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The seal impression found in Jerusalem's ancient City of David. (Courtesy of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Last update - 22:59 03/08/2008
Archaeologists unearth proof of plot to kill Prophet Jeremiah
By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Jerusalem, Israel 

Israeli archaeologists have unearthed a seal impression belonging to a minister of the biblical King Zedekiah, which dates back 2,600 years, during an archeological dig in Jerusalem's ancient City of David. The finding helps corroborate the story pertaining to the biblical minister's demand to have the prophet Jeremiah killed.

The seal impression, or bulla, with the name Gedalyahu ben Pashur, who served as minister to King Zedekiah (597-586 BCE) according to the Book of Jeremiah, was found completely intact just meters away from a separate seal impression of another of Zedekia's ministers, Yehukual ben Shelemyahu, which was unearthed three years ago.

Both ministers are mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38 1-4) along with two other ministers when they came to King Zedekiah demanding the death of the prophet Jeremiah for preaching to the besieged city to surrender.
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The impressions, measuring 1 cm in diameter each, were found among the debris of the destruction of the First Temple period, by an excavation team led by Prof. Eilat Mazar of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The excavation at the history-rich City of David, which is located just outside the walls of the Old City near Dung Gate, has proven, in recent years, to be a treasure trove for archeologists.

"Only rarely do archeologists come across findings of significant figures in history, which help lift the dust of history and bring the biblical story to life in such a tangible way," Mazar said.

The letters are in ancient Hebrew and are very clearly preserved, Mazar added.

This is not the first time seals were unearthed at the City of David site. In 1982, the Israeli archeologist Yigal Shiloh discovered a cache of bullae in a nearby site, including one with the name of Gemaryahu ben Shaphan - mentioned in the Bible as a minister and scribe during the reign of King Jehoiakim (608-597 BCE).

The current dig is being conducted on behalf of the Shalem center, a Jerusalem research institute, and the right-wing City of David Foundation, and was carried out under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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  1.   Proof 13:35  |  eddie 03/08/08
  2.   CITY OF David! Jews there 2600 years ago.! 13:51  |  PETER SM 03/08/08
  3.   And dear eddie, proof that times have not changed! 14:30  |  Jew- and Bookburner 03/08/08
  4.   Less biblical doubts, hopefully. 15:44  |  Petra 03/08/08
  5.   This is very interesting 16:29  |  Fatso 03/08/08
  6.   2,500 years only? 16:34  |  Palestinian Brit 03/08/08
  7.   JEREMIAH`S DEATH WAS NEAR MIGDOL 16:40  |  Barry S. Roffman 03/08/08
  8.   WHO WAS JEREMIAH? 17:04  |  Reb Aloysl Legoboim 03/08/08
  9.   peter sm 2 17:12  |  potobac 03/08/08
  10.   to number 6 17:19  |  alex 03/08/08
  11.   To Palestinian Brit 17:21  |  A. J. Myers 03/08/08
  12.   To Palestinian Brit 17:32  |  Mrs. Fatso from USA 03/08/08
  13.   potobec 17:39  |  Danite 03/08/08
  14.   Palestinian Brit 17:40  |  Danite 03/08/08
  15.   #12 Danite 18:05  |  Boycott 03/08/08
  16.   To potobac and Palestinian Brit 18:14  |  Mrs. Fatso from USA 03/08/08
  17.   To Boycott 18:28  |  Mrs. Fatso from USA 03/08/08
  18.   Of course not! 18:56  |  Paul 03/08/08
  19.   #15 - JESUS WAS WRONG 18:57  |  Barry S. Roffman 03/08/08
  20.   History is history! 18:58  |  Paul 03/08/08
  21.   Soon all the meatheads will realize the Old Testament`s truth 19:01  |  Angel Face 03/08/08
  22.   Overblown reporting 19:43  |  Axel 03/08/08
  23.   Jesus wasn`t wronyg! 19:51  |  Timothy Hinze 03/08/08
  24.   Oh Jeremiah, My Favorite Prophet Of Old 19:58  |  Lavi 03/08/08
  25.   Understanding of Scripture 20:11  |  Mrs. Fatso from USA 03/08/08
  26.   #21: JUDGE HIM BY HIS (murderous) FRUITS 20:37  |  Barry S. Roffman 03/08/08
  27.   Palestinian Brit - empty Palestine 20:38  |  Luke 03/08/08
  28.   To Barry S. Roffman 20:47  |  Mrs. Fatso from USA 03/08/08
  29.   Potobac 20:49  |  Judy 03/08/08
  30.   #14 Ignorant Palestinian Brit 20:49  |  Sidney 03/08/08
  31.   To Peter #9 21:00  |  Jew 03/08/08
  32.   #22 old testament truth 21:05  |  Stanley 03/08/08
  33.   To Timothy Hinze and Barry S. Roffman 21:19  |  Mrs. Fatso from USA 03/08/08
  34.   Palestinian Brit, the Cnnaanites were conqured by . . 21:40  |  Zev Davis 03/08/08
  35.   #28 - PERHAPS YOU ARE BLIND, WE ARE NOT 21:42  |  Barry S. Roffman 03/08/08
  36.   23: THE ASCENTION NOT KINGDOM OF G-D 21:52  |  Barry S. Roffman 03/08/08
  37.   Re:Danite.Weak up 22:17  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 03/08/08
  38.   Defiled land.... 23:30  |  Palestinian Brit 03/08/08
  39.   Bible clear...? 23:31  |  Palestinian Brit 03/08/08
  40.   Danite - VERY weak case 23:34  |  Palestinian Brit 03/08/08
  41.   Fatso 23:37  |  Palestinian Brit 03/08/08
  42.   Luke. And in 1948? 23:40  |  Palestinian Brit 03/08/08
  43.   Sydney - you mean its a Jewish book? 23:43  |  Palestinian Brit 03/08/08
  44.   Jews reclaiming their homeland 23:46  |  Palestinian Brit 03/08/08
  45.   Reply to #15 - JESUS WAS WRONG by Barry S. Roffman 02:12  |  Alex 04/08/08
  46.   Plot..what plot? 03:07  |  Edithann, USA 04/08/08
  47.   Palestinian Brit 05:32  |  Luke 04/08/08
  48.   POTOBAC because Jews have lived there continuously 06:36  |  PETER SM 04/08/08
  49.   PAL BRIT.Making up your history as you go.You are Arabs 06:42  |  PETER SM 04/08/08
  50.   There has never been a Palestinian country or people. 12:12  |  Palestiniansareamyth 04/08/08
  51.   Jesus was wrong 15:12  |  Raymond Talavera 04/08/08
  52.   Jesus was wrong part II 15:19  |  Raymond Talavera 04/08/08
  53.   Palestinian Brit, Jesus did what?! 15:19  |  Zev Davis 04/08/08
  54.   Jesus was wrong part III 15:26  |  Raymond Talavera 04/08/08
  55.   Palestinian Brit, I see what you mean 15:29  |  Zev Davis 04/08/08
  56.   Part 2 - JESUS WAS WRONG RESPONSE 22:02  |  Barry S. Roffman 04/08/08
  57.   concrete proof 12:33  |  rsd 05/08/08
  58.   Reply to Part 2 - JESUS WAS WRONG RESPONSE by Barry S. Roffman 00:51  |  Alex 11/08/08
  59.   Murder plot against whistleblower Jeremiah 08:53  |  Sardaukar 03/09/08
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