The Oldest Text
What would you say is the oldest archeological find of a scripture text?
In 1979, Hungarian born Israeli archeologist Gabriel Barkay, along with a group of 12 and 13 year olds, was excavating in an area outside of Jerusalem in the backyard of St. Andrews Church, an area known as Ketef Hinnom. One of the boys, wielding a hammer under a burial bench, unexpectedly broke through to a secret chamber containing more than 1000 objects.
Among them were two tiny, rolled-up amulet silver scrolls, about 1 inch long that research dated to the late seventh and early sixth centuries BC. All objects of this antiquity must be handled with delicate care, as they are extremely fragile. The development of an unrolling process took three years. But the payoff was supremely exciting.1
Amulet I reads: “… YHWH … the grea[t … who keeps] the covenant and [g]raciousness toward those who love [Him] and those who keep [His commandments …]. The Eternal? […]. [the?] blessing more than any [sna]re and more than evil. For redemption is in Him. For YHWH is our restorer [and] rock. May YHWH bles[s] you and keep you. [May] YHWH make [His face] shine.”
Amulet II reads: “[First line almost completely illegible.] May h[e]/sh[e] be blessed by Yahweh, the warrior [or “helper”] and the rebuker of [e]vil: May Yahweh bless you, keep you. May Yahweh make His face shine upon you and grant you p[ea]ce.”2
It is of great interest that both amulets were inscribed with the same blessing “May Yahweh bless you and keep you; may Yahweh cause His face to shine upon you and grant you peace.” Bible students will recognize this as part of the priestly benediction in Numbers 6:24-26. The American Standard Version (1901) reads:
“(24) Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee: (25) Jehovah make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: (26) Jehovah lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
This find makes these texts the oldest copy of any part of the Hebrews scriptures. It is also a stunning rebuttal to liberal scholars who maintain that the Pentateuch was not written until after the exile in Babylon.
On an emotional side, it tickles the imagination to realize that some ancient worshipper at Solomon’s Temple held this amulet as part of their holy worship!
(1) Amulet picture source: theosophical.wordpress.com/2011/08/23/ biblical-archaeology-22-silver-amulet-scrolls-of-ketef-hinnom/
(2) See www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2010/01/06/ The-Blessing-of-the-Silver-Scrolls.aspx.
