INSCRIPTIONS - ANCIENT ISRAELI CURSES

On 30 July 2022, I reported on the discovery of the Roman carved stone graffiti from Vindolanda, England, of “Secundinus, the shitter.” Ancient Romans were far from the only people in antiquity who cursed those they disagreed with. This column is about a couple of ancient inscribed curses found in Israel. Reported by Conny Waters online at AncientPages.com, they describe a pair of ancient curses that are adding to our knowledge of ancient Hebrew theology and history.

A 3,500-year-old stone tablet discovered in the City of David, Jerusalem in 2010. Courtesy of Institute for Biblical Studies and Ancient History.

The first of these is a 3,500-year-old stone tablet discovered in Jerusalem. Professor Gershon Galil, head of the Institute for Biblical Studies and Ancient History said the artifact was used in a ritual ceremony by priests or other important figures in the city who were apparently feuding with the city’s highest level official, the Governor. (Waters 7/13/2022)

The history of Jerusalem began with a settlement established near Gihon Spring between 4500 and 3500 BCE. The first recorded mention of this town was in a Middle Kingdom Egyptian text which recorded it as Rusalimum. By the 17^th century BCE Canaanites had built megalithic walls on the eastern side of Jerusalem to protect their water system. (Wikipedia)

A drawing of the 3,500-year-old Jerusalem stone inscription. Courtesy Prof. Gershon Galil.

“The inscription contains 20 words and 63 letters in the Proto-Canaanite script, an early Semitic alphabet, and a predecessor to modern alphabets used in the region.” (Waters 7/13/2022) Note that this tablet is not written in Hebrew, but in proto-Canaanite, an early Semitic alphabet and forerunner of modern alphabets from the area.

“The stone tablet is inscribed with the repeated phrase, ‘cursed, cursed, you will surely die, and singles out the ‘governor of the city,’ according to Galil’s translation,’ the Times of Israel reports.” (Waters 7/13/2022)

The second curse tablet is from the period of Israeli Jerusalem. “According to the Bible, the Israelite history of the city began in c. 1000 BCE, with King David’s sack of Jerusalem, following which Jerusalem became the City of David and capital of the United Kingdom of Israel.” (Wikipedia)

The lead curse tablet, discovered in Israel, is the oldest known Hebrew text. Credit Michael C. Luddeni.

This other curse tablet is quite small and, instead of stone, is engraved in early Hebrew on a folded piece of lead. “Scientists have announced the discovery of a rare ancient tablet that has the potential to re-write history. The tiny tablet is older than the Dead Sea Scrolls and was unearthed on Mount Ebla in Israel. Measuring only two centimeters by two centimeters in size, the engraving on the table has now been translated and researchers argue the engraving could offer proof that the events of the Bible occurred hundreds of years earlier than previously believed.

The small ancient lead tablet was discovered by Dr. Scott Stripling, director of the Archaeological Studies Institute at the Bible Seminary in Katy (Texas), who together with her team visited Mount Ebal, one of the two mountains in the immediate vicinity of the city of Nablus in the West Bank, and forms the northern siede of the valley in which Nablus is situated, the southern side being formed by Mount Gerizim. - - - The inscription on the discovered tablet reads: ‘Cursed, cursed, cursed – Cursed by the God Yahweh. You will die cursed. Cursed you will surely die. Cursed by Yahweh – cursed, cursed, cursed.’

Examinations of the artifact suggest the tablet is at least 200 years older than any other Hebrew text in existence.” (Waters 3/25/2022) If this is truly the ‘oldest Hebrew text in existence’ I find it to be very interesting that it is such a violent curse. This part of history is seemingly not starting from a very loving place.

Joshua's Altar and Mount Ebal, Photograph israel-agency.com.

Mount Ebal has a historic place in the Bible. In references displaying a great deal more stick than carrot - “In Deuteronomy 27:15-26, Moses instructs the Levites to lead all the people of Israel from the top of Mount Ebal in a series of 11 curses against anyone who partakes in a variety of actions such as making an idol, dishonoring their mother or father, or moving their neighbor’s boundary stone.

In Joshua 8:30, Joshua builds an altar on Mount Ebal following his battle with the Ai, makes a burnt offering to God, and repeats the curses of Moses.” (Waters 3/25/2022)

These instances all seem to reinforce the image of the vengeful God from the Old Testament and seemingly, this ancient curse fits right in.

 NOTE: Some images in this posting were retrieved from the internet with a search for public domain photographs. If any of these images are not intended to be public domain, I apologize, and will happily provide the picture credits if the owner will contact me with them. For further information on these reports you should read the original reports at the sites listed below.

REFERENCES:

Waters, Conny, 2022, 3,500-Year-Old Stone Inscribed With A Curse Against The City’s Governor Discovered In Jerusalem, 13 July 2022, AncientPages.com, accessed 9 July 2022.

Waters, Conny, 2022, Rare ‘Cursed’ Tablet Predating The Dead Sea Scrolls Discovered On Mount Ebal Could Re-Write History – Scientists Say, 25 March 2022, AncientPages.com, accessed on 7 July 2022.