Bible Archeology Discoveries

Ketef Hinnom Scrolls
Discovered: Ketef Hinnom, Jerusalem
From: (c. 600 BC)

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The Ketef Hinnom scrolls are the oldest surviving texts currently known from the Hebrew Bible, and date to c. 600 BC. The text, written in the Paleo-Hebrew script (not the Aramaic-derived Jewish square script), is from the Book of Numbers in the Hebrew Bible, and has been described as "one of most significant discoveries ever made" for biblical studies.

The two silver scrolls were uncovered in 1979 at Ketef Hinnom, an archaeological site southwest of the Old City of Jerusalem, and were found to contain a variation of the Priestly Blessing, found in Numbers 6:24–26. The scrolls were dated paleographically to the late 7th century BC, placing them in the First Temple period. Importantly, these documents refute the notion that Mosaic writings were created by Jews in the mid-late 1st century millenium BC.

"Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee:
Jehovah make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
Jehovah lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
Numbers 6:24-26

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Notable Finds

Much of what is described in Bible text is lost to history, requiring readers to assume the historicity of the scriptures.

However, many of the places and events described in the Old and New Testaments are periodically corroborated by archeological finds.

Some finds simply help us to better understand things from the ancient world. However, others provide important evidence as to the truth of scripture regarding things about which there had previously been skepticism.

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