Bulla of Gemariah son of Shaphan (Jeremiah's scribe)
Bible Bullae from Israel and Judah
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Bulla of Gemariah son of Shaphan (Jeremiah's scribe) "Archaeologists are digging up bible stories!!!" |
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Encyclopedia of Bullae and Seals: The Exhibit: On-line Museum of Bulla and seals Security: How bullae are made to seal papyrus Forgeries: Known fake bullae and seals |
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Archaeologists are digging up bible stories!!! |
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Archaeology is an important science that confirms the historical accuracy of the Bible. Since the Bible refers to hundreds of cities, kings, and places, we would expect to find evidence from on-site excavations. And this is exactly what we have found. The Bible is the most historically accurate book of history on earth. Read the Bible daily! |
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Encyclopedia of Bullae and Seals of Judea and Israel
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Bulla "belonging to Gemariah son of Shaphan" (Jeremiah's scribe) |
3.
Bulla of Gemariah the son of Shaphan:
a. This seal was also excavated in the official archeological dig in the city of David in 1982 AD.
b. Jemariah was the son of Shaphan. Shaphan was the scribe of Josiah. Ahikam is Josiah's official.
c. "Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house, to all the people. Now when Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard all the words of the Lord from the book, he went down to the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber. And behold, all the officials were sitting there—Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the other officials." (Jeremiah 36:10–12)
d.
"Even though Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah pleaded with the
king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. And the king
commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah
the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the
Lord hid them. Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after the king had
burned the scroll and the words which Baruch had written at the dictation of
Jeremiah, saying," (Jeremiah 36:25–27)
II. Gemariah the son of Shaphan: Jer 36:10-27 605 BC burning of Jeremiah's scroll
1. This is the third of the most important clay seals because it was found as part of an official archeological dig in the city of David in 1982 AD.
a. "Among a horde of 51 seal impressions discovered in the 587 b.c. destruction level of Jerusalem is one which reads, “Belonging to Gemariah ben Shaphan” (Shiloh 1984: 19–20). The identification of this individual with the Gemariah of Jeremiah 36 appears certain, which then provides striking confirmation of Gemariah’s activities during Judah’s last days, as well as the authority which he had to seal official documents and other records." (ABD, Gemariah)
b. "During the 1982 season at the City of David excavations in Jerusalem, 51 bullae (later revised to 53) were discovered in Locus 967 in Area G. This is the “first time that so large a group of easily legible Hebrew sealings has come to light in a controlled excavation, in a clear stratigraphic context and accompanied by architectural, ceramic and historical evidence” (Shiloh 1986:16-17)." (Signed, Sealed and Delivered: An Archaeological Exposition of Jeremiah 32:1-15, Associates for Bible Research, Gordon Franz, 2010 AD)
c. "The bulla of Gemariah son of Shaphan was found in the famous Area G in the City of David excavations under the supervision of Jane Cahill and David Tarler. It is part of a hoard of 51 bullae, the only collection of bullae ever found in a stratified context in Israel. The bullae were uncovered in stratum 10, the level sealed by the Babylonian conquest, so they can be securely dated to the period just before the destruction of the city in 587/586 B.C.E. Since we don’t know where the collection of bullae with the names of Baruch and Yerahme’el came from, the fact that they lived just before the Babylonian destruction of the city was used to date the bullae. The City of David bullae, however, are dated by their stratum and by the pottery found at that level, a situation far preferable for archaeologists. The discovery of a Biblical name of the same period then helps to confirm the date. " (Six Biblical Signatures: Seals and seal impressions of six biblical personages recovered, Tsvi Schneider, BAR, 1991 AD)
d. "However, it is on a bulla found among a hoard of 51 bullae in the City of David that we find the only name of a character known from Scripture firmly tied to a specific location. It bears the name of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, from whose office Baruch the scribe read the prophecies of Jeremiah in the hearing of all the people (Jer 36:10)." (Archaeological Discoveries In Jerusalem, Leen and Kathleen Ritmeyer, Bible and Spade, Volume 10, Page 12, 1997 AD)
2. Bible verses:
a. "Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house, to all the people. Now when Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard all the words of the Lord from the book, he went down to the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber. And behold, all the officials were sitting there—Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the other officials." (Jeremiah 36:10–12)
b. "Even though Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah pleaded with the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them. Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after the king had burned the scroll and the words which Baruch had written at the dictation of Jeremiah, saying," (Jeremiah 36:25–27)
By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.
