https://www.foxnews.com/faith-...salem-2700-years-ago
The stone ring indicates a multi-national culture thriving in ancient Jerusalem

By Peter Aitken | Fox News
Published August 29, 2024 7:16am EDT

Archaeologists in the City of David National Park in Israel have discovered a rare stone seal from the first temple period – one of the oldest finds since the start of excavations in the country, affirming the biblical role of Jerusalem 2,700 years ago.

"The seal, made of black stone, is one of the most beautiful ever discovered in excavations in ancient Jerusalem, and is executed at the highest artistic level," Dr. Yuval Baruch and Navot Rom, excavation directors, said in a press release.

Baruch touted the piece as evidence of reading and writing abilities on a wider scale than previously thought during the period.

"Contrary to what may be commonly thought, it seems that literacy in this period was not the realm only of society’s elite," Baruch argued. "People knew how to read and write – at least at the basic level, for the needs of commerce."



"The figure of a winged man in a distinct Neo-Assyrian style is unique and very rare in the glyphic styles of the late First Temple period," he added. "The influence of the Assyrian Empire, which had conquered the entire region, is clearly evident here."

The seal depicts a winged genie in the style of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, which the excavating team argued showed the influence of the empire in the region in the 7th and 8th centuries. The press release said the "figure raises one arm forward, with an open palm; perhaps to suggest some object it is holding. On both sides of the figure an inscription is engraved in paleo-Hebrew script – "LeYehoʼezer ben Hoshʼayahu."

The release continues that, "The name Yehoʼezer is familiar to us from the Bible (Chron. I 12:7) in its abbreviated form – Yoʼezer, one of King David's fighters," while also stating that "in the book of Jeremiah (43:2), describing the events of this very period, a person is mentioned with a parallel name, ʼAzariah ben Hoshʼaya. The two parts of his first name are written in reverse order to the seal owner’s name, and his second name is the same, appearing in its abbreviated form. This writing form in the text fits the name on the newly discovered seal and it is thus appropriate for this time period."

Ze'ev Orenstein, director of International Affairs for the City of David Foundation, told Fox News Digital that "This singular find joins the list of countless archeological discoveries in the City of David - the historic site of Biblical Jerusalem - affirming Jerusalem's Biblical heritage."

"It similarly serves as yet another affirmation of the thousands-of-year-old bond rooting the Jewish people in Jerusalem - not simply as a matter of faith, but as a matter of fact," he said.

Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist and Assyriologist Dr. Filip Vukosavovic declared the discovery "extremely rare and unusual" and marks the first time such an artefact was found in Israeli and regional digs.



"Figures of winged demons are known in the Neo-Assyrian art of the 9th-7th Centuries BCE, and they were considered a kind of protective demon," Vukosavovic said of the object.

The experts determined that the seal’s owner would have chosen this specific depiction as the insignia because he may have felt it "belonged to the broader cultural context."

"In recent years, the archaeological evidence is increasing – especially in the City of David excavations and at the base of the Temple Mount – and instructive regarding the extent of the Assyrian culture's influence in our region, and especially in Jerusalem," Baruch said.

The researchers believe the object was worn as an amulet around the neck of a man who held a senior position in the Kingdom of Judah’s administration. They based their conclusion on the presence of a hole drilled through the piece, likely to allow it to be worn on a string and the high artistic level required to produce the piece.

Israeli Minister of Heritage Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu praised the piece as a "spectacular and unique find" that "opens another window for us into the days of the Kingdom of Judah … and attests to the administration’s international connections."

"In doing so, it demonstrates the importance and centrality of Jerusalem already 2700 years ago," Eliyahu said. "It is impossible not to be moved by such an unmediated and direct encounter with a chapter of our past, a time in which the First Temple stood in all its glory."

The City of David team will put the seal on public display next week in Jerusalem for two days during the annual research conference, with viewings on Sept. 4 and 5.

That’s awesome, and encouraging! Thanks Q!

Excellent!

quote:

”It similarly serves as yet another affirmation of the thousands-of-year-old bond rooting the Jewish people in Jerusalem - not simply as a matter of faith, but as a matter of fact," he said.

More proof that the Bible is absolutely correct. Excellent find!

I love how this keeps happening!

The Pool of Siloam was rediscovered in 2004 when they were digging a sewer there, it's the pool mentioned in the New Testament account of the man blind from birth having his sight restored by Christ:

quote:

John 9:1-12

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

Thanks for the memory of our trip to Israel in 2019. We are so fortunate to have gone then. After that came COVID, then more trouble, now the war.
But I understand if you visit Israel now (you'll have to fly El Al, foreign airlines not flying there much of the time), you can have the most holy sites of Christianity almost to yourself, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

But… but… the terrorist loving Palestinian supporters assured us that the Israelis didn’t arrive there until the founding of the state of Israel… how can this be?

A few years back the Scrolls of Qumran hit the Denver Museum. The Scrolls were the headliner, but much of the exhibit with all sorts of things like in the OP.

Very cool. I would love to go to Israel one day, either in this life or the next in the New Jerusalem.

Rev 21

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
Thanks for the memory of our trip to Israel in 2019. We are so fortunate to have gone then. After that came COVID, then more trouble, now the war.
But I understand if you visit Israel now (you'll have to fly El Al, foreign airlines not flying there much of the time), you can have the most holy sites of Christianity almost to yourself, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

It is an amazing place isn't it? I went about a week after Christmas a few years before you and found the crowds weren't bad at all, except in Bethlehem where there was a looooong line to get downstairs and you had about 30 seconds before you were shuffled along.

At the time, I kind of half-heartedly joked that I wanted to see it while it was still there. I'd hate to think that that was prophetic, but if Iran ever gets a nuke....

I would love to go back some day when things settle down as it really was life-changing for me.

Meanwhile in western Iowa, the
farmers are digging up prehistoric elephant like beasts ,
Trying to prove that man and dinosaurs existed at the same time.

The winged demons are called 'pazuzu'- kind of 'guardian angles', but in Assyrian....

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Meanwhile in western Iowa, the
farmers are digging up prehistoric elephant like beasts ,
Trying to prove that man and dinosaurs existed at the same time.

Huh? A mastodon is not a dinosaur.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Meanwhile in western Iowa, the
farmers are digging up prehistoric elephant like beasts ,
Trying to prove that man and dinosaurs existed at the same time.

Huh? A mastodon is not a dinosaur.

I know that. YOU know that. But the klutzes who think they are are the 6000 y/o Earth folk, for whom all the fossils were put there at the same time to fool us into confusion.