Independent scholar Stephen Compton recently made a significant discovery in Israel that supports an epic biblical account of an angel of the Lord annihilating 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Utilizing modern mapping techniques, Compton located what he believes are ancient Assyrian military camps dating back to around 700 B.C. This discovery aligns with Assyrian texts, Greek histories, and the Hebrew Bible, potentially validating biblical accounts from 2 Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37: 36-38 and 2 Chronicles, 32:21.
The scholar’s findings, detailed in the journal Near Eastern Archaeology, are historically significant and potentially groundbreaking. Compton focused on the city of Lachish, which was prominently featured in both the Bible and Assyrian documents. He noted that Assyrian King Sennacherib’s palace depicted the conquest of Lachish, including his military camp, in stone carving. By comparing the landscape to this relief and using early aerial photographs of Lachish, Compton was able to create a virtual map pinpointing the location of the military camp.
The oval shape of Sennacherib’s military camp played a crucial role in narrowing down Compton’s research. By matching the relief in the palace to recognizable features in the landscape and overlaying the two images, Compton successfully identified the site of the military camp. He emphasized the importance of understanding the location, position, dates, and name of the camp within the historical context of Sennacherib’s invasion, further bolstering the credibility of his discovery.
Compton expressed his excitement about the potential for archaeological excavations at the site. He believes that further exploration and analysis could provide valuable additional information about the ancient Assyrian military camps and their significance. By locating and identifying this long-lost site, Compton has opened the door to new opportunities for research and study in the field of Near Eastern archaeology.
Overall, Compton’s discovery may have far-reaching implications for our understanding of ancient history and biblical accounts. By shedding light on the existence of ancient Assyrian military camps and their alignment with historical texts and artifacts, this research has the potential to enhance our knowledge of this pivotal period. The prospect of future excavations at the site offers an exciting opportunity to delve deeper into this fascinating discovery and unlock further insights into the ancient world.
