|
 |
|
|
The earliest mention of Bethlehem in the Bible is
from the time of the patriarchs, when Rachel, who
died giving birth to Benjamin, was buried "on the
way to Ephrat, that is Bethlehem." (Genesis 35:19)
When Naomi returned from Moab with her
daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess, she came at the
beginning of the barley harvest to Bethlehem.
Later, Ruth married Boaz at Bethlehem's city gate.
Three generations later, Samuel passed through
Bethlehem's city gate, searching for David, the one
he was to anoint king over Israel. From
Bethlehem, David set out to bring tasty goat
cheeses, barley loaves and roasted grain
(honey-sweetened granola?) to his brothers serving
in Saul's army fighting the Philistines. |
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
|
Shepherds' fields with Bethlehem
in the background |
|
|
Yet the earliest artifact with an inscription
clearly mentioning Bethlehem was found just two
months ago in Jerusalem's oldest neighborhood, the
City of David. To be more accurate, it was
excavated in 2010, but only "discovered" in May
2012, in the sifting project at a site called Emek
Tzurim on the western slope of the Mount of Olives.
The artifact is a clay seal called a bulla
which was used for sealing a document. It was
a way of insuring that the document would not be
opened without authorization. The bulla (like
a stamp) was impressed with the seal of the person
who sent the document or object. Three lines
of ancient Hebrew script appear on the bulla
including Bethlehem (Bet Lechem) in the middle line.
(On the first line: "in the seventh" and on the
third line: "belonging to the king.") |
|
|
|
 |
|
Press release of
the IAA |
|
Bethlehem appears in the middle
line, inscribed in ancient Hebrew |
|
|
|
Excavator Eli Shukron suggests that in the seventh
year of a king who may have been Hezekiah, Manasseh
or Josiah, a tax shipment was sent from Bethlehem to
the king in Jerusalem. The tax could have been
paid in the form of silver or agricultural produce
such as wine or wheat. The bulla was
one of a group of administrative bullae used
to seal tax shipments to the capital of the kingdom
of Judah during the late eighth and seventh
centuries BC. |
|
|
|
The inscribed bulla, the size of a thumbnail,
was not noticed during the dig itself. It was
tossed in a bucket with a tag designating the
location of the soil and brought to the wet sifting
project at Tzurim Valley where one of the volunteer
sifters "found" the seal. In explaining the
significance of the find, the excavator said, "This
is the first time the name of Bethlehem appears
outside the Bible, in an inscription from the First
Temple period, which proves that Bethlehem was
indeed a city in the Kingdom of Judah." |
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
|
Gold arrow at lower right corner
points to the Tzurim Valley sifting project |
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
|
Outside the sifting project
"hothouse" |
|
|
|
It seems that all the important small finds in
Jerusalem today have come to light via the Tzurim
Valley sifting project where the bulla was
identified. The project started seven years
ago when tons of soil that had been (illegally) removed in 1999 from under the Temple Mount by the Waqf, the Moslem religious authority, and just dumped
in the Kidron Valley, was collected and then
transported up the hill to the Tzurim Valley sifting
project. Discoveries include coins (even a
half shekel coin!), potsherds, oil lamps, mosaic
tiles and now a bulla. They all enrich our knowledge
of the biblical period. |
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
|
Tons of dirt were illegally
removed from under the Temple Mount platform |
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
|
The soil soaks in these black
buckets and then sifted to identify ancient
artifacts |
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
|
Sifters find coins, inscribed
potsherds and clay seals otherwise overlooked |
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo: Gila
Yudkin |
|
Inscriptions are given VIP
treatment: the archeologist comes immediately! |
|
|
|
Imagine, on your next pilgrimage to Jerusalem,
finding a coin or bulla or potsherd with an
inscription naming a biblical king, scribe, tithe or
site. It's easy – all you need is good
eyesight and a willingness to get splashed with
Jerusalem's holy soil plus a few hours of your time.
It's a super engaging activity for families,
individuals, couples or groups with two or even
three generations. |
|
|
|
Copyright 2012 Gila Yudkin. Permission
needed for any reuse. |
|
|
|
Gila Yudkin
is a former Connecticut Yankee living now in King
David's Court. She has been walking in the
footsteps of Rachel, Ruth, Samuel, David, the
disciples and Jesus for over three decades.
Gila, who got dirty on a dig for five years, digs
guiding tours which mix fun, facts and fantasy with
her passion for archeology and Bible.
|
|
|
|
Book Gila
for a stimulating, spirited walk through ancient
biblical Jerusalem, especially adapted to your
interests, timeframe and abilities. |
| |
Coming to Jerusalem soon? Does the hustle and bustle of
the market give you a high, yet you would like some
quiet moments in the holy sites? Are you eager
to eat humus and knafe elbow-to-elbow with
the "natives," or is dining in the style of King
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba more to your taste?
Gila's Guide
will lift up your spirit as you "Explore
Jerusalem's Soul." This updated PDF (Adobe Acrobat) 46-page
guide gives you the Top Ten places to meditate on
the Bible, the Top Ten lesser-known churches worth
visiting, the Top Ten most rewarding roof-top views
and the Top Ten places for yummy Middle Eastern soul
food. More on
Gila's Guide...
|
