Summary: A trove of jars used for the shipment of agricultural goods to a government complex of Judah has been unearthed by archaeologists near Jerusalem. The large collection center along with other finds made inside it help build our understanding of activity in Judah 2,700 years ago.
…Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign… And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it … – 2 Kings 18:1-4 (ESV)
Over 120 Seal Stamps Discovered from Era of Kings Hezekiah and Manasseh
Near the new US embassy in Jerusalem, another impressive administrative building has recently been uncovered. This one is 2,700 years older, dating to the time of the last kings of Judah. Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) made the discovery in the Arnona neighborhood, less than two miles south of the Old City of Jerusalem.
A highlight of the excavation was finding one of the largest collections of royal Kingdom of Judah seal impressions ever uncovered in Israel. More than 120 of these impressions were found stamped on jars used to ship agricultural goods to the complex. The building and its contents provide significant new insights into life in Judah during the late First Temple period.
“This is one of the most significant discoveries from the period of the Kings in Jerusalem made in recent years. At the site we excavated, there are signs that governmental activity managed and distributed food supplies not only for shortage but administered agricultural surplus amassing commodities and wealth,” said co-directors Neria Sapir and Nathan Ben-Ari of the IAA in a press release.
Seals in the ancient world were insignias carved on rings or other jewelry that were then used to stamp the emblem or official signature onto clay or other materials. They often sealed parchment or papyrus documents that were bound with cords fastened with a clay lump called a bulla that had a seal impression pressed into it to discourage tampering. They also commonly marked the handles of pottery used to transport goods.
Most of the jar handles at the Arnona site are marked with inscriptions in the Old Hebrew script reading “LMLK” (or LamMeLKh), which means “Belonging to the King.” This along with the massive size of the structure, the style of the architecture made with fine ashlar (sawn) stone, and its location which dominates the valley, all lead to the conclusion that this was a major administrative storage center.
“The site once dominated large agricultural plots and orchards of olive trees and grapevines which included agricultural industrial facilities such as wine presses for winemaking,” said the archaeologists.
Although no names of kings are to be seen on the inscriptions, the archaeological layer they came from (including the style of pottery) pertains to the era of kings Hezekiah (c. 727-698 BC) and Manasseh (c. 698-643 BC) of Judah, through the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians in 586 BC.
The Names on the Arnona Jar Inscriptions
Many of the stamped seals contain the names of one of four Judahite cities (or districts) that were the sources of the foodstuffs. These cities were Hebron, Socoh, Ziph, and Mmst (or “Memshat”). The first three sites have been identified, but the location of Mmst is still debated.
It is not certain whether these goods were part of a taxation or tithing program. About 2,000 similar seals have been found in other excavations in Judah. Some of the archaeologists suggest it was related to Hezekiah’s preparations for the Assyrian invasion under Sennacherib. Assyria had only recently destroyed the northern Kingdom of Israel. (See news of the archaeological discovery of another first temple seal in Jerusalem.)
Additionally, some of the seal impressions contained names of senior officials or wealthy individuals in Judah: Naham [son of] Abdi, Naham [son of] Hazliah, Meshullam [son of] Elnathan, Zaphan [son of] Abmez, Shaniah [son of] Azariah, Shalem [son of] Acha and Shebna [son of] Shachar. “These names appear on storage jar handles at various sites across the Kingdom of Judah and attest to the elite position of those whose names are impressed on the jars,” noted the archaeologists.
Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; – 2 Chronicles 29:12 (ESV)
Most of these same name forms are also found in the Bible for the final period of Judah’s history and even from the reign of Hezekiah. While there is not enough information on the seals to verify that they are the actual people mentioned in the Bible, it is significant that the names popular during that period match between the Bible and archaeology. See the rare seal of a prominent woman discovered from the time of Solomon’s temple.
According to the archaeologists, the size of this site along with data from other excavations, is causing them to rethink the nature of Judah’s administration. It appears that much of the kingdom’s administration took place outside of the City of David at this time. Could this also be the case during earlier periods when some archaeologists have concluded that the lack of finds in Jerusalem contradicts the Bible’s claim of a wealthy and powerful kingdom operating out of Jerusalem at the time of kings David and Solomon?
King Hezekiah and the Prophet Isaiah Named on Seal Impressions
These types of seal impressions depicting winged sun discs and the LMLK inscription are most prominent in the era of King Hezekiah and afterward. As reported in Thinker Updates over the last few years, the most sensational of these finds was the bulla made by a royal seal of King Hezekiah. Incredibly The impression bears an inscription in ancient Hebrew script saying, “Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah”
This is the first time a seal impression for any king of Israel or Judah has ever been found in a controlled archaeological context. About half the size of a USA dime, it was discovered by archaeologists under the directorship of Dr. Eilat Mazar on behalf of the Hebrew University in the Ophel excavations at the foot of the southern wall of the Temple Mount. See this unique evidence of Bible’s King Hezekiah here.
Although not as certain, a corresponding seal stamp that may contain the name of the prophet Isaiah was also found nearby. See this article making the case for the seal’s identity and evidence that Isaiah was real.
Idols Found at Arnona
Storage jars were not the only things found in the compound. What appear to be clay idols were also uncovered. According to Sapir and Ben-Ari, “Some of the figurines are designed in the form of women, horse riders or as animals. These figurines are usually interpreted as objects used in pagan worship and idolatry — a phenomenon, which according to the Bible, was prevalent in the Kingdom of Judah.”
Although the Bible has King Hezekiah reforming pagan worship in Judah, his son, Manasseh was perhaps its most evil king. He even had the prophet Isaiah sawn in half according to tradition.
A Mysterious Stone Heap
Perhaps the greatest mystery is the huge pile of flint stones that covers the site. It measures 65 feet high and covers an area of nearly two acres. The purpose of the massive heap is unknown, but it appears to date to around the time of the 6th century BC Babylonian invasion of Judah. There are hopes that more of the complex is waiting to be discovered under the portion of the heap not yet excavated.
“These artificial stone hills have been identified at several sites in Jerusalem and are a phenomenon of the end of the First Temple period and have aroused the curiosity and fascination of Jerusalem researchers since the beginning of archaeological research in the area,” said the archaeologists. “Nevertheless, the reason for the huge effort made in stacking them over many acres remains an unresolved archaeological mystery.”
Previously, the only indication of ancient activity at the site was the massive pile of stones visible on the surface. The IAA was called in to survey the site ahead of planned construction of a new residential area, something that is legally mandatory in Israel.
Conclusion
According to the researchers, this site testifies to the strong centralized nature of Judah’s kingdom at the time of Hezekiah. It then remained active after Assyria’s failed attempt to take Jerusalem. However, after Judah’s destruction in 586 BC, the complex was abandoned only to have administrative activity resume a short while later as the area operated as a province in the Persian and Ptolemaic empires. This began in the era of Ezra and Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem.
“The archaeological discoveries at Arnona identify the site as a key site — the most important in the history of the final days of the Kingdom of Judah and of the return to Zion decades after the destruction of the Kingdom. This site joins a number of other key sites uncovered in the area of Jerusalem which were connected to the centralized administrative system of the Kingdom of Judah from its peak until its destruction,” said Baruch.
Every stage of this major administrative complex, along with its contents of seal-impressed jars and idols, remarkably matches the biblical account, making it one of the most important historical discoveries in Jerusalem in recent years. – KEEP THINKING!
TOP PHOTO: A sheltered portion of the Arnona excavation site where the walls of a large administrative complex from around 700 BC were unearthed. (credit: Yaniv Berman, Israel Antiquities Authority)
