We are free this weekend and enjoyed 3 hours this morning in one of the world’s great museums for biblical artifacts. The Israel Museum in Jerusalem is the repository for many discoveries we see in Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and other materials. It is one thing to view a photo but a much different experience examining an artifact with your own eyes.
A full visit to the museum cannot possibly be summarized in one post. I will start with a few highlights from Lachish, our current dig site.
Fortified cities normally kept large quantities of supplies on hand during attacks. These jars held grain, olive oil, wine, and other supplies collected as taxes. In Judah, these jars were stamped LMLK (“belonging to the king”) on the handle to designate them as government property. Here is a storage jar found at Lachish in a previous excavation. If you zoom in on the center handle, the LMLK stamp is visible.
A typical storage jar from around the time of Hezekiah. These jars were stamped with “LMLK” on the handle, marking them as belonging to the government. (Photo by Luke Chandler)
Some pottery vessels were specialized. Here is one designed to scoop grains. Notice how the handles are attached off center, making it easier to dip the bowl into a granary or large storage container. Someone at Lachish used this to bring home food for the family each day.
A scooping tray from the time of Judah’s kings. Notice how the handles are off center, permitting the front end of the vessel to scoop into a large container of grain. (Photo by Luke Chandler)
The inhabitants of Lachish burned incense in their worship. Here are two incense burning stands from the time of the Judges, during the city’s Canaanite period. (I found a portion of a similar incense stand a few days ago at Lachish.)
Incense stands from the Late Bronze Period. Biblically, this is the time of the Conquest and Judges. (Photo by Luke Chandler)
Canaanite Lachish had some remarkable imports. Here is elephant ivory carved into the form of a human arm, complete with closed fist. This was found in the First Lachish Expedition during the 1930’s.
Ivory in the shape of a human arm. Many luxury items existed in Canaanite Lachish. Many expensive imports, including this one, were found in the city’s temples. (Photo by Luke Chandler)
A series of military dispatches from the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s attack in 586 BC were found in the Lachish city gate. Here is Letter #3, on display during today’s visit.
Lachish Letter #3, which mentions an officer of Judah going down to Egypt. There might be a connection with this dispatch and events in Jeremiah 26:20-23. (Photo by Luke Chandler)
The museum rotates the Lachish Letters that are on display. Last year, we saw Letter #4 that specifically mentions Lachish. Here is a flashback:
Our 2014 group posing with Lachish Letter #4 in the Israel Museum last year.
We return to the dig tomorrow afternoon. Things are going very well and we are having an excellent time. More information and photos to come!
