Archaeologists in Israel have discovered an incredibly rare ancient cuneiform inscription with a link to Hezekiah, King of Judah, who’s mentioned within the Bible.
The find concerns a delay to a tribute payment from the Kingdom of Judah to the Assyrian Empire.
In the Old Testament accounts, Hezekiah rebelled against the Assyrian King Sennacherib. Sennacherib’s army laid siege to Jerusalem, but after sincere prayer from Hezekiah and his ministers, the angel of the Lord destroyed Sennacherib’s army, forcing him to desert the siege.
The inscription, which could also be related to the event, was found on an inch-long pottery shard that’s believed so far back 2,700 years.
Although it doesn’t mention the King of Judah by name, researchers said that the chronological context wherein the fragment was found and the small print within the partial inscription make the connection likely.
The sherd was found during a dig near the Western Wall of the Temple Mount and was written within the language of the Akkadians. It is believed to be the one Assyrian inscription from the First Temple era to be present in Jerusalem.
The sherd appears to be a part of an inscribed royal sealing sent by Assyria and mentions the due date of a tax or tribute, resulting in speculation that Judah had failed or refused to pay Assyria its dues as overlord.
Researchers working at the positioning said that it could “attest to a certain point of friction between Judah and the imperial government”, and possibly the revolt recorded in 2 Kings 18:7.
The sherd was found by Moriah Cohen, who works on the Archaeological Experience in Emek Tzurim.
“I used to be sifting through the dirt and suddenly noticed a sherd with a wierd decoration. Examining it closely, it looked to me to be cuneiform, but that seemed totally unreasonable. Even though so many desirable finds have been discovered here through the years, we have never, ever found anything like this,” she said.
“I examined it yet again. After decidedly determining that this was no decoration, but really was cuneiform, I screamed out of pleasure.”
She added, “For me personally, the thought that after 2,700 years, I’m the primary person to truly touch this pottery with my hands is a really exciting thought. This is a once-in-a-lifetime find.”
The dig is being directed by Dr Ayala Zilberstein of the Israel Antiquities Authority, who said the artefact provided clear evidence of official correspondence between the Assyrian Empire and the Kingdom of Judah.
It deepens current understanding of the time period in query, he added.
“The inscription provides direct evidence of official correspondence between the Assyrian Empire and the Kingdom of Judah,” he said.
“The discovery strengthens our understanding of the depth of the Assyrian presence in Jerusalem, and the extent of its influence on and involvement within the conduct of the affairs of the Judean kingdom.
“In addition, it expands knowledge concerning the status of the brand new neighborhood that developed at the moment on the slopes of the hill to the west of the Temple. It appears that this area served as a spotlight for the activities of high-ranking ministers and individuals.”
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