Posted on 08/01/2008 1:50:13 PM PDT by Alouette
A seal impression belonging to a minister of the Biblical King Zedekiah which dates back 2,600 years has been uncovered completely intact during an archeological dig in Jerusalem's ancient City of David, a prominent Israeli archeologist said on Thursday.
The seal impression, or bulla, with the name Gedalyahu ben Pashur, who served as minister to King Zedekiah (597-586 BCE) according to the Book of Jeremiah, was found just meters away from a separate seal impression of another of Zedekia's ministers, Yehukual ben Shelemyahu, which was uncovered three years ago, said Prof. Eilat Mazar who is leading the dig at the site.
The excavation at the history-rich City of David, which is located just outside the walls of the Old City near Dung Gate, has proven, in recent years, to be a treasure trove for archeologists.
"On the one hand it is so unexpected to find such a fragile bulla in such harsh conditions of excavation, while on the other hand it was logical to find precisely here the bulla of Gedalyahu ben Pashur - only meters away from the place where we found the bulla of Yehukhal ben Shelemyahu - since these two ministers are mentioned side by side in the Bible as having served together in the kingdom of King Zedekiah," Mazar said.
The first bulla was uncovered inside an impressive stone structure, which Mazar believes is the Palace of David, while the second bulla was found at the foot of the external wall of the same structure, under a tower that was built in the days of Nehemiah.
Both of the bullae with the names of the two ministers, measuring 1 cm. in diameter each, were found among the debris of the destruction of the First Temple period.
The letters are in ancient Hebrew and are very clearly preserved, Mazar said.
Both ministers are mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38 1-4) along with two other ministers when they came to King Zedekiah demanding the death of the prophet Jeremiah for preaching to the besieged city to surrender.
Mazar said it was "absolutely fantastic" to have uncovered the seals "complete and in perfect condition" after 2,600 years, affording scholars a clear read of the names that were impressed on them.
"It is not very often that such a discovery happens in which real figures of the past shake off the dust of history and so vividly revive the stories of the Bible," she said.
The archeologist, who rose to international prominence for her excavation that may have uncovered the Biblical palace of King David nearby, has been at the forefront of a series of back-to-back Jerusalem archeological finds, including the remnants of a wall from the Biblical prophet Nehemiah, also in the area.
Other Biblical-era bullae were previously found a quarter century ago at the City of David site. In 1982, the Israeli archeologist Yigal Shiloh discovered a cache of bullae in a nearby site, including one with the name of Gemaryahu ben Shaphan - mentioned in the Bible as a minister and scribe during the reign of King Jehoiakim (608-597 BCE).
The current dig is being conducted on behalf of the Shalem center, a Jerusalem research institute, and the right-wing City of David Foundation, and was carried out under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Ping to read later
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
This is way cool. If I recall my Bible history right, wasn’t King Zed the guy who had his eyes put out when the Bablyonians took over the city? Or am I thinking about somebody else?
I'm personally holding out for someone to find a 600 B.C. steel bow as referenced in the FLDS and LDS Book of Mormon.
1 Nephi 16:18 "And it came to pass that as I, Nephi, went forth to slay food, behold, I did break my bow, which was made of fine steel; and after I did break my bow, behold, my brethren were angry with me because of the loss of my bow, for we did obtain no food."
GGG ping
Indeed...
I want to see the ruins of Nephi, I hear they are “unreal”...
The bible is true, and day by day it is being proven.
ping to read later
As late as 1892 the teaching that the moon was inhabited appeared in a church publication. In an article published in the Young Woman's Journal, O. B. Huntington stated: Nearly all the great discoveries of men in the last half century have, in one way or another, either directly or indirectly, contributed to prove Joseph Smith to be a Prophet. As far back as 1837, I know that he said the moon was inhabited by men and women the same as this earth, and that they lived to a greater age than we do, that they live generally to near the age of a 1000 years. He described the men as averaging near six feet in height, and dressing quite uniformly in something near the Quaker style. In my Patriarchal blessing, given by the father of Joseph the Prophet, in Kirtland, 1837, I was told that I should preach the gospel before I was 21 years of age; that I should preach the gospel to the inhabitants upon the islands of the sea, and—to the inhabitants of the moon, even the planet you can now behold with your eyes (FLDS and LDS Young Woman's Journal, published by the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations of Zion, 1892, vol.3, pp.263-64).
Well of course you can go on tours of these fantastic ruins named through the novel book of mormon.
You’ve got it right, it was Zed.
This is way cool. If I recall my Bible history right, wasn’t King Zed the guy who had his eyes put out when the Bablyonians took over the city?
Yup-o. Ezekiel prophesied that he would go to Babylon but not see it.
it’s BC dammit
For those of you interested in history and the Bible....Ping
THANKS.
