“Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace”. (Num. 6:23b–26).
The Levites (temple servants) giving the priestly blessing in the temple
The Oldest Authentic Evidence of Bible Scripture
There is a common assumption that the oldest (and possibly the most authentic) evidence of Biblical scriptures is the Dead Sea Scrolls found in the Qumran Caves near the northern shores of the Dead Sea in southern Israel. But according to renowned archeologists and Bible scholars, this assumption is not correct.
The oldest known example of a Biblical scripture is an archaeological artifact found tucked into small silver scrolls in a burial cave located behind the Menachem Begin Center near St. Andrew’s Scottish Church in Jerusalem.
This artifact precedes the Dead Sea Scrolls by approximately 400 years, making them almost 2,600 years old, and by far, the oldest manuscript of the Bible ever found. This was the time of the prophet Jeremiah, and close to the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple and the exile of much of the Israeli nation to Babylon.
The discovery of this scroll is, to date, one of the most exciting finds in modern-day archaeology. Not only does it validate the Bible, but it gives us a truly unique look into the life and times of Ancient Jerusalem. What was found, was a silver amulet inscribed with ancient Hebrew script, known today as one of several names: the Priestly Blessing, the Priestly Benediction, or Aaron’s Blessing.
The amulet containing the Priestly Blessing, on display at the Israel Museum. Source: Wikipedia.
A Testament to the Jewish People’s Link to Jerusalem
These verses are taken from the Bible, Numbers 6:22–27. In ancient times, this silver piece was worn around the neck as an amulet, where it was believed to give divine protection against evil to those who wore it. This blessing is particularly meaningful to both Christians and Jews, as it has been recited for thousands of years. It dates back to the time when it was given by God to Moses in the Sinai desert, as a way for Aaron, the high priest, to bless the people of Israel. The blessing – since the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, has been held sacred and is recited repeatedly in synagogues to this day. It is considered the most famous blessing in the Bible.
The discovery of this amulet containing Aaron’s blessing, is a testament to the Jewish people’s link to Jerusalem, to its land, and to their heritage. Its essence and its connection of the Jewish people to their roots, could not be any more concise and clear.
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“You shall charge the sons of Israel that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.” Exodus 27:20 Today, when night falls, to illuminate our homes, we simply switch on the lights. But how did people in the time of the Bible light their their homes …
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, the day of celebration of love and affection. The best way to learn about the celebration of love, is to return to the root of all love, as it is written in the Bible. “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; …
Aaron’s Blessing: The Oldest Authentic Evidence of Bible Scripture
The Levites (temple servants) giving the priestly blessing in the temple
The Oldest Authentic Evidence of Bible Scripture
There is a common assumption that the oldest (and possibly the most authentic) evidence of Biblical scriptures is the Dead Sea Scrolls found in the Qumran Caves near the northern shores of the Dead Sea in southern Israel. But according to renowned archeologists and Bible scholars, this assumption is not correct.
The oldest known example of a Biblical scripture is an archaeological artifact found tucked into small silver scrolls in a burial cave located behind the Menachem Begin Center near St. Andrew’s Scottish Church in Jerusalem.
This artifact precedes the Dead Sea Scrolls by approximately 400 years, making them almost 2,600 years old, and by far, the oldest manuscript of the Bible ever found. This was the time of the prophet Jeremiah, and close to the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple and the exile of much of the Israeli nation to Babylon.
The discovery of this scroll is, to date, one of the most exciting finds in modern-day archaeology. Not only does it validate the Bible, but it gives us a truly unique look into the life and times of Ancient Jerusalem. What was found, was a silver amulet inscribed with ancient Hebrew script, known today as one of several names: the Priestly Blessing, the Priestly Benediction, or Aaron’s Blessing.
The amulet containing the Priestly Blessing, on display at the Israel Museum. Source: Wikipedia.
A Testament to the Jewish People’s Link to Jerusalem
These verses are taken from the Bible, Numbers 6:22–27. In ancient times, this silver piece was worn around the neck as an amulet, where it was believed to give divine protection against evil to those who wore it. This blessing is particularly meaningful to both Christians and Jews, as it has been recited for thousands of years. It dates back to the time when it was given by God to Moses in the Sinai desert, as a way for Aaron, the high priest, to bless the people of Israel. The blessing – since the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, has been held sacred and is recited repeatedly in synagogues to this day. It is considered the most famous blessing in the Bible.
Today, the amulet can be found on display in the archaeology wing of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
The Priestly Scrolls on display in the Israel Museum. Photo by Nahum Slapak.
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