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What Ancient Seal Reveals About Jerusalem's History

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JERUSALEM, Israel – This week, the Hebrew University announced one of the most significant archaeological finds in years. It affirms the biblical record and the life of one of ancient Israel's most famous kings.

It's small, only 1 centimeter wide, but already made a big impact. It's called a bulla, an ancient seal. What makes this so significant is the name on the bulla: King Hezekiah.

"We discovered the seal impression imprinted by King Hezekiah himself saying very clearly in ancient Hebrew "belongs to Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, King of Judea." 
 
Hebrew University archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar discovered the bulla during one of her excavations. For Mazar, it was the discovery of a lifetime.

"Astonished," Mazar told CBN News. "I think this was the most amazed find for me personally ever. I was amazed." 
 
Mazar and her team discovered the bulla in an rea called the Ophel, built by King Solomon and located near the southern wall of the Temple Mount.

Mazar says the discovery is unprecedented.

"We never found in archaeological excavations, scientific, stratigraphy such an item that is so close, private, tangible to any of the Israelite or Judean kings ever," she explained. "I believe it's as close as we can get to any biblical figure, not to mention such a figure as King Hezekiah."
 
The Bible describes Hezekiah in II Kings 18:5: "He trusted in the Lord God of Israel so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him."

Mazar says the bulla was Hezekiah's personal seal for important documents. She says the find validates the Bible.
 
"I'm amazed to see repeatedly, that the archaeological evidence goes so beautifully along with the biblical story," she said. "Just repeatedly showing us that so much of the biblical narratives are accurate, simply as that accurate." 
 
The find also connects the Jewish people to ancient Israel.

"We're talking about what 2,800 years, just as the Bible says. We're talking about the Kingdom of Judah and Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. We're talking about the history of Jerusalem in such a tangible, independent way." 

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About The Author

Chris Mitchell
Chris
Mitchell

In a time where the world's attention is riveted on events in the Middle East, CBN viewers have come to appreciate Chris Mitchell's timely reports from this explosive region of the world. Chris brings a Biblical and prophetic perspective to these daily news events that shape our world. He first began reporting on the Middle East in the mid-1990s. Chris repeatedly traveled there to report on the religious and political issues facing Israel and the surrounding Arab states. One of his more significant reports focused on the emigration of persecuted Christians from the Middle East. In the past