Possibly the Oldest Hebrew Inscription Found—could Shed Light on King David's Reign, and Confirm Biblical Account

by Aimee Herd : Oct 31, 2008 : AP, FOXNews.com

"Researchers…dated the artifacts to be between 1,000 and 975 BC…"

(Hirbet Qeiyafa, Israel)—A shard of pottery, discovered by a teenage archaeological volunteer at a hilltop dig overlooking the Elah Valley (said site where David conquered Goliath), was found to be inscribed with what could be the oldest Hebrew writing to date. (Photo: AP)

The inscription is made up of five lines of characters known as "proto-Canaanite," which—according to the AP report—is a precursor to the Hebrew alphabet.

Researchers used Carbon-14 analysis on burnt olive pits, which were found in the same layer as the pottery, and dated the artifacts to be between 1,000 and 975 BC—the same time as King David's kingdom rule in Jerusalem according to the Bible.

The dig is headed up by Yossi Garfinkle, archaeologist with the Hebrew University, who noted the historical importance of the discovery, "The chronology and geography of Elah Fortress create a unique meeting point between the history, historiography and origins of the early Davidic Kingdom," he said.

"This is the oldest Judean city uncovered to date, and its very construction has unprecedented implications on our understanding of this era."

Skeptics are hesitant to support the interpretation of the find by Garfinkle, and scholars are still deciphering the five lines of writing in black ink that were inscribed on the pottery shard. However, Garfinkle is excited by what has been defined as saying, "king," "judge," and "slave."

According to Garfinkle, the inscription could have been a message or "official note" from the time of King David's reign, and could serve as invaluable evidence that would point out the accuracy of the Biblical account of David and his kingdom.

   

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