Ketif Hinnom Inscription

Opposite Mt. Zion, across from the Hinnom Valley, rests an escarpment known as Ketef Hinnom (meaning "shoulder of Hinnom"). In 1979 archaeologist Gabriel Barkay, while excavating a burial cave there, discovered two small silver scrolls that were worn as amulets. The scrolls were carefully unrolled in a lab, and were found to contain about 18 lines of text. Amazingly, both scrolls recorded "May Yahweh bless and keep you; May Yahweh cause His face to shine upon you and grant you peace." This is the Priestly Benediction found in Numbers 6:24-26. These texts, which date to the 7th century BCE, are the earliest witnesses to the text of the Bible.

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