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)

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