This was not used to actually seal a document or object but to separate the use of money from the sacrificial objects. See Mt 22.15-22 and Mt 21.12-17.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8ojunn8XU24
Most interesting George.
Thanks for sharing.
Hans
Peace, George! and A Blessed and Happy New Year! *smile*
Thanks much for sharing! Psalm 19:1
Thank you George. Nina and I found that very interesting.
In reading the title I had to wonder ... I've seen reference to sacrificial lambs, goats, pigeons, sons ... but when were the Hebrews into sacrificing seals? In fact, where did they find seals ... I didn't realize they used such long trade routes.
GROAN ! You've been reading too many of my posts, MJ.
GROAN ! You've been reading too many of my posts
Very interesting. Thanks.
GROAN ! You've been reading too many of my postsOne is too many.
This was not used to actually seal a document or object but to separate the use of money from the sacrificial objects. See Mt 22.15-22 and Mt 21.12-17. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8ojunn8XU24
Very interesting George. Thank you for postig that link. Happy New Year to you. God bless you.
I wonder what day they found it. I was there not long ago. [:)]
I wonder what day they found it. I was there not long ago.
That is a good question to which I don't have an answer. There is a sifting being conducted of material excavated illegally by the Muslim occupiers of Al Aqsa (the temple mount), but Ronnie Reich does not seem to be involved in that, as I recall. It is possible that it was found in situ which would make it more valuable (useful) as an archaeological artifact. Robert Deutsch (about whom I have some reservations) wrote in a post to the ANE-2 list
Regarding the seal impression (bulla) found by Sukrun and Reich in Jerusalem,the team believes that "the tiny seal was put on objects designated to be usedin the temple, and thus had to be ceremonially pure"Very interesting BUT the interpretation has to be different:The seal impression (the bulla) has two finger prints on the back and there isno evidence that it served to seal or to be attached to an artifact.In the Mishna (Kedoshim, Tamid 3:3) is mentioned the "chamber of the seals"which was in the temple. There the seals were kept, whose impressions on bullaeserved as evidence of the payment for sacrifice. The Chamber of the seals mighthave been a room where one could buy an official bulla as evidence of payment.Possibly, a range of bullae in various denominations were prepared and thenexchanged there for cash, much like a modern ticket office.The purchase of seals, which are probably bullae, is also mentioned in theMishna:"Who wishes to get libations, goes to Yohanan who is over the seals, hands himover coins and receives a seal. He goes to Ahiya who is over the libations,hands him over a seal and receives libations. At evening they meet, and Ahiyapresents the seal and exchanges them for coins". (Moed, Shekalim 5:4).The actual seals probably never left his room.The idea was not to "contaminate the oferings with "uncleane money", but with"clean receipts".Therefore the bulla discovered by Shukrun and Reich (if the reading is correct),is in fact a receipt, or the means (proof) of payment which was used to buyofferings.Robert Deutsch
Thanks for the link George [:)]
When reading the topic title I thought: Hé, I didn't know they offered seals in the second temple:
That is a good question to which I don't have an answer. There is a sifting being conducted of material excavated illegally by the Muslim occupiers of Al Aqsa (the temple mount), but Ronnie Reich does not seem to be involved in that, as I recall. It is possible that it was found in situ which would make it more valuable (useful) as an archaeological artifact.
I asked when, not where. [;)] But leaving that aside, it can't have come from the sifting project, not unless the article I read had gotten just about everything wrong. That material comes from the so called Solomon's stables in the southeastern corner of the Temple Mount platform. This was supposed to have been found in the dirt above the Herodian street below the southwestern corner. The one thing I do have a problem with in that description is that that part of the Herodian street has been laying bare for years, so it doesn't seem a likely place for a find. My completely uninitiated guess would be that either it came from slightly further south or north, where the street hasn't ben dug out yet (but there sure wasn't any excavations going on there a month ago, nor did it look like there had been any recently), or it came, not from above the street, but from below the street; from the drainage channel, which they are most definitely working on digging out (I almost got a few of their sacks of dirt in my head when I walked it). In fact the only part of the Archaeological Park I can remember seeing people digging in.
OK, now I've checked HaAretz as well. They say "excavations beneath Robinson's Arch", and "The seal was found under several layers of dirt that covered the foundations of the Western Wall, 15 meters north of the southwest corner of the Temple Mount." That settles the spot all-right.
The comment was on the BAR website as well.
What is the approximate date of this seal? Edit: Found the answer--1st century CE
Can't 2nd Temple period run from time of Ezra through time of Jesus?
That's it. We'll need to await further information.
"The materials were dated from the end of the first century C.E., a period that witnessed considerable construction activity, influenced by Roman styles."
So possibly lost during the siege and fall of the Temple? At least not much earlier.
"The materials were dated from the end of the first century C.E., a period that witnessed considerable construction activity, influenced by Roman styles." So possibly lost during the siege and fall of the Temple? At least not much earlier.
A link to the Haaretz article
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/just-in-time-for-hanukkah-archeologists-show-off-rare-purity-seal-used-in-second-temple-1.403581
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