07-21-2007, 09:34 AM
Tiny tablet provides proof for Old Testament
This fragment is a receipt for payment
made by a figure in the Old Testament
The tablet was found in the British Museum's collection
of Assyrian cuneiform tablets by professor Michael Jursa.
As he was searching for Babylonian financial accounts among the tablets, Prof Jursa suddenly came across a name he half remembered - Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, described there in a hand 2,500 years old, as "the chief eunuch" of Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon.
Prof Jursa, an Assyriologist, checked the Old Testament and there in chapter 39 of the Book of Jeremiah, he found, spelled differently, the same name - Nebo-Sarsekim.
Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon.
The small tablet, the size of "a packet of 10 cigarettes" according to Irving Finkel, a British Museum expert, is a bill of receipt acknowledging Nabu-sharrussu-ukin's payment of 0.75 kg of gold to a temple in Babylon.
"This is a fantastic discovery, a world-class find," Dr Finkel said yesterday. "If Nebo-Sarsekim existed, which other lesser figures in the Old Testament existed? A throwaway detail in the Old Testament turns out to be accurate and true. I think that it means that the whole of the narrative {of Jeremiah} takes on a new kind of power." (emphasis added)
The full translation of the tablet reads: (Regarding) 1.5 minas (0.75 kg) of gold, the property of Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, the chief eunuch, which he sent via Arad-Banitu the eunuch to {the temple} Esangila: Arad-Banitu has delivered {it} to Esangila. In the presence of Bel-usat, son of Alpaya, the royal bodyguard, {and of} Nadin, son of Marduk-zer-ibni. Month XI, day 18, year 10 {of} Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
This info taken from Nigel Reynolds, Arts Correspondent's
news story; for his full account in the Telegraph.co.uk
click here, or on the blue title at the top of the page.
This fragment is a receipt for payment
made by a figure in the Old Testament
The tablet was found in the British Museum's collection
of Assyrian cuneiform tablets by professor Michael Jursa.
As he was searching for Babylonian financial accounts among the tablets, Prof Jursa suddenly came across a name he half remembered - Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, described there in a hand 2,500 years old, as "the chief eunuch" of Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon.
Prof Jursa, an Assyriologist, checked the Old Testament and there in chapter 39 of the Book of Jeremiah, he found, spelled differently, the same name - Nebo-Sarsekim.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jeremiah 39:3Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nebo-Sarsekim, according to Jeremiah, was Nebuchadnezzar II's "chief officer" and was with him at the siege of Jerusalem in 587 BC, when the Babylonians overran the city.The small tablet, the size of "a packet of 10 cigarettes" according to Irving Finkel, a British Museum expert, is a bill of receipt acknowledging Nabu-sharrussu-ukin's payment of 0.75 kg of gold to a temple in Babylon.
"This is a fantastic discovery, a world-class find," Dr Finkel said yesterday. "If Nebo-Sarsekim existed, which other lesser figures in the Old Testament existed? A throwaway detail in the Old Testament turns out to be accurate and true. I think that it means that the whole of the narrative {of Jeremiah} takes on a new kind of power." (emphasis added)
The full translation of the tablet reads: (Regarding) 1.5 minas (0.75 kg) of gold, the property of Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, the chief eunuch, which he sent via Arad-Banitu the eunuch to {the temple} Esangila: Arad-Banitu has delivered {it} to Esangila. In the presence of Bel-usat, son of Alpaya, the royal bodyguard, {and of} Nadin, son of Marduk-zer-ibni. Month XI, day 18, year 10 {of} Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
This info taken from Nigel Reynolds, Arts Correspondent's
news story; for his full account in the Telegraph.co.uk
click here, or on the blue title at the top of the page.
Photo used with permission of Telegraph.co.uk