Archaeologists in Jerusalem have discovered an ancient Assyrian inscription that may shed light on historical events described in the Old Testament.
The find – a tiny 2.5cm shard of ceramic inscribed in Akkadian cuneiform, the oldest written Semitic language in the world – was discovered near the Temple Mount and dates back to approximately 2,700 years ago.
Researchers from Bar Ilan University dencrypted the inscriptionrevealing, apparently, a complaint from the Assyrian Empire about the delay in payment expected from the Kingdom of Judah.
The text specifies the first of the month of Av, the 11th month of the Hebrew calendar, as the date for payment of the deferred tribute, suggesting formal communication between the Assyrian Empire and the kings of Judah.
Scholars have noted that this could correspond to events recorded in 2 Kings 18 and 19 during the reign of King Hezekiah.
These biblical passages describe how Hezekiah had to pay 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold to the Assyrian king Sennacherib, a tribute meant to protect Judah from Assyrian aggression.
The shard's dating suggests it dates back to the reign of Hezekiah, although researchers have noted that it could also date back to the reign of his son Manasseh or even King Josiah.
Dr Peter Zilberg from Bar-Ilan University, who was part of the research team, said the fragment's small size belied its significance.
The find – a tiny 2.5cm shard of ceramic inscribed in Akkadian cuneiform, the oldest written Semitic language in the world – was discovered near the Temple Mount and dates back to approximately 2,700 years ago.
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“This little piece may be short, but it tells a very important story,” he said.
– This is part of the royal seal, a clay bulla used to seal or authenticate letters and official documents. What we see here is direct evidence of official communication between Assyria and Judah.” This is believed to be the first discovery of its kind.
Dr. Anat Cohen-Weinberger of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), who carried out the excavation, explained why the shard was discovered in Assyria and not Jerusalem.
Petrographic analysis showed that the composition of the pottery differs from local materials, and the mineral content is consistent with the geology of the Tigris basin region, where major Assyrian cities such as Nineveh, Ashur and Nimrud/Kalhu are located.
This suggested that the fragment may have been part of a batch of official Assyrian documents or correspondence sent to Judah.
Experts say the find also highlights the complexity of ancient diplomacy, showing that even small kingdoms such as Judah engaged in detailed negotiations with one of the era's superpowers.
Such correspondence would have been vital in overcoming the political pressures of the time, especially when dealing with an empire as powerful as Assyria.
Although the inscription does not directly quote a specific biblical passage, it provides tangible evidence of the interaction of the Kingdom of Judah with the Assyrian Empire.
“Although we cannot determine the rationale behind this demand, whether it was due to a simple technical delay or whether it had political significance, the very existence of such an official address appears to indicate some degree of friction between Judah and the imperial government,” the researchers say.
The text identifies the first of the month of Av, the 11th month of the Hebrew calendar, as the date for payment of the deferred tribute, suggesting official communication between the Assyrian Empire and the kings of Judah.
Dr. Peter Zilberg from Bar-Ilan University, who was part of the research team, said the fragment's small size belies its significance (PICTURE).
The discovery gives historians and biblical scholars a rare glimpse into the diplomacy, economics and political pressures of the ancient Near East.
It also enhances the historical context of the biblical accounts of Judah's tribute to Assyria, demonstrating that these stories were based on actual interactions between the kingdoms.
As analysis continues, the tiny shard serves as a powerful reminder of how much history can be preserved in even the smallest artifacts, linking the biblical narrative to archaeological reality and enriching our understanding of life in ancient Jerusalem.
