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Inscription on ancient jar from David and Goliath era finally deciphered

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Archaeologists believe the inscription is a name similar to one in the Bible.

The Israel Antiquities Authority has announced that archaeologists have finally deciphered the ancient inscription engraved on the pieced jar from King David's ere. The ancient jar, in fragments, is one of the unearthed ceramics during the excavation in the Valley of Elah, which is the famous site were David fought Goliath. According to the Blaze, the inscription is read as Eshba'al Ben Bada, a name they are making connections with in the Bible, particularly in the Book of Samuel I.

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By Hannah Marfil (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
6/18/2015 (8 years ago)

Published in Middle East

Keywords: King David Era, Bible, Book of Samuel I, Israel, Ancient Jar, Inscription, Eshba'al

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - During the excavation, archaeologists observed that the fragments collected have some text written in Canaanite script. Experts stipulate the name engraved is something of a historical value, particularly during the time of King David.

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Researchers pointed out that this is the first time the name "Eshaba'al" is encountered in an ancient artifact, although it has appeared written in the Scriptures. Also known as Ish-bosheth, in I Samuel, he was the only surviving son of King Saul after the Battle of Gilboa, but the experts agreed that the jar and the text were not in honor of the late king.

They also noted that the name went out of circulation by the end of King David's rule.

"It is interesting to note that the name Eshbaʽal appears in the Bible, and now also in the archaeological record, only during the reign of King David, in the first half of the tenth century BCE," said archaeologist Yosef Garfinkel at the Hebrew University.

He added that the name "Beda" was not mentioned in ancient texts, even in the Bible, suggesting that it is to be considered unique.

Researchers believe the engraved name belonged to the owner of a large agricultural land where jars have the name inscribed, considering the ownership of the produce stored inside.

However, archaeologists have also connected the name change from Eshba'al to Ish-bosheth from the negative image of the deities worshipped by the Canaanites, the Ba'al.

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