076
Answer: 16
There is a large and ever-growing body of extrabiblical evidence that confirms the existence of well over a dozen kings of ancient Israel and Judah. The dates of these outside sources also provide general corroboration for the sequence of kings outlined for both Israel and Judah in 1 and 2 Kings.
The various royal cuneiform inscriptions of the neo-Assyrian empire offer the most compelling confirmation of ancient Israel’s monarchic history. Ten Israelite kings have been identified in Assyrian documents from the ninth to seventh centuries B.C.: Omri, Ahab, Jehu, Joash, Menahem, Pekah and Hoshea of Israel, and Ahaz, Hezekiah and Manasseh of Judah. The Assyrian records show that although some Israelite kings, such as Ahab and Hezekiah, chose to defend their lands against the expanding Assyrian empire, other kings, like Jehu and Ahaz, sought to secure a more peaceful relationship with Assyria by sending tribute. In addition, a Babylonian ration text recording oil shipments makes reference to Jehoiachin, one of the last kings of Judah.
References to two of the earliest kings of ancient Israel—David and Omri—come from inscriptions of Israel’s neighbors: the famous Moabite Stone of Mesha (849–820 B.C.) and the Tel Dan Stela (ninth century B.C.), likely erected by the Aramaean king Hazael. The former mentions Omri by name, while the latter refers to the royal line of the “House of David.” The Tel Dan Stela also confirms the existence of two additional Israelite kings: Jehoram of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah. Although no authenticated royal Israelite inscriptions have yet been discovered, the recovered seals of several royal officials do specify the names of the kings they served, including Jeroboam II (or Jeroboam I) of Israel and Uzziah of Judah.
Answer: (E) Beer filters
People have been brewing beer for about 7,000 years. Made of a copper alloy, these beer filters (measuring approximately 3 inches long) were found in the middle Euphrates city of Emar, Syria. They are dated to 1300–1150 B.C. and were attached to the ends of drinking straws to filter out the grain and other solid ingredients in the beer. During this period, the strategically situated town of Emar was part of the Hittite empire, close to the frontier of the rivaling state of Assyria. Textual evidence indicates a possible ritual function for beer. A festival honoring the god Dagan and his consort, Ninkur, involved the consecration of perfumes, bread and beer. There is also evidence that beer had a medicinal function. A Hittite medical text advises a physician to “mix [the ingredients] in first-quality beer, let it spend the night under the stars; in the morning, strain the first-quality beer and give it to the patient to drink.”
Answer: 16
There is a large and ever-growing body of extrabiblical evidence that confirms the existence of well over a dozen kings of ancient Israel and Judah. The dates of these outside sources also provide general corroboration for the sequence of kings outlined for both Israel and Judah in 1 and 2 Kings.
