A new piece of Christian archeology was found this week at the base of the southern wall of the Temple Mount. Excavators uncovered a seal bearing the name of Judean King Hezekiah. This oval seal found on Wednesday, December 2nd is made of clay and measures only 9.7 X 8.6 mm. The clay seal reads, “Belonging to Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah.” Scripture speaks of this father/son relationship in II Kings 18:1,2 where is says, “And it was in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, the king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz the king of Judah, became king. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem.”
Also on the seal was a winged symbol meaning life. Life would have been significant to Hezekiah because the seal is believed to be from the time in Hezekiah’s life after he had miraculously recovered from a deadly illness. In Isaiah 38:1 we read,
“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’”
But in verses 4-6 we see how the Lord will redeem him,
“And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, ‘Go and tell Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: ‘I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.”’
Speaking of the king of Assyria, Hezekiah is linked to another significant piece of Christian archeology. In 2 Choronicles 32:2 (also in 2 Kings 20:20) Hezekiah sees that “Sennacherib (king of Assyria) had come and that he intended to wage war against Jerusalem.” So Hezekiah gathers together his men to close off the water that flows into the city from the springs. You can read more about Hezekiah’s tunnel in our past blog post or see a video taken in the tunnel, but what you’ll find is that this water tunnel was used in the war against Assyria. This water was discovered in recent history and is open for viewing. It will be a highlight on our Israel tours this year!
Read more about this seal discovery at http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/55293/jerusalem-excavation-reveals-2700-year-old-seal-israelite-king-jerusalem/#rhmBfz6m7khpmF2v.99