The June 2012 citation of Ephraim Stern

by Doug Mason 26 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Leolaia

  So here is the fuller portion that the Society quotes:

  But the strange thing is that above the remains left by these destructions, we find no evidence of occupation until the Persian period, which began in about 538 B.C.E. For roughly half a century—from 604 B.C.E. to 538 B.C.E.—there is a complete gap in evidence suggesting occupation. In all that time, not a single town destroyed by the Babylonians was resettled.

  Notice that this concerns only the cities that the Babylonians destroyed. This is occupation of the destroyed cities themselves, not of the land as a whole, or the cities that were not destroyed. What the Society doesn't quote is this:

  I do not mean to imply that the country was uninhabited during the period between the Babylonian destruction and the Persian period. There were undoubtedly some settlements, but the population was very small. Many towns and villages were either completely or partly destroyed. The rest were barely functioning. International trade virtually ceased. Only two regions appear to have been spared this fate—the northern part of Judah (the region of Benjamin) and probably the land of Ammon, although the latter region awaits further investigation.

  Not only does Stern deny that the country was uninhabited but he indicates that the land of Benjamin was spared the fate of the rest of the country. Compare this with how Stern is quoted in the 2012 article:

  Did the Israelites remain captive in Babylon for 70 years as the Bible foretold? Note the comments of a leading Israeli archaeologist, Ephrain Stern. "From 604 B.C.E. to 538 B.C.E.—there is a complete gap in evidence suggesting occupation. In all that time, not a single town destroyed by the Babylonians was resettled.'" The so-called gap in which there was no occupation or resettling of conquered territory corresponds closely to Israel's exile in Babylon from 607 to 537 B.C.E.—2 Chronicles 36:20, 21.

  Stern is made here to support the view that that there was no occupation or resettling of the territory at all during the Babylonian exile, when he actually says the opposite.
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  thetrueone

  The WTS. today is just as intellectually dishonest as it was decades ago, under the control of such luminary bible theologians as C.Russell

  and J. Rutherford. When it comes to supporting their organization and exposing their fraudulent teachings they only look one way, with

  obvious intension.

  There's so much glib arrogance in the organization that they will selectively take some information out of context and twist the intended understanding to

  substantiate themselves. This of course gets blow right over the heads of people reading their articles, well at least to their indoctrinated members.
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  Band on the Run

  OMG! It is so blatant here. They appear to be lying rather miscontruing something. Many things can be misconstrued honestly. This is deliberate. The writers know the truth. Normally, I think they are just uneducated fools. This misquote involves clear misrepresentation with the clear intent to prove the opposite.
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  Disillusioned Lost-Lamb
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  JW GoneBad

  Good detection Doug Mason. I always had the impression that the entire nation of Israel (including the region of Benjamin) suffered defeat by the Babylonians. Benjamin, apparently, was hardly affected.

  “However, he (Stern) makes it abundantly clear that the Benjamin region of northern Judah did not suffer; indeed Benjamin prospered during the period.”

  WT needs to make an adjustment in the Insight Vol. 1 book page 289 par 4 where it reads and gives the impression that Benjamin also was taken into exile: “Following the exile in Babylon, the tribes of Benjamin and Judah were most prominent among the restored Israelites in Palestine”
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  Desilusionnee

  marked
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  cantleave

  THis quote mining taken to the next level depth!
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  breakfast of champions

  Following the exile in Babylon, the tribes of Benjamin and Judah were most prominent among the restored Israelites in Palestine

  Nice catch, JW gone bad!
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  Justitia Themis

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  jdchap.9p.115par.9DealingWithOthersasGodDesires

  ***

  . Or in an uncomfortable situation, we might be tempted to mention only selected details, editing them to color the facts. Hence, what we say might technically be true yet give a totally different impression. While this may not be flagrant lying, such as is common in the world today, is it really ‘speaking truth each one with his neighbor,’ or brother? (Ephesians 4:15, 25; 1 Timothy 4:1, 2) When a Christian phrases things in such a way that he inwardly knows is leading brothers to a wrong conclusion, to believe something that is really not true, not accurate, how do you think God feels?
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  AnnOMaly

  Oh boy. LOL. What a great quote, Justitia Themis! A keeper.