Royal Bulla of Hezekiah
'Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz, king of Judah' — the king's own seal impression
Found 2009 — Eilat Mazar (Hebrew University, with the Israel Antiquities Authority), Ophel excavations 2009–2013; the reading was recognised in 2015 by Reut Ben Arieh and announced 2 December 2015
Where Ophel, Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) (Israel)
Dates from c. 727–698 BCE · Iron Age IIB · Reign of Chizkiyahu (Hezekiah)
Now at Israel Antiquities Authority state collection (Ophel excavation finds); exhibited in 2018 at Armstrong Auditorium, Edmond, Oklahoma
Names a biblical person Hezekiah, Ahaz
How Royal Bulla of Hezekiah was found
Found in a refuse dump beside a royal building south of the Temple Mount, among dozens of other bullae. Its reading was only recognised years later when the sifted material was studied.
What it is
An oval lump of clay about 13 mm across, once pressed over a tied papyrus document. It shows a two-winged sun disk flanked by ankh (life) signs and reads in paleo-Hebrew 'l-Chizkiyahu [ben] Achaz melekh Yehudah' — belonging to Hezekiah son of Ahaz, king of Judah.
Why it matters for the Bible
This is the first seal impression of a king of Israel or Judah recovered in a controlled excavation. Unprovenanced Hezekiah bullae had appeared on the antiquities market, but this one has a secure findspot. It confirms the king's name, his father's name and his title exactly as 2 Kings gives them. The winged sun may reflect royal Egyptian-style symbolism in Hezekiah's court.
The Hebrew word: MEH-lech ye-hoo-DAH
מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה
מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה is pronounced MEH-lech ye-hoo-DAH and means king of Judah (Strong's H4428 + H3063).
People this discovery connects to
- Hezekiah — חִזְקִיָּהוּ (Chiz-kee-YAH-hoo) — YHVH strengthens
- Ahaz — אָחָז (ah-CHAHZ) — he has grasped
Places
- Ophel — עֹפֶל (OH-fel) — mound, citadel
Events
Royal administration of Judah under Hezekiah
Royal Bulla of Hezekiah in Scripture
2 Kings 16:20 First mention of Hezekiah in Scripture.
2 Kings 18:1-2 Introduces Hezekiah son of Ahaz as king of Judah — the exact wording of the bulla.
2 Kings 18:5-7 Hezekiah's trust in YHVH and prosperity; the seal shows the working royal court that verse describes.
Questions people ask
What is Royal Bulla of Hezekiah?
An oval lump of clay about 13 mm across, once pressed over a tied papyrus document. It shows a two-winged sun disk flanked by ankh (life) signs and reads in paleo-Hebrew 'l-Chizkiyahu [ben] Achaz melekh Yehudah' — belonging to Hezekiah son of Ahaz, king of Judah.
When was Royal Bulla of Hezekiah discovered?
It was found in 2009 by Eilat Mazar (Hebrew University, with the Israel Antiquities Authority), Ophel excavations 2009–2013; the reading was recognised in 2015 by Reut Ben Arieh and announced 2 December 2015, at Ophel, Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).
Where is Royal Bulla of Hezekiah today?
Israel Antiquities Authority state collection (Ophel excavation finds); exhibited in 2018 at Armstrong Auditorium, Edmond, Oklahoma.
Which Bible verses does Royal Bulla of Hezekiah relate to?
2 Kings 16:20, 2 Kings 18:1-2, 2 Kings 18:5-7.
Related discoveries
- נָבִיאThe 'Isaiah' BullaSeal impression reading 'Yesha'yah[u] nvy[?]' — the prophet, or a man named Navi?
- תְּעָלָהHezekiah's Tunnel (Siloam Tunnel)533-metre rock-cut water channel bringing the Gihon Spring inside Jerusalem's walls
- מָצוֹרSennacherib's Prism (Taylor, Chicago and Jerusalem Prisms)Assyrian annals: 'Hezekiah the Judean I shut up like a bird in a cage'
- נִקְבָּהSiloam InscriptionHebrew record of the moment two tunnelling crews met under Jerusalem
- בָּמָהLachish Gate Shrine and Desecrated ToiletA gate sanctuary with broken altar horns and a stone latrine — Hezekiah's reform in action?
- קֶרֶןTel Beersheba Stratum II and the Dismantled Horned AltarA Judean city burned in 701 BCE, whose great altar had already been taken apart
Sources
- Hebrew University press release, 2 Dec 2015
- E. Mazar, The Ophel Excavations 2009–2013 Final Reports
- Times of Israel, 'Seal bearing name of Judean king found in Jerusalem' (2 Dec 2015)
- BAS, 'King Hezekiah in the Bible: Royal Seal of Hezekiah Comes to Light'