The two mentioned in the article, Nebuchadnezzar's official a few months ago, and a cylinder seal belonging to a priest from the period of the monarchy, that I read about in Biblical Archeology Review years (decades?) back.
Which millenium would Belshazzar be in and the period of Daniel?
That same millennium. 1st mill BC. Daniel went into exile in (IIRC) 605BC. Belshazzar was towards the end of Daniel’s life.
Are you including Belshazzar in the ones now verified, because his name was found on a clay tablet dedication in the base of a tower ruins, so it is now established that he really existed and was ‘king’ in Babylon when he offered third position of power to Daniel.
Are you including Belshazzar in the ones now verified,
No, I wasn't.
[Portion from That's In The Bible?]
In 1854, a member of the British Consul was exploring ancient ruins in southern Iraq and dug into a great tower built there. He found a time capsule: clay cylinders inscribed with cuneiform writing; the cylinders were inscribed at the time of Nabonidus, king of Babylon from 555-539 B.C., and commemorated repairs the king made to the tower; they included a prayer for long life of Nabonidus and his oldest son, Belshazzar, proving Belshazzar was not a fictional character.
[Here is a further aside regarding the veracity of the Bible. Where the scriptures translate in verse 5:2 the Hebrew word ‘av’ to read father, it can also be translated as ancestor or predecessor; Belshazzar was not the direct son of Nebuchadnezzar but he was descended from him through his mother who married Nabonides.
Nabonides is considered the last great king of Babylon. His relationship with the previous Kings of Babylon is unclear, perhaps he was once a great general, but he came to the throne by overthrowing a young king named Labashi-Marduk. It is likely Nabonides substantiated his claim to the throne by marrying Nitocris, a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar, since he was not a blood relative to Nebuchadnezzar.
Being a religious eccentric, in 549 BC Nabonides left Babylon to live at Teyma (Tema) located in what is now Saudi Arabia, northeast of Hijaz, where the ancient trade route between Medina and Dumah crosses the Nefud desert. Tayma is approximately 400 kilometers north of Medina.
While on religious sojourn Nabonides left his son behind to rule in Babylon, but Belshazzar never fully came to the throne. Skeptics believed that the writer of Daniel made an historical error in calling Belshazzar king, but when Belshazzar told Daniel that if he could interpret the strange writing on the wall he (Daniel) would be granted authority in the kingdom as third ruler, the scriptures show a detail which lends credence to the account.
Belshazzar was not the first ruler of the kingdom, but he was in a secondary position, appointed to reign in Babylon while his father was away. By Babylonian tradition, all in the city with the secondary ruler would call him king.
Belshazzar offered to Daniel third position, so the writer of the Book faithfully related the fact as a minor detail, and then much later archaeological evidence substantiated the trivia.
... end of excerpt
I’m personally holding out for someone to find a 600 B.C. steel bow as referenced in the FLDS and LDS Book of Mormon.
How snide and unnecessary. This is an archeology thread, not a thread to knock Mormons on. What a rotten thing to do.
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Psalms 18:34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
Job 20:24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
The poster is an escapee from mormonism. I think he believes in God and that the Bible is God’s Word, he’s just no longer blind.
And just to add to his hatred, here's a couple more references to add to the other two.
2 Sam. 22: 35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
Jer. 15: 12 Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?
Further, there have been steel knifes, picks, etc. found in Egypt and Jericho and elsewhere, dating all the way back to 1300 B.C. I'm sure sentinel had his reasons for leaving Mormonism, but to make 600 BC steel one of them is pretty sad.
Once again, the Bible proves to be true.
Two obscure names from 2,600 years ago resurface against all odds—sieges, burnings, wars, famines.
Two seals waiting, waitng for the light of day to testify that the Word of God in inerrant and trustworthy.
Praise His Holy name.
****Further, there have been steel knifes, picks, etc. found in Egypt and Jericho and elsewhere, dating all the way back to 1300 B.C. I’m sure sentinel had his reasons for leaving Mormonism, but to make 600 BC steel one of them is pretty sad. ****
I think the point is how many steel anythings have been found in PRE-COLOMBIAN AMERICA! A simple nail would do!
Um, the imaginary steel written about as being all over the Americas at that time is what is so absurd. But that was a nice tyr to impugn the beliefs in the Bible which are plagarized. There is zero evidence of steel in the Americas at the time to which you refer. Unless you’ve ‘found’ some evidence to the contrary, your effort to make apologetics for the specious references of steel found in the book of mormon novel from Joseph Smith, well, unless you have evidence that verifies the fabrications by Smith you would do well to avoid the topic on an archaeology thread because the fallacies in the b of m will only get more laughed at.
Are you including Belshazzar in the ones now verified,No, I wasn't.
