 Description: Known as the "Temple Ostraca," This potsherd (called an ostraca) is a receipt for 3 shekels from Zekaryahu (Zecheriah) for the "Temple of Yahweh." This is the only non-Biblical record for the Temple of Yahweh. However, because the origins of this inscription is not known (it was in a private collection) some have proposed that it is a fake. Era: Middle Semitic Script Image Credit: K. C. Hanson Date of Inscription: c. 900 BCE Location of Discovery: Belonged to a private collection, origin unknown Date of Discovery: ? Current Location: ? Language: Hebrew Writing Surface: Pottery Transliteration: 1. KAShR TsWK . AShY 2. HW . HMLK . LTT . BYD 3. [Z]KRYHW . KSP TR 4. ShSh . LBYT YHWH 5. Sh \ \ \ Translation: 1. like which you commanded ashya- 2. -hu the king to give in hand 3. [z]ekaryahu silver tar- 4. -shish to house of YHWH 5. 3 Sh. Just as you commanded, Ashyahu the king, to give by the hand of Zekaryahu, silver of Tarshish to the house of Yahweh, 3 Shekels. (Translation by Jeff A. Benner) Comments: |