See the guy in the middle of the picture, groveling on the floor? This is an Assyrian political poster from the 9th century B.C., and the man kow-towing to the Assyrian king is identified in the inscription as someone representing “the house of Omri,” king of Israel. We know Omri from the Bible as the father of King Ahab.
I’ve recently encountered a genius who says there never was an Israel before the modern state of Israel was founded in 1948. He bases this claim on 1) his atheism, believing as he does that not one word of the Bible is true; 2) his complete lack of knowledge of ancient history; 3) his support for the Palestinians, and his fervent desire for them to be right; and 4) his firm conviction that he is smarter than anyone he happens to be talking to.
In fact, Assyrian records name at least nine kings of Israel and Judah who are also mentioned in the Bible. It helps a lot, not to know this. Other peoples of the Ancient Near East also recorded their various dealings with Israel. Knowing this would really hurt this person’s argument, so he doesn’t know it.
Of course you can know enough history to accept that there really was an Israel, long ago, and still be an atheist. What’s really troubling about this character is his claim to intellectual superiority–when in any random gathering, he’s apt to be the dumbest person in the room.
Maybe he just hates God so much, he can’t see straight. Although hating someone you claim does not exist does seem like a major waste of passion.