In a remarkable archaeological discovery, a rare First Temple-era clay seal impression, known as a bulla, was unearthed by the Temple Mount Sifting Project in Jerusalem. Dating back to between 1000 BCE and 586 BCE, the seal bears the Hebrew inscription: "Belonging to Yedayah, son of Asaiah." This find, with nearly all letters clearly legible, has generated interest for its potential to illuminate a historical era steeped in biblical traditions.
The bulla was uncovered during the project designed to salvage historical artifacts from the dirt around the Temple Mount area. This initiative, under the academic sponsorship of Bar-Ilan University's Institute of Archaeology, started about 20 years ago to preserve Jerusalem's historical narrative. More than 260,000 volunteers, including a significant number of Israelis and foreigners, have participated in the project which has yielded over half a million artifacts.
Excavations on the Temple Mount are sensitive due to its spiritual significance to both Jews and Muslims, who call it the Noble Sanctuary or Haram al-Sharif. The site is managed by the Islamic Waqf, and no archaeological digging is allowed. The Temple Mount Sifting Project was launched in response to earlier illegal digging operations by the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement, halted due to connections with groups like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.
The team, including archaeologist Mordechai Ehrlich, who made the discovery, surmised that the bulla likely served as a security measure, used to seal storage vessels to prevent unauthorized access. Impressions on the back of the clay support this conclusion. Such artifacts were typically used by high-ranking officials, suggesting the owner's significant stature, possibly within the royal court.
Speculation surrounds the identity of the individuals named on the seal. King Josiah of Judah, who reigned in the second half of the 7th century BCE, is known to have relied on a trusted circle of officials. Among them, Asayahu, described in the Bible as "servant of the king," could be the Asaiah mentioned on the seal. Researchers believe his son, Yedaya, referenced here, held a similarly influential position in the royal court.
The significance of this artifact deepens when considering biblical accounts. During King Josiah's reign, he sent a delegation to the prophetess Huldah, who foretold the eventual destruction of Jerusalem. Huldah's warnings reportedly caused Josiah to tear his clothes in distress, a reaction noted in the biblical text II Kings 22:12. Moreover, the Bible recounts King Josiah's commissioning of the Temple's restoration, during which a forgotten Torah scroll was discovered, prompting a religious reform movement.
Analysis of the bulla by researchers Anat Mendel-Geberovich and Zachi Dvira revealed nearly complete inscriptions with only one letter being debated as an "ayin." “This is only the second time since the Temple Mount Sifting Project began over 20 years ago that we've uncovered a sealing with such a complete inscription—nearly every letter is clearly legible,” said Zachi Dvira, co-director of the Temple Mount Sifting Project.
The preparation of this article relied on a news-analysis system.