EXCAVATION DIG PROVES THE BIBLE IS TRUE!
The royal seal of an ancient
biblical king has been unearthed near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
biblical king has been unearthed near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
The seal, a clay impression depicting a
two-winged sun with two ankh symbols on either side, was once used to seal
papyrus documents associated with King Hezekiah, who ruled the kingdom of Judea
from 727 B.C. to 698 B.C. The seal was unearthed in a trash heap near the walls
of the ancient Temple Mount.
two-winged sun with two ankh symbols on either side, was once used to seal
papyrus documents associated with King Hezekiah, who ruled the kingdom of Judea
from 727 B.C. to 698 B.C. The seal was unearthed in a trash heap near the walls
of the ancient Temple Mount.
"Although seal impressions bearing
King Hezekiah's name have already been known from the antiquities market since
the middle of the 1990s — some with a winged scarab (dung beetle) symbol and
others with a winged sun — this is the first time that a seal impression of an
Israelite or Judean king has ever come to light in a scientific archaeological
excavation,"
King Hezekiah's name have already been known from the antiquities market since
the middle of the 1990s — some with a winged scarab (dung beetle) symbol and
others with a winged sun — this is the first time that a seal impression of an
Israelite or Judean king has ever come to light in a scientific archaeological
excavation,"
King Hezekiah is one of the
most famous of the Israelite kings. During his reign, he rooted out idol worship,
spruced up the decrepit temple and centralized power, as told in biblical accounts.
most famous of the Israelite kings. During his reign, he rooted out idol worship,
spruced up the decrepit temple and centralized power, as told in biblical accounts.
His reign is also one of the
best documented by nonbiblical sources. The chronicles of the Assyrian kings
Sargon II and Sennacherib, who laid siege to Jerusalem under Hezekiah's watch,
describe the Israelite ruler paying tribute to them to fend off attacks. The
Assyrians laid siege to Jerusalem but did not vanquish the Judean kingdom in
Hezekiah's lifetime, according to the Assyrian chronicles.
best documented by nonbiblical sources. The chronicles of the Assyrian kings
Sargon II and Sennacherib, who laid siege to Jerusalem under Hezekiah's watch,
describe the Israelite ruler paying tribute to them to fend off attacks. The
Assyrians laid siege to Jerusalem but did not vanquish the Judean kingdom in
Hezekiah's lifetime, according to the Assyrian chronicles.
The team found the seal while sifting
through archaeological remains from a trash heap found outside what was once
the Royal Building, essentially the food pantry for the ancient kingdom.
through archaeological remains from a trash heap found outside what was once
the Royal Building, essentially the food pantry for the ancient kingdom.
When the researchers took a closer look,
they realized the item was a seal with the following inscription:
"Belonging to Hezekiah, [son of] Ahaz, king of Judah."
they realized the item was a seal with the following inscription:
"Belonging to Hezekiah, [son of] Ahaz, king of Judah."
The seal measures about 0.5 inches (1.3
centimeters) across and bears the imprint of the ring that would have encircled
the seal of soft clay. While similar seals have cropped up in local markets for
two decades, this is the first time an official excavation has uncovered a seal
from Hezekiah's reign.
centimeters) across and bears the imprint of the ring that would have encircled
the seal of soft clay. While similar seals have cropped up in local markets for
two decades, this is the first time an official excavation has uncovered a seal
from Hezekiah's reign.
The winged-sun imagery
suggests the seal came from later in Hezekiah's rule. Earlier in his reign,
Hezekiah used a scarab, or beetle, which
was a typical symbol of power in the Middle East at the time. But in later
life, he turned to the winged-sun imagery, which represented the protection and
refuge of God. Other kings, such as the Assyrians, also employed this symbol,
and Hezekiah's interactions with the Assyrians could have influenced his choice.
suggests the seal came from later in Hezekiah's rule. Earlier in his reign,
Hezekiah used a scarab, or beetle, which
was a typical symbol of power in the Middle East at the time. But in later
life, he turned to the winged-sun imagery, which represented the protection and
refuge of God. Other kings, such as the Assyrians, also employed this symbol,
and Hezekiah's interactions with the Assyrians could have influenced his choice.
