A Tiny Object With One Gigantic Message

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Dr. Eilat Mazar has unearthed a new discovery from her latest archaeological excavation in Jerusalem: the bulla of King Hezekiah of Judah. The clay seal stamped with Hezekiah’s name was found in the royal quarter of the Ophel and marks Mazar’s newest biblically related find.

At a press conference in Jerusalem Wednesday morning, she provided the English translation of the Hebrew inscription on the bulla: “Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz, King of Judah.” Mazar’s archaeological team discovered the private seal of the king during a recent phase of excavations by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The Bible records that Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, ruled the kingdom of Judah from its capital, Jerusalem, 14 generations after King David, during a major military conflict with Assyria. 2 Kings 18:5 notes his historical significance by recording: “[A]fter him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.”

Mazar’s other discoveries in Jerusalem include King David’s palace, Nehemiah’s wall, bullae belonging to princes who persecuted the Prophet Jeremiah, a Davidic-era secret tunnel, and a Solomonic-era wall. She plans to publish Volume 1 of her final report on her recent Ophel excavations later this month.