Netanyahu, Son of Ya’ash Seal

Sam Wolff, on the ANE-2 list announces the publication of a newly discovered seal inscribed ‘Netanyahu, son of Ya’ash’ - found in excavations near the Western Wall. Photos of the seal and the excavation site are available here. The account is in Hebrew, but an English version should be forthcoming.

UPDATE- The English version is now available here. With thanks to Yitzhak Sapir. [Originally published at 8:52 a.m. today].

UPDATE II: Joseph Lauer has passed along a line drawing of the seal provided by George Grena:

UPDATE III: Robert Deutsch comments

Dear all,

The upper register depicts a chain of pomegranates, an iconography known from the previously published bulla of “Misri son of Hubba” See my book: “Biblical Period Hebrew Bullae; The Josef Chaim Kaufman Collection, 2003, no. 244. Both, the seal of Netanyahu and the seal used to impress the bulla of Misri, were probably manufactured in the same workshop in Jerusalem.

Sincerely
Robert Deutsch

UPDATE IV: Robert asks that I attach the following illustration of what he is describing, which I don’t mind doing at all (click to enlarge):

UPDATE V: Yitzhak Sapir informs us of a bit fuller description of the dig itself here.

Quoting Shlomit Wexler-Bedolah, manager of the dig: “This is the first time that remains of this period have been found so close to the Temple Mount. In the past we indeed did find mainly remains of fortifications in the area of the Jewish Quarter, in bad condition, but this time we found a rich settlement layer from the First Temple period, that were conserved very well. This is uncovering the layers of history of the city.”

According to Wexler-Bedolah, it is too early to tell the function of the buildings that were discovered. “The only thing we can learn at this point is that this was very well built, and it’s reasonable to suppose that whoever lived within 100 meters of the Temple Mount was in a reasonably well social class. … These buildings were destroyed in a violent destruction, in an explosion that took place all at once. It’s not yet clear if it is the destruction of the Temple Mount, or perhaps an earthquake. I hope we can determine this later on.”

The ynet article also includes a much larger picture of the seal than is available on the IAA site, with the attribution Mariana Sulzberger, of the IAA: - http://www.ynet.co.il/PicServer2/02012008/1411468/2_hh.jpg

An Ancient Jewish Amulet

Antonio Lombatti directs our attention to a fascinating report from the University of Vienna:

Archaeologists from the Institute of Prehistory and Early History of the University of Vienna have found an amulet inscribed with a Jewish prayer in a Roman child’s grave dating back to the 3rd century CE at a burial ground in the Austrian town of Halbturn.

The report has a photo as well.  Do take a look.

New In The Journal of Hebrew Scriptures

Journal of Hebrew Scriptures - Volume 8: Article 4 (2008). Yael Shemesh: Elisha and The Miraculous Jug of Oil (2 Kgs 4:1-7)

Abstract

In this essay I approach the story of Elisha and the miraculous jar of oil (2 Kgs 4:1-7) through a close reading and attention to its literary genre - hagiography. The widow’s attitude toward Elisha, the miracle that Elisha performs for her, the contrast built up between Elisha and Elijah, and the parallels between Elisha and the Lord all emphasize what makes Elisha a unique figure in the Bible. Unlike other prophets, he is not described as a messenger-prophet. Instead, he is a holy man of God, endowed with supernatural powers that he uses to work miraculous deliverances for individuals and the community.

To access the article directly, please go here.

Luther Did His Best Thinking There…

On the toilet. But for some reason I doubt Pam Babcock was doing any theological research planted, as she was, on her boyfriend’s toilet for 2 years… How is that even possible? Wouldn’t you call for help after, let’s say, a month? A week? A day? Personally, I’d be bellowing for fire and rescue after about an hour. Didn’t her legs go to sleep?

Anyway, it’s just bizarre. As CBS reports

A 35-year-old woman who sat on her boyfriend’s toilet for so long that her body was stuck to the seat by the time he called police had a phobia about leaving the bathroom, the boyfriend said. “She is an adult; she made her own decision,” said her boyfriend, Kory McFarren. “I should have gotten help for her sooner; I admit that. But after a while, you kind of get used to it.”

Ah so she wasn’t really stuck on the toilet itself for two years but in the bathroom- and only of late glued to the seat… Hmmm…..

The case drew nationwide attention after Ness County Sheriff Bryan Whipple said it appeared the Ness City woman’s skin had grown around the seat in the two years she apparently was in the bathroom.

Ok TMI. And gross. Calling Dr. Phil, here’s a case for ya…  Grandma always said ‘it takes all kinds.’  Really Grandma???

It’s Official: The US Is In A Recession

According to ‘breaking news’ at Yahoo News.  That’s no surprise.  Next, another Great Depression.  The dollar is already nearly worthless around the world; oil is at an all time high; Halliburton is raking in profits to the tune of billions; the War in Iraq is draining the economy of $12 Billion a MONTH!; and things aren’t as bad as they will be when gas hits $4 a gallon in a few weeks.  Neat huh.

Obama’s Pastor: Huh???????

Obama’s long time Pastor seems to have some pretty bizarre notions- including the loony Rosie O’Donnell-esque belief that the US caused the disaster of 9/11. ABC News reports

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s pastor for the last 20 years at the Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago’s south side, has a long history of what even Obama’s campaign aides concede is “inflammatory rhetoric,” including the assertion that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own “terrorism.”

Huh??????   Obama is probably pretty smart to distance himself from this sort of stuff. Naturally I don’t think he should be held accountable for what his pastor thinks. No one should, really.  Thanks to Katie for pointing it out.

TTT: Tyndale Tech Toolbar

David’s described an interesting project here.  It might be worth checking into.  It certainly is a ‘one stop shopping’ sort of venue.  However, as is always the case in ‘resource’ pages and the like (including my own)- one is confined to what the particular editor thinks useful.  Hence David’s tool might be quite useful indeed- but naturally limited (as, again, are all such tools).

The Devil’s Bible Returns to Stockholm

It’s one of the most interesting copies of the Bible, the famed ‘Devil’s Bible’ (Codex Gigas), and it’s been returned to Stockholm from Prague.

The Devil’s Bible (Codex Gigas), a unique illuminated manuscript of Czech origin, returned to the Swedish Royal Library in Stockholm on Tuesday after being exhibited in Prague, the daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) wrote Wednesday. … The three-month exhibition of the Devil’s Bible was prolonged by two months and over 61,000 people visited it. It has been one of the most successful exhibitions in the Czech Republic. … The Devil’s Bible was created at the end of the 12th and early 13th centuries in the Benedictine monastery in Podlazice, east Bohemia. Weighing 75 kilograms and its wooden cover measuring 900 x 505 millimetres, it is the world’s largest manuscript. … The Devil’s Bible comprises various texts, including the Old Testament, a manual for priests featuring the list of sins and ways of penance called the Penitential, formulas to do away with diseases or to uncover and catch a thief. The text copying the early 12th century Kosmas chronicle is widely viewed as the most valuable. All the texts were probably written by a single person, who must have worked on them for up to 20 years. According to a legend, a monk repenting of his heavy sin wrote the Bible with the help of the devil within one sole night.

Neat huh!

Cats: Killing Through Staph Infection

Think Fluffy is a friendly family member?  Think again.  Fluffy is probably carrying a highly resistant strain of staph.  This German family learned it the hard way.  You’ve been warned…