SUMMARY: A recent discovery has been made from the soil of a 2013 excavation from underneath the ruins of the Robinson’s Arch stairway at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. A bulla, or seal, bearing the name and identity of an official to a biblical king has been unearthed.
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” – Gen. 41:39-44 (ESV)
The Discovery of the Seal
As widely publicized in Israeli news, soil from a 2013 excavation of material beneath the Robinson’s Arch area was examined this past summer as part of a volunteer archaeological program sponsored by the City of David’s Archaeological Experience. A teenager sifting through the dirt reportedly made a very special discovery. It was a bulla, or seal impression from the personal signet of a high official representing a biblical king.
The seal identifies the representative by name and official role. Written in paleo-Hebrew script, and datable to the Kingdom of Judah in the 7th century BCE, the seal reads: “Adoniyahu Asher Al Habayit,” translated as “Adonijah, Who is Over the House” (Adonijah is the translation customarily used in English Bibles). The seal is reportedly about 1 centimeter and made of metal. (See a previous Update for the discovery of a seal showing evidence that Jerusalem was a strong, central city.)
The Foreground of the Discovery
For almost 2,000 years, visitors to the southwestern corner of the Western Wall may have observed innocuous stones jutting out with little idea of their original purpose. Originally, these stones were part of a great arch and stairway built there as part of Herod’s Second Temple expansion project. Josephus recorded that at this juncture, a bridge comprised of a great number of steps once led to the valley and streets below.
However, the staircase was destroyed in 70 CE in connection to the sacking of Jerusalem, meaning that it was only completed and in place for a few decades. For many centuries since then, it seemed no one understood or even noticed the stones or their connection to the ground level debris that lay at the base of the wall.
How the Seal Survived
However, beginning with American biblical scholar, Edward Robinson in the early 19th century, the remains of the arch and the debris on the ground became the repeated objects of inquiry and investigation. Amazingly, at the time of Robinson’s discovery (1838 CE) some of the ruins from the stairway or bridge were at ground level and in full view.
The significance of this is that the soil underneath this destroyed bridge was protected and undisturbed for most of the past two millennia. Anything that survived undisturbed in the soil from the first temple period until the bridge was razed to the ground in 70 CE, continued to remain hidden under cover of the bridge ruins until recent excavations unearthed it.
The Seal’s Significance and Meaning
Hence, a first temple object has apparently now been discovered, and it is a bulla. The phrase “Adoniyahu Asher Al Habayit,” or “Adonijah, Who is Over the House,” is interesting for a few reasons. First, the phrase “Asher Al Habayit” was used to identify the most senior representative of the administration that he served. This was the highest status that could be achieved under a given ruler. For example, it was the status that was given to Joseph when Potiphar made him overseer of his house (Gen. 39:4). Later, Joseph once again received this status when the Pharaoh of Egypt appointed him Vizier over Egypt (Gen. 41:39-44). Ultimately, Joseph had his own steward who managed his affairs and served “over his house” (Gen. 43:19-24). In this latter case, it is clear that the individual was uniquely privy to the actions and wishes of the individual he served.
(See these Thinker Updates for the discovery of a collection of First Temple seals providing evidence that Israelite refugees were in Judah, King Hezekiah’s seal, and a Hebrew seal inscription that names an aide to King Josiah mentioned in the Bible.)
In the first Temple period, King Hezekiah’s steward is identified with this title as Eliakim in multiple texts (2 Kings 18:18; 18:37; Isaiah 36:3). Similar language is used in the New Testament when the angel announced to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, who would be called the Son of the Most High, who would be granted the throne of His father David, and who would reign “over the house” of Jacob forever. In the Book of Hebrews, He again is described as a great high priest who is “over the house” of God, thus encouraging believers to draw near with confidence (Hebrews 10:21).
And when they called for the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder. – 2 Kings 18:18 (ESV)
No one knows for sure who the Adonijah referenced in the bulla is, or which king he served. What is known, though, is that the name wasn’t uncommon. There are three different men in the Bible named Adonijah, and it means “My Lord is Yahweh.” The first known Adonijah was the infamous fourth son of King David (2 Samuel 3:4). The second was a Levite sent to teach the book of the law to the inhabitants of Judah (2 Chronicles 17:8). The third known Adonijah was a post-captivity leader mentioned in Nehemiah 10:6. Perhaps there is not a better biblical name than this one!
Whoever this Adoniah was, he was the highest official to a biblical king from the First Temple Period, and we apparently now have a seal from his personal signet. Having an actual bulla imprinted with the name of someone so close to a biblical king definitely captures the imagination. This is certainly a discovery that will keep us thinking!
TOP PHOTO: The “Adonayahu Asher Al Habayit” bulla (seal). (Credit: ELIYAHU YANAI CITY OF DAVID ARCHIVES)
NOTE: Not every view expressed by scholars contributing Thinker articles necessarily reflects the views of Patterns of Evidence. We include perspectives from various sides of debates on biblical matters so that readers can become familiar with the different arguments involved. – Keep Thinking!