While the king's jars used a symbol of
the winged creature with arms extended, the king's personalized seal depicted
those wings turned downward, with the ankh symbols at either end.
the winged creature with arms extended, the king's personalized seal depicted
those wings turned downward, with the ankh symbols at either end.
The researchers hypothesize that this
transition occurred after Hezekiah was struck by a mortal illness. Hezekiah
faced a near-certain death from something called "shehin" (which a
2002 study in the Hebrew journal Harefuah suggested was actually anthrax).
Hezekiah prayed to God, recovered and went on to live another 15 years,
biblical accounts state. His brush with death may have made the ankh symbols,
which represented life, even more significant to the Judean king
transition occurred after Hezekiah was struck by a mortal illness. Hezekiah
faced a near-certain death from something called "shehin" (which a
2002 study in the Hebrew journal Harefuah suggested was actually anthrax).
Hezekiah prayed to God, recovered and went on to live another 15 years,
biblical accounts state. His brush with death may have made the ankh symbols,
which represented life, even more significant to the Judean king
2 KINGS 18:13-16
13-14In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah,
Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the outlying fortress cities of Judah
and captured them. King Hezekiah sent a message to the king of Assyria at his
headquarters in Lachish: “I’ve done wrong; I admit it. Pull back your army;
I’ll pay whatever tribute you set.”
Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the outlying fortress cities of Judah
and captured them. King Hezekiah sent a message to the king of Assyria at his
headquarters in Lachish: “I’ve done wrong; I admit it. Pull back your army;
I’ll pay whatever tribute you set.”
14-16The king of Assyria demanded tribute from
Hezekiah king of Judah—eleven tons of silver and a ton of gold. Hezekiah turned
over all the silver he could find in The Temple of God and in the palace treasuries. Hezekiah even took
down the doors of The Temple of God and
the doorposts that he had overlaid with gold and gave them to the king of
Assyria.
Hezekiah king of Judah—eleven tons of silver and a ton of gold. Hezekiah turned
over all the silver he could find in The Temple of God and in the palace treasuries. Hezekiah even took
down the doors of The Temple of God and
the doorposts that he had overlaid with gold and gave them to the king of
Assyria.
2 KINGS 20:1-6
1Some time later Hezekiah became deathly sick. The prophet Isaiah
son of Amoz paid him a visit and said, “Put your affairs in order; you’re about
to die—you haven’t long to live.”
son of Amoz paid him a visit and said, “Put your affairs in order; you’re about
to die—you haven’t long to live.”
2-3Hezekiah turned from Isaiah and faced God, praying:
Remember, O God, who I am, what I’ve done!
I’ve lived an honest life before you,
My heart’s been true and steady,
I’ve lived to please you; lived for your
approval.
approval.
And then the tears flowed. Hezekiah wept.
4-6Isaiah, leaving, was not halfway across the
courtyard when the word of God stopped
him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, prince of my people, ‘God’s word, Hezekiah! From the God of your ancestor David:
I’ve listened to your prayer and I’ve observed your tears. I’m going to heal
you. In three days you will walk on your own legs into The Temple of God. I’ve just added fifteen years to
your life; I’m saving you from the king of Assyria, and I’m covering this city
with my shield—for my sake and my servant David’s sake.’”
courtyard when the word of God stopped
him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, prince of my people, ‘God’s word, Hezekiah! From the God of your ancestor David:
I’ve listened to your prayer and I’ve observed your tears. I’m going to heal
you. In three days you will walk on your own legs into The Temple of God. I’ve just added fifteen years to
your life; I’m saving you from the king of Assyria, and I’m covering this city
with my shield—for my sake and my servant David’s sake.’”
Published on Dec 5, 2015
The royal seal of an ancient biblical king has been unearthed near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
http://news.yahoo.com/biblical-kings
2 Kings 18:13-16; 2 Kings 20:1-6, The Message, The Bible In Contemporary Language
For Originz by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
The Mighty Kingdom by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/
http://news.yahoo.com/biblical-kings
2 Kings 18:13-16; 2 Kings 20:1-6, The Message, The Bible In Contemporary Language
For Originz by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
The Mighty Kingdom by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/
tags: The Bible, Story, Excavation, King, Hezekiah,
Jerusalem, Judah, Isaiah, God, Assyria, Royal, Seal
Jerusalem, Judah, Isaiah, God, Assyria, Royal, Seal
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