In a groundbreaking discovery, international archaeologists have unearthed a 3,200-year-old tablet in the West Bank, believed to bear the earliest inscription of the Hebrew name for God, Yahweh. This ancient artifact, a small folded sheet of lead, is thought to have been used to invoke curses upon individuals who broke their word. If confirmed, this tablet could predate the previous earliest known inscription of God’s name by nearly 2,000 years.
A Glimpse into Ancient Rituals
The diminutive tablet was found at the Biblical Mount Ebal, a site deeply embedded in Israelite history and tradition. Known from scripture as part of the Promised Land, Mount Ebal is where Moses was commanded to build an altar after delivering the Israelites from Egypt. Although Moses himself was barred from entering the Promised Land due to his rebellion, his successor Joshua is said to have constructed the altar, renewing the Covenant. Archaeologist Adam Zertal uncovered this altar over 17 years ago, revealing a structure of stones meticulously stacked near the mountain’s peak.
The Discovery and Its Significance
In 2019, a team returned to Mount Ebal to continue Zertal’s work and discovered the cursed tablet among discarded material from the previous expedition. The artifact, a single strip of lead folded in half, resembled a tiny two-page booklet when separated, though opening it would cause damage. The tablet features 48 letters arranged in 14-word sets, forming three distinct formulaic patterns. The translated text reads: “Cursed, cursed, cursed — cursed by Yahweh.”
The inscription, written in various directions including left to right, right to left, top to bottom, and bottom to top, contains the term “arur” (meaning “cursed”) twelve times on each side. Researchers found eight of the 22 letters in the Canaanite/Hebrew alphabet in the inscription, with each letter exhibiting different forms and stances.
Historical and Biblical Context
The curse inscribed on the tablet echoes the scripture Genesis 9:6: “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed.” Pieter Gert van der Veen of Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, who participated in the discovery, noted that the text was written in a chiastic parallelism, a literary structure common in ancient texts.
Chemical analysis revealed that the lead used to create the tablet originated from a mine in the Aegean, Greece, operational during the time the tablet was made. Scott Stripling, director of the Archaeological Studies Institute at The Bible Seminary in Texas, emphasized the significance of this find, stating that it aligns with ancient texts describing the Israelites’ arrival around 1400 B.C. and their presence on Mount Ebal.
Controversies and Skepticism
Despite the excitement surrounding the discovery, not all archaeologists are convinced of its significance. A study published recently suggests that the tablet might have been used as a fishing lure rather than a curse tablet. Archaeologist Aren Maeir of Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, who conducted an X-ray analysis of the tablet, found no inscriptions but rather etchings caused by weathering.
Conclusion
The discovery of the 3,200-year-old cursed tablet at Mount Ebal presents a fascinating glimpse into the ancient world and its rituals. While the debate over its true purpose continues, the potential identification of the earliest inscription of God’s name, Yahweh, adds a significant chapter to the understanding of ancient Israelite history and religious practices. As further research unfolds, this small yet mighty artifact may redefine our comprehension of early biblical inscriptions and the cultural heritage of the region.
