3,000-year-old inscription bearing name of biblical judge found in Israel [Jerubbaal inscription]

Jerusalem Post ^ | July 13, 2021 | Rossella Tercatin

[SunkenCiv]

An inscription dating back some 3,100 years ago bearing the name of a biblical judge Jerubbaal was uncovered in the excavations at Khirbat er-Ra‘i, near Kiryat Gat in the Southern District of Israel, the Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Monday.

The researchers highlighted that while there cannot be any certainty on whether the inscription refers to the figure mentioned in the Book of Judges, this discovery offers important insights on the connection between the biblical text and historical reality...

All the dating has been carried out through both pottery typology and radiocarbon of organic samples found in the same archaeological layer.

The writing, inked on a jug, marks the first time that the name Jerubbaal has been found outside the biblical text. It is believed that the owner penned his name on the jug.

"The name Jerubbaal is familiar from biblical tradition in the Book of Judges as an alternative name for the judge Gideon ben Yoash," according to Prof. Yosef Garfinkel and archeologist Sa‘ar Ganor from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem...

"Gideon is first mentioned as combating idolatry by breaking the altar to Baal and cutting down the Asherah pole," they explained. "In biblical tradition, he is then remembered as triumphing over the Midianites, who used to cross over the Jordan to plunder agricultural crops. According to the Bible, Gideon organized a small army of 300 soldiers and attacked the Midianites by night near Ma'ayan Harod." ...

Khirbat er-R'i is located close to an important archaeological site, where a center, Lachish, often featured in the Bible, once stood... According to the Book of Joshua, shortly afterwards it was destroyed by the Israelites as they conquered the Land of Israel at the end of their wanderings in the desert following their Exodus from Egypt.

[SunkenCiv]

The Jerubbaal inscription, written in ink on a pottery vessel. (Credit: Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority)

[SunkenCiv]

[Sacajaweau]

aka...keep your hands off my jug.

[Red Badger]

And he was the ONLY one ever with that name?..................

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Super wow. Awesome article!

[Rurudyne]

So, you know, the thing about the victory over the Midianites is that it involved breaking pots … so might a memorial of the victory been pots like those used?

[refreshed]

Amazing find. I am always blessed by posts such as these. It seems the confirmations of the biblical text come fairly regularly now.

[Rurudyne]

Well, as it meant to indicate “let Baal contend with him” so it was probably rare before Gideon.

But, as you say, others may have been named such.

That said, when a name pops up in use that has not popped up before it does remove the objection some may raise that against the name even being used at all, as a backhanded way to challenge the existence of the man.

[BenLurkin]

Jerubbaal [N] [H]
contender with Baal; or, let Baal plead, a surname of Gideon; a name given to him because he destroyed the altar of Baal (Judg. 6:32 ; 7:1 ; 8:29 ; 1 Samuel 12:11 ).

[left that other site]

Gideon checked out and left it, no doubt.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

The original Baal-buster.

[BenLurkin]

Huah!

[Don Corleone]

The researchers highlighted that while there cannot be any certainty on whether the inscription refers to the figure mentioned in the Book of Judges, this discovery offers important insights on the connection between the biblical text and historical reality...

As some ancient astronaut theorists believe.....

[Monkey Face]

I have a book with the title, "The Bible As History," and it is the most comprehensive book I've read on the subject. (I'd list the author, but this book, like almost all the rest of the books I own, is packed, in anticipation of my move to AR.)

Nothing that is found that has to do with Biblical history surprises me. Probably mostly because I believe the Bible to be mostly true, considering the various translations and revisions it's gone through over the centuries.

Thanks, SC!

'Face

:o])

[Ahithophel]

we have a winner!

[Preachin']

I looked it up on eBay, and saw a book with that title was written by Werner Keller

[Reily]

I would hope there are indexes of names discovered by archaeology for the different time periods. That way you might have some physical evidence of how common the name was.

[Monkey Face]

Thank you! I could have done that, but I was too full of myself at the moment I posted, so I appreciate your effort!

I think I need a newer edition of the book, though!

‘Face

;o]

[Flick Lives]

Biblical pun ping.

[clarissaexplainsitall]

you win