A Name from Jerusalem's Burned Layer

In a layer of Jerusalem destroyed by the Babylonians, archaeologists found a small inscribed piece. It reads: belonging to Gemaryahu, son of Shaphan.

Scripture: Then Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the book in Yahweh’s house, in the room of Gemariah the son of Shaphan, the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the new gate of Yahweh’s house, in the ears of all the people.

Jeremiah tells of a fast in the fifth year of King Jehoiakim, when people from across Judah gathered in Jerusalem. Baruch read Jeremiah's words aloud, in a room belonging to Gemariah, son of Shaphan the scribe.

Shaphan was already a known figure. Under King Josiah he was a court secretary, sent to oversee temple repairs. When the priest Hilkiah found an ancient scroll, he gave it to Shaphan, who took it to the king.

In the same chapter, Gemariah's son Micaiah hears the reading and goes to the king's house, where the princes sit, Gemariah among them. They then send for Baruch.

The dig was led by Israeli archaeologist Yigal Shiloh, in the City of David. Several bullae were found. That is the archaeologists' word for these inscribed finds. They came from stratum X, a layer of the dig destroyed by the Babylonians.

That destruction is dated to about 586 BCE, a little after the reign of King Jehoiakim.

Scripture: Bulla number two carries that inscription. Shiloh linked the name to Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, named in the biblical text.

Shiloh proposed it was the same man, active under Jehoiakim, who reigned from 609 to 598 BCE. If so, it could confirm Gemariah as a son of Shaphan, alongside Ahikam.

But this is debated. Archaeologist Yair Shoham cautions that these names were popular in ancient times, so it is equally possible there is no connection to the man in the Bible. The link is possible, not certain.

As for the year of discovery and where the bulla is kept today, the sources I have don't say. Museum records would be the place to check.

A name on a small find, which may stand beside a name in Jeremiah's story. May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today. Follow Bible Evidence for more.