Scientists Have Found ‘Potentially Significant’ Proof Of A Major Bible Story

Findings from a 2019 excavation could reveal the historical value of an ancient Jewish settlement in Zanoah.

Zanoah, a village mentioned in the Old Testament’s Book of Nehemiah, is said to have housed Jewish exiles returning from Babylon. The site is believed to be part of Canaan, the Promised Land, and could have been home to descendants of villagers who fled with Moses during the Exodus.

Archaeologists began their work in Zanoah in 2019, and their findings were published in the journal Hadashot Arkheologiyot. The excavation, funded by the Israel Electric Corporation and overseen by the Israel Antiquities Authority, uncovered several significant items.

One of the most notable discoveries was a clay jar handle stamped with a “lmlk” seal, meaning “of the King.” Experts believe this item dates back to the late Iron Age, around the seventh century BCE.

The clay handle was described as being of high quality, having been fired at high temperatures. Alongside it, archaeologists found similar handles, a decorative limestone bowl, and other items from the Early Byzantine period.

Interestingly, one handle had a stamp referring to King Hezekiah, who ruled Judah in 701 BCE. Biblical texts describe Hezekiah as a ruler who reopened the Temple of Solomon—often called the First Temple—and destroyed a bronze serpent statue linked to Moses.

The findings at Zanoah don’t confirm the story of the Israelites’ Exodus or their crossing of the Red Sea, but they hint at Zanoah’s historical importance.

Ya’akov Billig, the excavation director, noted that many artifacts were likely washed down the slope over time. Still, the majority, particularly those from the Byzantine period, reflect farming activities in the area.

ADDS CONTEXT – The site of a discovery unveiled by Israel’s Antiquities Authority in the City of David National Park near the Old City of Jerusalem, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Archaeologists described the discovery as ancient “channels” likely used to soak products around 2,800 years ago during the First Temple Period, though they said their exact purpose is unclear. The City of David contains some of the oldest remains of the 3,000-year-old city, the spiritual center of Judaism. But critics accuse the site’s operators, who are linked to a Jewish settler group, of pushing a nationalistic agenda at the expense of local Palestinian residents in east Jerusalem – the area of the city captured by Israel in 1967 and claimed by the Palestinians as their would-be capital. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

“The large number of discoveries shows how active the site was,” Billig wrote, adding that it highlights Zanoah’s potential significance in uncovering lesser-known stories of the Judean region.

These findings add a small but fascinating piece to the puzzle of ancient Jewish history.

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