Byblos in Bible

by Damien F. Mackey “The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.” I Kings 5:18 Some famous places are surprisingly poorly represented in the Bible. One of these is Rome. To my amazement, I ended up writing this article: Rome surprisingly minimal in Bible (4) Rome surprisingly minimal in Bible | Damien Mackey - Academia.edu Romanophiles read and weep! A second place is Phoenicia, never once mentioned in the Old Testament, and hardly at all in the New Testament (Mark 7:26 has “Syrophoenician”). On this, see my article: Of Cretans and Phoenicians (5) Of Cretans and Phoenicians | Damien Mackey - Academia.edu A third is Byblos, a most famous port city, far older than Rome. Thus we read at: https://libshop.fr/en/the-old-town-of-byblos/ BYBLOS OLD TOWN If you want to visit one of the oldest cities on earth, still inhabited today, start with the old town of Byblos. A true ancient city, the city of Byblos, in Lebanon, has been inhabited by mankind for more than 7000 years. And since then, its historic city, its commercial tradition, its ramparts dating from the time of the Crusades and its old souks continue to interest visitors from all over the world. Like Lebanon, its country, the city of Byblos still retains the traces of the many civilizations that have crossed paths there. You will easily see this by visiting the many architectural and historical sites that adorn its streets. The ancient site of the city is one of the must-sees to visit in Byblos. This part of the city is home to most of the vestiges of Byblos' past: Roman columns, Persian fortifications, Crusader citadel and Phoenician [sic] walls. The tombs of the kings of Byblos are also worth a visit, especially that of Ahiram. The oldest inscription in Phenicia is lying on his sarcophagus which is now on display in the museum of Beirut. Beyond this historic landscape, the medieval port is also a true symbol of the old town of Byblos. It is arched by two small crossed towers, once linked by a chain to prevent access. City of culture par excellence, Byblos would be the origin of the name of the Bible. According to the story, it was from Byblos that Phoenician traders imported the famous papyrus from Egypt, used to make the Bible. It is also in Byblos that the Phoenician alphabet was born, before the discovery of our modern alphabet. Built simultaneously with the Crusader Castle of Byblos in the 12th century, the ramparts of the old town extend over 270 m from east to west, and over 200 m from north to south. They feature ancient column shafts implanted directly into the walls, as well as towers planted in several places. Churches and mosques are also interesting points of visit in Byblos. Among the most visited are the mosque of Sultan Abdul Majid dating from 1648, the Church of Our Lady of the Sea erected in the 18th century, the Cross Cathedral of St Jean built around 1115 and the Church of Our Lady of Deliverance built in the 12th century. …. Yet, despite all this, Byblos, or Gubla (or Gebal), as it was known to the biblical scribes, is hardly at all mentioned in the Bible. Why? There is that quote above, I Kings 5:18, in which the Hebrew the Gebalites (הַגִּבְלִ֑ים) is translated as “workers from Byblos”. There is Joshua 13:5: “… the area of Byblos; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath”. Thus translated from “the land of the Gebalites” (הָאָרֶץ הַגִּבְלִי) There is also Psalm 82:8 (Douay/ otherwise 83:7): “… Gebal, and Ammon and Amalec: the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre”. Gebal (גְּבָ֣ל). Ezekiel 27:9: “Wise old craftsmen from Gebal [זִקְנֵי גְבַל] did the caulking. Ships from every land came with goods to barter for your trade”. That is a pitifully meagre collection for reputedly “one of the oldest cities on earth”! For a new perspective on King Ahiram of Byblos, see Dr. I. Velikovsky’s book (1978): • Chapter III: THE TOMB OF KING AHIRAM The Speedy Scribe . The Tomb of Ahiram . The Inscriptions of Ahiram and the Origin of the Alphabet . Ithobaal, Son of Ahiram . “A Curious Fact” . A Recapitulation .