Ancient Seal Found in Jerusalem
Information Related to "Ancient Seal Found in Jerusalem"
In the News: Ancient Seal Found in Jerusalem
article by
Amanda Stiver
A small stone seal dating to the latter part of the First Temple period (8th to 6th centuries B.C.) has been found in Jerusalem bearing the inscription "Belonging to Matanyahu Ben Ho . . ." -- with the last portion missing.
It was mixed in with the rubble of a drainage tunnel from the Roman era located very close to the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. Made from semiprecious stone, the seal was identified during the careful process of students sifting the rubble.
Personal seals like the one found were used to sign letters and other documents and were usually attached to a signet ring ("Hebrew Seal Bearing the Name 'Matanyahu' Uncovered in Jerusalem," Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, May 1, 2012).
According to translation, Matanyahu means "giving to God"-the ending yahu denoting the divine name Yahweh ("First Temple Period 'Matanyahu' Seal Discovered in Jerusalem," BiblicalArchaeology.com, May 2, 2012). The Bible shows that the name, rendered in most English versions as Mattaniah, was in common use during the period (2 Kings 24:17; 1 Chronicles 9:15; 25:4; 25:16).
A find like this reinforces the accuracy of the biblical record. To learn more, download or request our free booklet Is the Bible True?
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Origin of article "Ancient Seal Found in Jerusalem"
Keywords: Bible archaeology Mattaniah
Bible historicity:
- Archaeology and Genesis: What Does the Record Show? (9/96)
- Archaeology and the Book of Judges
- The Bible: Myth or History
- Can You Believe the Bible? (3/2002)
- A Good News Interview with Bryant Wood, Ph.D.
- Archaeology in Acts, Part 1
- Archaeology in Acts, Part 2: The Message Spreads
- The Battle Over the Bible
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- Confusion Over Noah
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- God's Challenge to You
- God, Science and the Bible (7/05)
- Parts of the Bible Rejected by Roman Catholic Church in Britain
- God, Science and the Bible (1/06)
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- The Da Vinci Code, Christianity and the Bible
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- Answers from Genesis - Part 8
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- Proof Jesus Actually Existed
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- Did Jesus Christ Really Exist?
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- Can We Believe the Bible? (A)
- The Bible
- How Archaeology Confirms the Biblical Record
- Two Jigsaw Puzzles, Two Purposes
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- Does Archaeology Confirm the Existence of Specific People Mentioned in the Bible?
- Does the Bible Contain Errors?
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Archaeology:
- Archaeology and the City of David
- King David: Man or Myth?
- Archaeology and Genesis: What Does the Record Show?
- Archaeology and the Book of Exodus: Exit From Egypt (3/97)
- Archaeology and the Book of Exodus: Exit From Egypt
- Archaeology and the Book of Joshua: The Conquest
- King David's Reign: A Nation United
- King Solomon's Reign: Israel's Golden Years
- The Early Kings of Israel: A Kingdom Divided
- The Later Kings of Israel: A Kingdom's Downfall
- The Early Kings of Judah: Miraculous Deliverance
- The Bible and Archaeology - The Kingdom of Judah: Exile and Restoration
- Jesus Christ's Early Ministry
- Jesus Christ's Later Ministry
- The Bible and Archaeology: Jesus Christ's Arrest, Trial and Crucifixion
- The Bible & Archaeology - The Book of Acts: The Church Begins
- Darwinism in the Classroom
- The Bible & Archaeology - The Book of Acts: The Message Spreads
- The Bible & Archaeology - The Book of Acts: Paul's Later Travels
- Archaeology and the Epistles
- The Book of Revelation: History and Prophecy
- An Ancient Inscription Proves King David Was Real
- The Mighty Assyrian Empire Emerges From the Dust
- Jericho: Does the Evidence Disprove or Prove the Bible?
- The Exodus Controversy
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- Noah's Flood: Did It Really Happen?
- The Bible Was Right After All
- God, Science and the Bible (3/05)
- God, Science and the Bible (9/05)
- God, Science and the Bible (11/05)
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- God, Science and the Bible (5/06)
- God, Science and the Bible (1/07)
- In the News Jan/Mar 2007
- In the News Apr/June 2007
- God, Science and the Bible (7/07)
- God, Science and the Bible (1/08)
- God, Science and the Bible (3/08)
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