By STACY LIBERATORE, U.S. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,600-year-old clay seal in Jerusalem that may be tied to a biblical warning of impending doom.
The artifact, known as a bulla, dates back to the First Temple period and bears an ancient Hebrew inscription that reads: ‘Belonging to Yeda’yah (son of) Asayahu.’
Even more astonishing, the seal retains a visible fingerprint, believed to have been left by the ancient official who once owned it.
Archaeologists believe the name inscribed on the seal may connect directly to a pivotal moment in the biblical account of King Josiah of Judah, who launched sweeping religious reforms after a sacred scroll was discovered in Jerusalem.
The scroll, believed to be a version of Deuteronomy, outlined severe curses for disobedience, including famine, war, exile and the devastation of both the land and the Temple.
When the contents were read aloud, Josiah was so alarmed by its warnings that he tore his robes and sent a group of trusted officials, including a man named Asayahu, to rid Jerusalem of pagan practices.
The newly discovered seal, bearing the name of Asayahu’s son, Yeda’yah, offers compelling evidence of a royal official likely active during this critical period.
It not only supports the existence of individuals named in the biblical record but also reinforces the historical and spiritual significance of the scroll’s rediscovery, an event that marked a turning point in Judah’s religious history, researchers said.
The clay seal is more than 2,600 years old and bears an ancient Hebrew inscription that reads: ‘Belonging to Yeda’yah (son of) Asayahu’
Archaeologist Zachi Dvira, who co-directs the project, told The Times of Israel: ‘Obviously, we are not sure that the Asayahu mentioned on the sealing is the same that appears in the Bible.
‘However, several such artifacts found in the area of the Temple Mount carry biblical names, and it does make sense, because these were not objects used by common people.’
Marks on the back of the clay seal suggest it was once used to secure a bag or storage container, likely tied with a cord, and the script style places it around the the late First Temple period, roughly between the late 7th and early 6th century BC.
That was around the time the Bible says King Josiah of Judah ordered repairs made to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was also known as Solomon’s Temple.
The order came after the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586BC.
During the renovations, workers uncovered an ancient sacred scroll, Sefer haTorah, which scholars believe was likely an early version of the Pentateuch, specifically the Book of Deuteronomy, an event mentioned in 2 Kings 22:12 and 2 Chronicles 34:20.
When the sacred scroll was read aloud to King Josiah, its warnings about the people’s sins and the threat of divine punishment left the monarch shaken.
The scroll was said to have revealed that the people of Judah had seriously violated God’s covenant by worshiping other gods and engaging in pagan practices.
The seal was unearthed at excavations near the Temple Mount (pictured)
A prophetess, mentioned in 2 Kings 22:16–17, confirmed the doom to King Josiah, telling him God would bring disaster on Jerusalem.
According to 2 Kings 23, Josiah sent officials out to tear down shrines, altars and high places dedicated to Baal, Asherah, Molech, and other foreign gods, even desecrating them to ensure they would never be used again.
Among those officials was a senior figure named Asayahu, described in the Bible as ‘the king’s servant.’
Given his status, scholars have suggested that it is entirely plausible that his son, Yeda’yah, followed in his footsteps and held a high-ranking role in the royal court or Temple administration.
The discovery of a clay seal inscribed with the name ‘Yeda’yah son of Asayahu’ has now sparked excitement among researchers, who believe it may be directly linked to the very events described in the Bible.
Experts from the Temple Mount Sifting Project said the connection is highly credible, pointing out that seals like this were typically used only by officials of significant authority.
Its discovery on the Temple Mount adds further weight to the theory that Yeda’yah served in a prominent role during the First Temple period.
The historical backdrop is equally compelling. Just a few decades after the scroll was found, Jerusalem was invaded by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.
The city’s walls were breached, the Temple was destroyed, and many residents were killed or taken into exile, including key members of the ruling elite.
During the siege, much of the city’s food came from royal and Temple storehouses, which were stocked with grain, oil, wine, legumes and honey.
These supplies were sealed with pieces of clay stamped with the names of the officials responsible for managing them.
One such seal previously uncovered by the project bore the name ‘[He]zelyahu son of Immer,’ an official believed to have worked in the Temple treasury.
Now, this newly discovered seal, belonging to Yeda’yah son of Asayahu, appeared to tell a similar story, suggesting he too was responsible for overseeing one of these critical storehouses.
