2,500-Year-Old Seal Discovered in Jerusalem
2,500-Year-Old Seal of First Temple Family Mentioned in Nehemiah Discovered in Jerusalem: Teresa Neumann (January 18, 2008) “One cannot help being astonished by the credibility of the Biblical source as seen by the archaeological find.”
(Jerusalem)—A 2,500-year-old black stone seal bearing the name “Temech” on it was uncovered during an excavation near Jerusalem’s Dung Gate this week. (Photo: Edwin Trebels courtesy of Dr. Eilat Mazar)
The 7th chapter of the Book of Nehemiah indicates that the Temech family were servants of the First Temple who were sent into exile to Babylon following its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BC. and later returned to Jerusalem.
According to a Jerusalem Post report, the seal is engraved with two bearded priests standing on either side of an incense altar with their hands raised forward in a position of worship. A crescent moon, the symbol of the chief Babylonian god Sin, also appears on the top of the altar.
The Israeli archeologist leading the dig, Dr. Eilat Mazar, said: “The fact that this cultic scene relates to the Babylonian chief god, seemed not to have disturbed the Jews who used it on their own seal. The seal of the Temech family gives us a direct connection between archeology and the Biblical sources and serves as actual evidence of a family mentioned in the Bible. One cannot help being astonished by the credibility of the Biblical source as seen by the archaeological find.” [Copyright 2008, Agape Press: Used By Special Permission]
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I can explain the nature of the seal conflicting with traditional Jewish beliefs, these people were captives if the Babylonians! It would be like a modern day form of identification, we have no choice of the graphics shown on our drivers license or our social security cards. These people were given a special dispensation by the king to rebuild the city so important to them, they were not made soveriegns over it.
It continues to amaze me how the biblical accuracy continues to prove and validate the Bible itself - just think, a one inch stone becomes unearthed and we can reference it to the exact time frame in history. Kudos Dr. Mazar.