Archaeologists in Jerusalem have uncovered two ancient clay seals, or bullae, dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries BC, which bear the names of individuals mentioned in the Bible. The discoveries were made in the City of David, an area established by King David around 3,000 years ago.
One seal bears the inscription “(belonging) to Nathan-Melech, Servant of the King,” a name that appears in the Bible as an official in the court of King Josiah. According to the Book of Kings, Josiah re-established Israel’s connection with God and destroyed pagan idols. Dr Anat Mendel-Geberovich of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem noted the rarity of the name and the alignment of the period and title, suggesting a strong possibility that the seal belonged to the biblical figure.
A second seal, approximately 2,600 years old, is engraved with “Ikar, Son of Matanyahu.” While Matanyahu appears in the Bible and on other artefacts, this is the first known reference to the name Ikar.
Prof Yuval Gadot of Tel Aviv University and Dr Yiftah Shalev of the Israel Antiquities Authority highlighted the significance of these finds, as many similar artefacts come from the antiquities market rather than controlled excavations. They stated that the seals provide valuable insights into the administrative system of the Kingdom of Judah and the lives of officials close to the king during the First Temple period.
