Digging Up the Bible: The Dan Stele

DIGGING UP THE BIBLE
Important Archeological Finds that help Us Understand Scripture

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Dr. Paul Manuel—2017

 

Dan Stele
(9^th century BC)

An excavation at Tel Dan (1993-94) in northern Israel unearthed a broken limestone slab with an Aramaic inscription recounting a victory probably by King Hazael of Damascus over King Omri of Israel:

1. [ ... ] and cut [ ... ]
2. [ ... ] my father went up [against him when h]e fought at [...]
3. and my father lay down, he went to his [ancestors (viz, became sick and died)]. And the king of I[s]
4. rael entered previously in my father's land, [and] Hadad made me king,
5. And Hadad went in front of me, [and] I departed from the seven [ ... ]
6. s of my kingdom, and I slew [seve]nty kin[gs], who harnessed thousands of cha]
7. riots and thousands of horsemen (or: horses). [I killed Jehoiram son of Ahab]
8. king of Israel, and [I] killed [Ahaz]iahu son of [Jehoram kin-]
9. g of the House of David, and I set [their towns into ruins and turned]
10. their land into [desolation]
11. other [... and Jehuru-j
12. led over Is[rael and I laid]
13. siege upon [...a]

 

What is particularly interesting is the reference to the vanquished "house of David," despite separation of the Northern Kingdom of Israel from the Southern Kingdom of Judah several years earlier. This is likely not an historical error but a common recording convention. The Aramaic scribe was retaining the designation of Aram's first contact with Israel, when the twelve tribes were still united under David.

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood." (2 Sam 5:1)

Omri...reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah....in Samaria...twenty-two years. (1 Kgs 16:23,26)

Relations between Aram and Israel were peaceful immediately after the northern tribes split from southern tribes. Perhaps Damascus was in no position to exploit the political instability at that time among God's people:

"There was continual warfare between Rehoboam [in the south] and Jeroboam [in the north]" (1 Kgs 14:30).

"There was war between Abijah [in the south] and Jeroboam [in the north] throughout Abijah's lifetime" (1 Kgs 15:6).

"There was war between Asa [king of Judah] and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns" (1 Kgs 15:16).

Israel apparently had a non-aggression pact with Aram, until Judah paid the Arameans to break it, which soon led to war:

"Let there be a treaty between me and you.... See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me." Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel (1 Kgs 15:19-20)

Israel and Judah remained hostile toward each other through several successive administrations. The north, where different families sought the throne, was less stable than the south, where one family sought the throne, and the Bible recounts ongoing conflict between these two factions. There is no specific mention of the strife between (the Northern Kingdom of) Israel and Aram as this tablet records, which is not surprising since it is usually the victor who records the outcome of any engagement.

 

Significance for Biblical Studies: The Dan Stele records the tension that existed between Israel and a close neighbor. It also shows the damaging result of internecine warfare as one part of God's people fights against another, and both parts suffer some loss as a result.

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