Jerusalem’s Ancient Culture Validated

The Bible records many details related to life during the time periods described in its pages. While those small facts may sometimes appear unnecessary, they often provide information that can be used to validate both biblical events and the Bible itself.

Several years ago in Jerusalem, archaeologists digging in First Temple structures near the Temple Mount made an interesting discovery. The First Temple period dates to the time of the biblical kings of Israel, and archaeologists unearthed a seal from that time that belonged to a Jewish governor of Jerusalem (IsraelHayom.com, February 26, 2024). The seal would likely have been used to stamp important documents and was probably worn on a chain or string around an official’s neck. What is particularly relevant is that the seal supports two important claims. First, it validates the Bible’s description of governors over Jerusalem during the time of the ancient kingdom of Judah. The Bible refers to governors of Jerusalem serving under both kings Hezekiah and Josiah (see 2 Kings 23:8). Second, this find validates the history of the Israelites—not only as inhabitants of Judea, but also as rulers of Jerusalem over 2,500 years ago and across successive generations of Jewish kings.

Today, critics increasingly question the validity of the Bible and claim that the Jews are relative newcomers to the Holy Land. And social engineers of all stripes work tirelessly to distance the moral and historical document known as the Bible from public consciousness, slandering it as being an untrustworthy witness to human history. Yet, archaeology continues to unearth evidence that validates biblical claims. To learn more, watch “Proofs of the Bible.”