The artifact was found near the Western Wall and dates back nearly 2,700 yearsIsraeli archaeologists have announced the discovery of a rare clay seal imprinted with images and Hebrew writings, which they believe once belonged to the Governor of Jerusalem. The small, half-inch diameter seal was determined to be from the First Temple period, 1006-586 BC. The Hebrew inscription reads “Belonging to the Governor of the city” and supports Israeli’s claim that Jerusalem has been inhabited by Jewish people for the last 3,000 years.
CBN interviewed excavator Dr. Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, who explain that the find supports the biblical records of ancient Jerusalem’s Governor position:
“The Bible mentions two governors of Jerusalem, and this finding thus reveals that such a position was actually held by someone in the city some 2700 years ago … It is likely that one of the buildings in our excavation [some 100 yards west of the Temple Mount] was the destination of this transport sent by the city governor.”
Weksler-Bdolah went on to explain that from this high-ranking seal, along with the large amount of other seals found in the area has led archaeologists to assume that the western slopes of Jerusalem was home to many city officials during the First Temple period.
Hebrew University Professor Tallay Ornan and Tel Aviv University Professor Benjamin Sass have spent time studying the seal and describe it as:
“… two standing men, facing each other in a mirror-like manner. Their heads are depicted as large dots, lacking any details. The hands facing outward are dropped down, and the hands facing inward are raised. Each of the figures is wearing a striped, knee-length garment.”
The piece was presented to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat who was thrilled by the find, saying, “This shows that already 2700 years ago, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, was a strong and central city. Jerusalem is one of the most ancient capitals of the world, continually populated by the Jewish people for more than 3000 years.”
There are more scientific tests to be run on the artifact, but when those are done it will be on display in the mayor’s office.
