Announcing Patterns of Evidence Changemakers

Summary: An inscribed clay seal uncovered near the Western Wall supports the Biblical record of Jerusalem having a governor during the First Temple period.Summary: An inscribed clay seal uncovered near the Western Wall supports the Biblical record of Jerusalem having a governor during the First Temple period.

And there was one governor who was over the land. – 1 Kings 14:19b (ESV)

Seal Presented to the Mayor

A unique discovery was made during archaeological excavations carried out in the Western Wall Plaza, Jerusalem, a few years ago, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and in conjunction with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. The important find was a First Temple period clay seal, stamped with the phrase “[belonging] to the governor of the city.” This adds to the growing number of recent finds supporting the Bible’s account of Jerusalem being the center of a robust kingdom in the First Temple period from the days of kings David and Solomon down to the Babylonian captivity.

The tiny but extraordinary find measures just a little over half an inch in diameter and .12 inches in thickness. The upper portion of the seal depicts two figures facing each other and below that is the ancient Hebrew inscription.

It is a mystery as to what exactly the seal was used for, but most likely, it was attached to an important letter or document. The position of governor was the most prominent municipal position in Jerusalem, 2,700 years ago.

The Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat was presented the “governor” seal during his visit to the Davidson’s Center, near the Western Wall, in February. “It is very overwhelming to receive greetings from First Temple period Jerusalem. This shows that already 2,700 years ago, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, was a strong and central city,” said Barkat at the presentation.

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