By August 19, 2008 Read More →

Netanyahu ben Yaush Seal, 8th-6th century BCE

Netanyahu ben Yaush Seal.jpg

Personal Hebrew seal made of a semi-precious stone, the two bottom strips is the name of the owner of the seal, engraved in ancient Hebrew script. It reads- לנתניהו בן יאש ([belonging] to Netanyahu ben Yaush).

The two names are known in the treasury of biblical names- the name נתניהו (Netanyahu) is mentioned a number of times in the Bible (in the Book of Jeremiah and in Chronicles) and the name יאש (Yaush) appears in the Lachish letters. The name Yaush, like the name יאשיהו (Yoshiyahu) is, in the opinion of Professor Shmuel Ahituv, derived from the root או”ש which means “he gave a present” (based on Arabic and Ugaritic). It is customary to assume that the owners of personal seals were people that held senior governmental positions.

It should nevertheless be emphasized that this combination of names – נתניהו בן יאוש (Netanyahu ben Yaush) – was unknown until now.

“Building remains from First Temple period exposed west of Temple Mount,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, March 13, 2008.

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