Ancient Discovery Shakes Up Archaeology: 3,330-Year-Old Artifact Supports Biblical Truth

One of the most important archaeological discoveries of the modern era was unveiled: At a press conference held last Thursday at the Archaeological Institute of the Biblical Seminary in Texas, Houston, USA, the Institute's director, Professor Scott Stripling, presented the deciphering he and his colleagues achieved on ancient Hebrew inscriptions found on an amulet discovered at Joshua's altar.

The amulet, a tiny ancient lead tablet measuring 2 cm by 2 cm, was uncovered in December 2019 during the sifting of dirt collected from excavations led by Professor Adam Zertal. The researchers utilized a special scanning technique developed at the University of Prague to decode the writing, uncovering words like "Cursed, cursed, cursed, cursed by Yah" and other severe phrases. This is the oldest finding to date with Hashem's name inscribed in ancient Hebrew script.

The amulet was found in Samaria, at a site associated with the altar of Joshua from the ceremony of blessing and curse at Mount Ebal, described in the Book of Deuteronomy (chapter 27) and the Book of Joshua. The altar unearthed on Mount Ebal was constructed according to Jewish law, and from it and the numerous discoveries there, it's evident this altar was built by Joshua bin Nun upon Israel's entry into the land (Details and photos about this stunning find can be seen in the "Biblical Archaeology" book series, part 2, by Rabbi Zamir Cohen).

The find discovered on Mount Ebal

Professor Gershon Galil from the University of Haifa calls the discovery a "seismic shift in biblical scholarship." According to him, "this newly unveiled artifact is the earliest Hebrew inscription ever found."

"This new find is a death blow to all biblical deniers," emphasizes Professor Galil. "Many biblical critics argued that in the 13th century BCE, the Israelites were illiterate, making it impossible for them to have written the Bible. As a result, biblical deniers claimed that the Bible was authored much later, during the Persian or Hellenistic periods."

"At this stage, unfortunately, not all the information discovered can be revealed as it is awaiting peer review and academic publication," adds Professor Galil. "Yet, even with what was unveiled today, we can say ‘daiyenu’ and give thanks for the discovery of Hashem's name in Hebrew."

Rabbi Zamir Cohen on the Discoveries: Why 'Yah' and Not the Full Name?

Professor Galil explains that the fact the amulet was uncovered on Mount Ebal holds significant historical importance. In the Book of Deuteronomy (chapter 27), Moses commands the people to hold a special ceremony on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal in Samaria immediately after entering the land, an event called "the blessing and curse ceremony." During this event, some tribes stood on Mount Ebal and others on Mount Gerizim, and it was declared to the people that anyone who fulfills the Torah's commandments will be blessed, while anyone violating the covenant with the Creator will be cursed: "And the Levites shall answer and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 'Cursed is the man who makes a graven or molten image, an abomination to Hashem, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.' And all the people shall answer and say, 'Amen'."

Professor Gershon Galil

Rabbi Zamir Cohen adds that the Talmud (Tractate Sotah 32a) details the grand ceremony of covenant between Israel and Hashem: "Six tribes climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and six tribes climbed to the top of Mount Ebal, while the priests, Levites, and the Ark stood below in the middle. The priests surrounded the Ark, and the Levites surrounded the priests, with all Israel on each side. As it is said: (Joshua chapter 8, verse 33): 'And all Israel, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on either side of the Ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the Ark of the Covenant of Hashem, as well the stranger as the homeborn; half of them over against Mount Gerizim and half of them over against Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of Hashem had commanded, that they should bless the people of Israel first.' They turned their faces towards Mount Gerizim and began with a blessing: 'Blessed is the man who does not make a graven or molten image,' and both sides answer Amen. They turned their faces towards Mount Ebal and began with a curse: 'Cursed is the man who makes a graven or molten image,' and both sides answer Amen. Until they completed all the blessings and curses. Afterwards, they brought the stones, built the altar, plastered it with lime, and wrote upon it all the words of the Torah in seventy languages."

This highlights the importance of the find uncovered on Mount Ebal, as it is the mountain facing the curses, with the word 'cursed' appearing many times, exactly as it is written in the Torah's version of the curses.

When asked about the author's purpose and whether this really is a curse amulet, Rabbi Zamir suggests that the author likely intended a personal reminder of what he heard standing on Mount Gerizim by inscribing these sharp words directed at his tribe as a kind of tablet to accompany him throughout his life. Hence, calling it an 'amulet' doesn't seem accurate here. An 'amulet,' by definition, is a protective charm. "Remember, all of the Torah's commandments were new to the people freed from Egyptian slavery. They had to adapt to their new role as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to Hashem, so it's no surprise that someone sought to preserve a strengthening record of the covenant at that moment with Hashem, especially after witnessing the desert miracles," says Rabbi. "It's possible others also created similar tablets, taking these inscriptions with them on their journey to settle the land, while this inscription fell from its owner while on the mountain."

Rabbi Zamir adds: "Since the inscription doesn't specify on whom or in what case the curse applies, my first thought was that perhaps against each curse verse he heard, he noted just the curse word as a reminder. Telling himself: 'Remember! Cursed you will be if you do this, and more cursed you will be if you do that, knowing you have no tricks to play with the One who created you and holds your life in His hands.' For this reason, I asked to know how many times curse words are in this inscription, comparing them with the Torah's curses in the Mount Ebal section. Listening to Professor Galil as he read all the words on the inscription, I counted a total of 12 curse words—arur and death. Examining the Mount Ebal section in Deuteronomy (chapter 27), it turns out the word 'cursed' appears exactly 12 times. After all, the blessings and curses in chapter 28 are unrelated to Mount Ebal."

Regarding the use of 'Yah' instead of the complete Name as written in the Torah, Rabbi Zamir explains that according to Jewish law, one must treat the complete Name with holiness, so when writing the holy name in mundane texts, care is taken not to write it in full, omitting the letter 'he.' This is why many names in the Tanakh feature these three letters, such as: Jehoiakim (as Hashem establishes), Jehoiarib (Hashem will fight for me), Jehoram, Jehoiada, and others.

At the press conference where the amulet's decipherment was revealed, the archaeologists Scott Stripling, Professor Gershon Galil from the University of Haifa, Peter Gert van der Veen, Junes Getnberg from the Czech Academy of Sciences, and other experts in ancient text decipherment participated. The archaeologists indicated that the inscriptions on the amulet, deciphered, confirm Zertal's dating of Joshua's altar site to 1300-1200 BCE. The amulet was also dated to the late Bronze Age, around 1200 BCE.

The finding was discovered at Joshua's altar, providing an emotional testament to the event that took place there 3,300 years ago, when Israel exited Egypt.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, stated: "The significance of this find for the Jewish people through the generations and for the State of Israel cannot be overstated. We received a message from Joshua bin Nun and from the people of Israel during biblical times, providing further proof of the unbreakable bond between the Jewish people and Samaria and the land of Israel. As a council, we will continue to preserve the site and demand the authorities address and protect the place."

Torah of Israel - the book that imparted the universal values that changed the face of the world, the book given with fire, sounds, and lightning to an entire nation present at Mount Sinai. What is its origin? Who wrote it? What is its secret power over other books? All of this in the fascinating lecture by Rabbi Zamir Cohen: