Background / A careful examination, a fraud discovered

The inscription attributed to Yehoash King of Judea who ruled Jerusalem at the end of the ninth century B.C.E. was initially examined by the Israel Geological Institute in Jerusalem, where two scientists, Dr. Shimon Ilani and Dr. Amnon Rosenfeld, confirmed its antiquity. Other scientists and researchers did not rule out the possibility that the inscription is authentic but wanted to verify it wasn't a fake.

The 10-line inscription, which at the time was reported as having been found in the Temple Mount area, appeared on a black stone tablet in ancient Phoenician script and was written in the first person. It seemingly described the "clean sweep" Yehoash made in the Temple in nearly the same manner in which it was described in Kings 2, chapter 12.

The excitement this discovery aroused among Bible scholars and archaeologists was unprecedented. The optimists among them presumed that the inscription constituted the first authentic testimony, perhaps composed by King Yehoash himself, confirming the biblical description.

It later transpired that the inscription was sent to the Geological Institute for analysis by representatives of collector Oded Golan. The Israel Antiquities Authority and the police interrogated Golan, who was suspected of forging the inscription and other artifacts.

After lengthy negotiations, Golan agreed to hand over the inscription, in exchange for assurance that if he spills everything he knows and tells the truth he won't be charged, even if the inscription ultimately turns out to be a forgery.

Two committees from the Antiquities Authority examined the Yehoash inscription and the James ossuary and determined that both are fakes. One committee examined the script and content of the inscriptions, and the other studied the material and patina. The inscriptions were reviewed by experts from all relevant fields, including archaeologists, experts on ancient script, restorers, geologists, representatives of the Geological Institute, Tel Aviv University labs, and the Antiquities Authority.

Regarding the Yehoash inscription, the committees ruled unanimously that it was written by a modern-Hebrew speaker who put together a biblical-sounding text.