Ishbaal son of Beda Inscription
A jar bearing the same name as Saul's son
Found 2012 — Yosef Garfinkel and Saar Ganor; published 2015 by Garfinkel, Golub, Misgav and Ganor (BASOR 373)
Where Khirbet Qeiyafa, Elah Valley (Israel)
Dates from c. 1020–980 BCE · Iron Age IIA (early) · Reigns of Shaul (Saul) and David
Now at Israel Antiquities Authority (exhibited at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem)
How Ishbaal son of Beda Inscription was found
Sherds of a large storage jar found smashed on a floor near the southern gate; restored in the lab, when the letters incised before firing were recognized.
What it is
A large ceramic jar whose shoulder carries a line of Canaanite alphabetic letters, cut into the clay before firing and reading 'Ishbaʿal son of Beda'. The letters are large and clear. It was probably a mark of the owner or the sender of the jar's contents.
Why it matters for the Bible
This is the first time the name Ishbaal has turned up on an inscription from the land of Israel. The Bible gives the same name (spelled Eshbaal in Chronicles, Ish-bosheth in Samuel) to the son of Shaul who ruled Israel while David ruled in Hebron. The jar does not belong to that prince, but it proves the name was in use in Judah in the exact period the Bible places him, and that names built on 'Baal' were still acceptable to Israelites before they fell out of favor. It also adds to the growing evidence of writing at a tenth-century Judahite fort.
The Hebrew word: Esh-BAH-al
אֶשְׁבַּעַל
אֶשְׁבַּעַל is pronounced Esh-BAH-al and means Eshbaal — Saul's son; the same name on the Qeiyafa jar (Strong's H792).
People this discovery connects to
- Ish-bosheth / Eshbaal — אֶשְׁבַּעַל (Esh-BAH-al) — man of Baal (later changed to Ish-bosheth, 'man of shame')
- Saul — שָׁאוּל (Shah-OOL) — asked for
Places
- Shaaraim — שַׁעֲרַיִם (Sha-ah-RAH-yim) — two gates
Events
Civil war between the house of Saul and the house of David
Ishbaal son of Beda Inscription in Scripture
2 Samuel 2:8-10 Abner makes Ish-bosheth (Eshbaal) king over Israel while David reigns in Hebron. (First mention of Esh-baal (Ish-bosheth).)
Hosea 2:16-17 YHVH promises the name Baal will no longer be spoken; later scribes replaced 'Baal' names with 'bosheth'.
1 Chronicles 8:33 Saul's son is named Eshbaal here, the original form of the name found on the jar.
Questions people ask
What is Ishbaal son of Beda Inscription?
A large ceramic jar whose shoulder carries a line of Canaanite alphabetic letters, cut into the clay before firing and reading 'Ishbaʿal son of Beda'. The letters are large and clear. It was probably a mark of the owner or the sender of the jar's contents.
When was Ishbaal son of Beda Inscription discovered?
It was found in 2012 by Yosef Garfinkel and Saar Ganor; published 2015 by Garfinkel, Golub, Misgav and Ganor (BASOR 373), at Khirbet Qeiyafa, Elah Valley.
Where is Ishbaal son of Beda Inscription today?
Israel Antiquities Authority (exhibited at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem).
Which Bible verses does Ishbaal son of Beda Inscription relate to?
2 Samuel 2:8-10, Hosea 2:16-17, 1 Chronicles 8:33.
Related discoveries
- שַׁעֲרַיִםKhirbet QeiyafaA fortified Judahite city with two gates overlooking the Elah Valley
- שָׁפַטKhirbet Qeiyafa OstraconFive lines of early alphabetic writing from the days of David
- צְלָעוֹתKhirbet Qeiyafa Model ShrinesTwo miniature shrines with architecture echoing Solomon's Temple
- חָרְמָהTel MasosA large open settlement in the Beersheba Valley on the eve of the monarchy
- גִּבְעַת שָׁאוּלGibeah of Saul (Tell el-Ful)Albright's Iron Age fortress on the ridge north of Jerusalem, beneath an unfinished royal palace
- רֶכֶב בַּרְזֶלBeth Shean: Egyptian Garrison and the Seti I StelaePharaoh's fortress inside Canaan, where Saul's body was hung
Sources
- Garfinkel, Golub, Misgav & Ganor, 'The ʾIšbaʿal Inscription from Khirbet Qeiyafa', BASOR 373 (2015)
- Wikipedia: Khirbet Qeiyafa (Ishbaal inscription section)