Spending just a few minutes each day reading the Bible, with the help of a plan and some notes, makes the it easier to understand.
Shishak
In the great temple at Thebes in southern Egypt, the figure of a Pharaoh called Shishak (Shehonq 1) who ruled Egypt 945-924 BC, is carved into the stone walls together with details of his exploits and the conquest of other nations. One of the names of the nations inscribed at Thebes is that of Israel.
In the Bible record, we read of this Pharaoh Shishak giving refuge to Jeroboam the son of Nebat when he fled from King Solomon. [1 Kings 11.40] We also learn that, after the death of Solomon, Shishak invaded the southern kingdom of Judah, taking Jerusalem and plundering the treasures of the Temple and king Rehoboam's palace:
‘... Shishak... came up against Jerusalem. And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house; he took away everything. He also took away all the gold shields which Solomon had made.’ [1 Kings 14.25,26 NKJV]
While digging at Meggido in Israel, archaeologists found a fragment of a triumphal inscription with the name of Pharaoh Shishak carved in Egyptian hieroglyphics, alongside other clear evidence of Egyptian occupation of this Israeli city in the past.
The picture shows a gold bracelet that belonged to Shishak, which the experts suggest was probably made from the gold looted from Jerusalem. It is also thought that much of the gold gathered by Solomon, and taken as plunder by Shishak, was used to make many of the magnificent presents, which the Pharaohs offered to their gods. An example of this is the gold treasures found in the tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamun.
Once again, we have an example of the Bible record being verified by the work of the archaeologist from artefacts found both in Israel and in Egypt. As Jesus put it so clearly:
‘Your word is truth.’ [John 17.17 NKJV]