To be a little clearer, no one's surprised to find artifacts with references to kings and emperors. No one doubts the existence of Cyrus or Nebuchadnezzar. Finding out that the bible is accurate about obscure people carries more weight.
Just another archeological find that backs the Biblical record.
Belshazzar was considered a fictional character and by inference Daniel also, until the clay inscription was discovered.
It's no different than the Illiad: Troy existed; Trojan war never happened.
Just because the Bible references real names doesn't mean the stories are real. In fact, the evidence shows they are not.
Yes it does matter. It’s a minor detail that’s precisely accurate.
It becomes a mathematical issue. The probability of a huge body of minor details being correct does NOT undercut the validity of the major details. Rather, it enhances the validity.
Isn't Jesus' story just another biblical fairy tale?
Kosta, are you the attending Orthodox who disbelieves that a real, physical resurrection took place?
Your logic is flawed. You can have many factual details in a fictional story. The factual details only make it more believable but not necessasrily true.
We know the Bible makes factual references to places and people (no one can deny that), but the factual evidence does not fit the stories.
Sometimes, truth hurts, x.
Because following in Christ's footsteps is salvation for the world. This would would be a lot better place is we all became like Christ. I firmly believe that.
Isn't Jesus' story just another biblical fairy tale?
The message the "Jesus story" proclaims is not a fairytale but something very real, achievable and good for the world.
I firmly believe that the world would be a lot better place if we all became like Buddha or the Dali Llama or Ghandi.
Hell, the world would be a lot better place if we all became like Forrest Gump.
Why do you even think you are a Christian?
No, I’m correct. Probability increases as minor details are verified.
To say that a writing is more valid because a major city such as Rome is mentioned is far more correct than one claiming there was no such city as Rome.
An entry that gives the exact names of 3 minor court officials of a governor of a province is even more significant. When those names are verified by external evidence, it increases confidence in the validity of the information within the writing rather than DECREASES confidence.
If the "Jesus Story" is not factual, then there is no reason to think about it at all. You're simply testifying to a sentimental streak that you have within you.
The movie, "Bambi" will do just as well.
If Jesus is not, in reality, alive, then you are not only dead in your trespasses and sins, you are among the walking dead soon to be nothing more than dust in the wind.
By the way, you are denying the Christ.
Orthodoxy is my choice, not my destiny, x.
The Jesus story was resurrected even after its enemies thought they killed it, and the disciples believed it was dead.
After the resurrection, the disciples, previously scared and half-believing, became true Apostles of Christ, even unto death. Something happened, x, that turned them 180 degrees from lukewarm followers and doubters to believers.
After Christ we have the Spirit, the spirit of his ministry, the Spirit of what He is said to have proclaimed on earth, and it is in that spirit, the spirit of His message that we proclaim the resurrected Christ (Savior) of the world, whether it be physical or whether it be the best idea that ever lived.
That spirit of love and mercy is real and subsisting in many a Christian. The spirit of His ministry changes people in a very real sense, so much so that many if not most of us feel we are not the same as before. Alcoholics are cured, wife beaters repent, drug addicts are freed from their chains, criminals are rehabilitated, etc, even murderers become saints and even Apostles! :)
And, as far as I am concerned, there is no more beautiful way of giving thanks to Him and "glory be to You" than the way we do in Orthodoxy.
Christianity is not a fairytale, x. Christianity is real and imminent, a divine idea that shall never die, a living spirit, a spirit of liberation, a spirit of healing, a spirit of love, a spirit of redemption and a spirit of what idealized humanity will be, in due time.
It's not the story, but the message it proclaims that makes us Christians. The message calls on us to follow in Christ's footsteps, to believe in this idea, so that we may be(come one day) perfect as God is perfect, to become gods by grace.
You can mention three dozen officials. It's not their names but what they actually did and what transpired that matters. The names can be true but the author can write fiction about them.
Medallions and tablets mean nothing. They only tells us that tese people existed, not what they did or what events took place.
That's a cop out, kosta, if I ever saw one.
You don't believe it actually happened. Too bad. You are lost in your sins.
"Dead man walking"
You have no proof that it is factual. You choose to believe it is.
But the story of Jesus lives and exists very much so, and its message is powerful and real becase it tells us that we can live in heaven on earth.
The movie, "Bambi" will do just as well.
Your choice, x, not mine.
If Jesus is not, in reality, alive, then you are not only dead in your trespasses and sins, you are among the walking dead soon to be nothing more than dust in the wind. By the way, you are denying the Christ
That's fine with me. I am not scared. Jesus is alive in Christianity. He lives in our hearts, as a spirit of love and mercy. Those who live in the spirit of Christ do not deny Him. They exalt Him.
Kolo, is Kosta50 a Heretic, or do you believe this nonsense as well?
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