Latest news with #Yeda'yah
The Sun
05-08-2025
- General
- The Sun
Ancient elite's fingerprint found on LOST seal linked to mystery Biblical doomsday warning and hidden for 2,600 years
END TIMES Experts find a man's name on the ancient artefact believed to be the same person sent on an important mission by the King in Jerusalem A RARE 2,600 year-old clay seal linked to a Biblical scroll that threatened to curse people with hunger and devastation has been uncovered by stunned archaeologists. The exceptionally well-preserved artefact bears a Hebrew inscription and even a visible fingerprint that could belong to the owner. 3 3 It reads "Belonging to Yeda'yah (son of) Asayahu" who is thought to have been a trusted royal official at the time. If true, this links Asayahu to a dramatic moment in the biblical account of King Josiah of Judah, who reigned over Jerusalem for 31 years. According to the Hebrew Bible, a scroll dubbed the "Book of the Law" was rediscovered during King Josiah's time which warned of people's sins and impending divine punishment from God. Those who disobey would be cursed with drought, famine, defeat by enemies and other forms of devastating punishment. It was uncovered in the Solomon's Temple which was undergoing repairs in the late First Temple period - between the late 7th and early 6th century BC - after damage by the Babylonians. Workers stumbled across the ancient scroll, known as Sefer haTorah, and immediately alerted the King. A shaken King Josiah is said to have torn his clothes in fear, before enforcing major religious reforms across the land as a result. A group of trusted officials were urgently sent off to purge pagan practices from Jerusalem, destroying altars, idols, and shrines. And one of those among them was called Asayahu, described as "the king's servant" - the same name cited on the seal. "Obviously, we are not sure that the Asayahu mentioned on the sealing is the same that appears in the Bible," Archaeologist Zachi Dvira told The Times of Israel. Oldest tablet of 10 Commandments found after being used as PAVING STONE "However, several such artefacts found in the area of the Temple Mount carry biblical names, and it does make sense, because these were not objects used by common people." Other factors that make it highly plausible is due to the fact seals like these were reserved for officials of high rank. The object, known as a bulla, was probably used to seal a bag or storage container according to experts. WHAT HAPPENED YEARS AFTER THE SCROLL WAS FOUND? Interestingly, Jerusalem was invaded a few decades after the Sefer haTorah doomsday scroll's discovery. The temple where it was found was destroyed after Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and his army breached the city's walls amid a series of campaigns. Many died from famine as the city was cut off from outside supplies and deadly diseases spread. The King at the time, King Zedekiah - son of King Josiah - attempted to escape the city but was captured. He was forced to watch the execution of his sons before being thrown into prison, where he remained until his death.
Daily Mail
04-08-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Mysterious fingerprint found on 2,600-year-old seal linked to Biblical doomsday warning
Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,600-year-old clay seal in Jerusalem that may be tied to a biblical warning of impending doom. The artifact, known as a bulla, dates back to the First Temple period and bears an ancient Hebrew inscription that reads: 'Belonging to Yeda'yah (son of) Asayahu.' Even more astonishing, the seal retains a visible fingerprint, believed to have been left by the ancient official who once owned it. Archaeologists believe the name inscribed on the seal may connect directly to a pivotal moment in the biblical account of King Josiah of Judah, who launched sweeping religious reforms after a sacred scroll was discovered in Jerusalem. The scroll, believed to be a version of Deuteronomy, outlined severe curses for disobedience, including famine, war, exile and the devastation of both the land and the Temple. When the contents were read aloud, Josiah was so alarmed by its warnings that he tore his robes and sent a group of trusted officials, including a man named Asayahu, to rid Jerusalem of pagan practices. The newly discovered seal, bearing the name of Asayahu's son, Yeda'yah, offers compelling evidence of a royal official likely active during this critical period. It not only supports the existence of individuals named in the biblical record but also reinforces the historical and spiritual significance of the scroll's rediscovery, an event that marked a turning point in Judah's religious history, researchers said. Archaeologist Zachi Dvira, who co-directs the project, told The Times of Israel: 'Obviously, we are not sure that the Asayahu mentioned on the sealing is the same that appears in the Bible. 'However, several such artifacts found in the area of the Temple Mount carry biblical names, and it does make sense, because these were not objects used by common people.' Marks on the back of the clay seal suggest it was once used to secure a bag or storage container, likely tied with a cord, and the script style places it around the the late First Temple period, roughly between the late 7th and early 6th century BC. That was around the time the Bible says King Josiah of Judah ordered repairs made to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was also known as Solomon's Temple. The order came after the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586BC. During the renovations, workers uncovered an ancient sacred scroll, Sefer haTorah, which scholars believe was likely an early version of the Pentateuch, specifically the Book of Deuteronomy, an event mentioned in 2 Kings 22:12 and 2 Chronicles 34:20. When the sacred scroll was read aloud to King Josiah, its warnings about the people's sins and the threat of divine punishment left the monarch shaken. The scroll was said to have revealed that the people of Judah had seriously violated God's covenant by worshiping other gods and engaging in pagan practices. A prophetess, mentioned in 2 Kings 22:16–17, confirmed the doom to King Josiah, telling him God would bring disaster on Jerusalem. According to 2 Kings 23, Josiah sent officials out to tear down shrines, altars and high places dedicated to Baal, Asherah, Molech, and other foreign gods, even desecrating them to ensure they would never be used again. Among those officials was a senior figure named Asayahu, described in the Bible as 'the king's servant.' Given his status, scholars have suggested that it is entirely plausible that his son, Yeda'yah, followed in his footsteps and held a high-ranking role in the royal court or Temple administration. The discovery of a clay seal inscribed with the name 'Yeda'yah son of Asayahu' has now sparked excitement among researchers, who believe it may be directly linked to the very events described in the Bible. Experts from the Temple Mount Sifting Project said the connection is highly credible, pointing out that seals like this were typically used only by officials of significant authority. Its discovery on the Temple Mount adds further weight to the theory that Yeda'yah served in a prominent role during the First Temple period. The historical backdrop is equally compelling. Just a few decades after the scroll was found, Jerusalem was invaded by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. The city's walls were breached, the Temple was destroyed, and many residents were killed or taken into exile, including key members of the ruling elite. During the siege, much of the city's food came from royal and Temple storehouses, which were stocked with grain, oil, wine, legumes and honey. These supplies were sealed with pieces of clay stamped with the names of the officials responsible for managing them. One such seal previously uncovered by the project bore the name '[He]zelyahu son of Immer,' an official believed to have worked in the Temple treasury. Now, this newly discovered seal, belonging to Yeda'yah son of Asayahu, appeared to tell a similar story, suggesting he too was responsible for overseeing one of these critical storehouses.
