it and seek some preservation. Kramer says the recognition of Mamre explains the expansion of the Palestinian city, Hebron, happening around it instead of overtop of it (like most ancient ruins that had later settlements).
Conclusion
“And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth… …The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”... …The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him (Genesis 18: 1-2, 10-15, 17-18).”
The Site of Mamre is Important because The LORD stood there to talk to Abraham and promise him a son. Mamre is a very good refutation to claims that the Bible’s historical record is pure fiction, and shows how these figures really lived and breathed like we. Most secular scholars think the patriarchs were fiction, but here we have the physical evidence of what Genesis describes. What Mader revealed at Mamre shows the Bible is accurate in its record, and that we can trust what it has to say.
What Does This Mean For Us?
In AD 130, a Christian named Justin Martyr used the Hebrew Old Testament to defend that Jesus was the Messiah and God. Justin said that Moses has already told us who appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18. He claimed it was a pre-incarnate Jesus, not God the Father, but rather God the Son had come to make a promise to Abraham. The Historian Eusebius wrote the same thing during his visit to Mamre in his day. “This would be our Lord and Savior… putting on a human form and shape, and revealed to the godly ancestor Abraham Who He was.” (Eusebius, 'The Proof of the Gospel: Being the Demonstratio Evangelica of Eusebius of Caesarea, ed. W. J. Sparrow-Simpson and W. K. L. Clarke, trans. William John Ferrar, vol. 1, Translations of Christian Literature: Series I: Greek Texts (London; New York: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; The Macmillan Company, 1920), 253-54.).
Jesus came to Abraham and promised him and his wife a son, and that through the seed of his son would He bless all nations. Jesus gave Abraham a promise, Jesus was the Promise. In response to his encounter with God, Abraham built an altar (Layer 1) and worshipped Yahweh for His promise of a son. The promised son’s seed grew into a nation (Layer 2), and then during the 1st century was the promise born during the reign of Herod (Layer 3), a baby boy, named Jesus of Nazareth. Spend some time in study today and read Genesis 13:18, Chapter 18, and then perhaps the birth narrative of Jesus (Luke 2:1-20). Thank God for making that promise to Abraham thousands of years ago, and then sending His Son to live a life of flesh, to make payment for flesh, and to reunite us with our Father. Thank Yahweh for providing us with an accurate record of His dealings with Man, and for preserving evidence for us to uncover. Amen
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