Israeli archaeologists have discovered a 2,700-year-old seal, validating accounts in the Bible which describe the existence of a governor in the city. The seal, unearthed near the plaza of the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, bears an inscription in ancient Hebrew that reads, “belonging to the governor of the city.”
According to the excavator, Dr Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, the seal “supports the Biblical rendering of the existence of a governor of the city of Jerusalem 2,700 years ago.”
The governor of Jerusalem is mentioned twice in the Bible, but until now no archaeological artifacts had been discovered. According to Hebrew University Professor Tallay Ornan and Tel Aviv University Professor Benjamin Sass:
The title “governors of the city” is known from the Bible and from extra-Biblical documents, and refers to an official appointed by the king. Governors of Jerusalem are mentioned twice in the Bible: in 2 Kings, Joshua is the governor of the city in the days of Hezekiah, and in 2 Chronicles, Maaseiah is the governor of the city in the days of Josiah.
According to Arutz Sheva, the seal measures 13 x 15 mm across its face and is 2-3mm thick. The upper part depicts two figures facing each other. The age of the seal was estimated based on the fact that it was excavated from soil from the first temple period building, which dates to the 6th or 7th century B.C.
While the find is truly fascinating, and a big “I told you so” to skeptics, we echo Charles Hodge’s remarks, “The best evidence of the Bible’s being the word of God is to be found between its covers. It proves itself.”