Digging Up the Bible: A Silver Amulet

DIGGING UP THE BIBLE
Important Archeological Finds that help Us Understand Scripture
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Linda Manuel—1996
 

Silver Amulet of Ketef Hinnom
(7^th century BC)

Gabriel Barkay of the Tel Aviv University found this silver amulet in 1979 in the Hinnom Valley, near Jerusalem. The discovery was part of a hoard of treasures from the area.

In 1983 a team of experts, including Ada Yardeni, translated it. The amulet looked like a tiny role of silver about the size of half a cigarette when Barkley uncovered it. The text is an abbreviated version of the Aaronic Blessing, and the ancient Hebrew script dates the piece to the 7^th century B.C., perhaps during the reign of Josiah (reigned 641/640 to 610/609 B.C.):

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.... He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. (2 Kgs 22: la, 2)

The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD—to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.... Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. (2 Kgs 23:3, 25)

The University released information to the public about the entire collection, including the tiny scroll in 1986, seven years after Barley first made the discovery.

 

The Aaronic Blessing, which God instructed the priests to recite over the people, is probably the oldest formulaic prayer still in use:

The LORD bless you and keep you
The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Num 6:24-26)

Jewish priests have used this prayer since the Tabernacle. Even today, men from the priestly line come forward at the close of the Sabbath service in the synagogue to recite it as God commanded. (Some Christian churches also use it as a closing benediction.)
 

Although the piece was damaged along the edges, the original team of experts translated the text, noting two instances of the tetragram (i.e., the ineffable name of God), but still did not recognize the biblical passage. Ada Yardeni, a local artist with knowledge of ancient Hebrew script, redrew the engraved inscription for the Israel Museum and, in doing so, found the third tetragram of the blessing itself and identified the text as the priestly pronouncement.
 

Significance for Biblical Studies: The Silver Amulet of Ketef Hinnom preserves the oldest biblical text ever discovered, four centuries earlier than the Dead Sea Scrolls! Through transmission in oral liturgical recitation and preservation of the written text, even on a tiny amulet, God's word remains consistent and active in the lives of His people.

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