A clay seal found in Jerusalem may have belonged to the son of a royal servant mentioned in 2 Kings. It still bears a fingerprint from over 2,600 years ago.



Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered a clay seal they say likely belonged to an obscure Old Testament figure who played a major role in biblical history. The well-preserved clay seal was found this summer and bears a Hebrew inscription reading, “belonging to Yed[a?]yah (son of) Asayahu” -- and dates to the late-seventh century B.C. to the early-sixth century B.C., during the reign of King Josiah.

Incredibly, it bears a fingerprint -- “presumably left by the ancient official who once owned it,” according to a news release.

Three passages in the Old Testament, 2 Chronicles 34:20, 2 Kings 22:12, and 2 Kings 22:14, reference an “Asaiah,” the shortened, Anglicized version of “Asayahu” for English Bibles.

Asaiah was a servant of King Josiah -- one of Judah’s “good” kings -- and helped carry out the king’s religious reforms that marked a turn back to God. Josiah ordered repairs on the temple, during which the Book of the Law was discovered, leading him to tear his clothes in grief that the nation had drifted from God. The book of 2 Kings 22 says King Josiah ordered five people, including “Asaiah the king’s servant,” to seek God’s guidance. The delegation then went to the prophetess Huldah for advice.

Ken Ham of the Christian ministry Answers in Genesis said the seal is the latest archaeological find that “confirms the Bible.”

The seal was discovered by the Temple Mount Sifting Project, a salvage archaeology effort launched to recover artifacts from debris discarded at the site. It began in 2004 after tons of soil were removed from the Temple Mount without archaeological oversight -- and continues to this day.

Asaiah’s son Yedayah -- the individual named on the seal -- is not found in Scripture.

Researchers with the Temple Mount Sifting Project said it is “highly plausible” that the Asaiah on the seal is the same one in Scripture. The thumbnail-sized seal likely would have been used for marking a bag or storage container.

“Historically, seals like these were reserved for officials of high rank, and many individuals named in similar discoveries from Jerusalem have been directly identified with biblical-era officials,” the news release said. “The artifact’s discovery on the Temple Mount further supports the likelihood of this connection. Thus, the clay sealing’s owner was probably involved in Temple administration or in the royal household, much like his father.”

Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis, said the archaeological find is one more affirmation of the Bible’s truthfulness.

“Yes, the Bible is accurate in everything it says, even the minor, seemingly insignificant details. Artifacts belonging to the son of this official can be found because Asaiah really did exist and really did serve in the court of King Josiah,” Ham said. “Over and over again, archaeology has confirmed the Bible’s history.”

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