An Affirming Find

Dr. Daniel Vainstub has deciphered a decade long mystery, a shard from a jar with unknown writing. Long thought to possibly be of Canaanite origin, Dr. Vainstub explains his view concerning the language on the pot. It describes one of the ingredients used in the incense of the First Temple, Solomon’s Temple. “Vainstub believes the inscription’s writing and language stem from the kingdom of Sheba-over 1,241 miles away.”

Vainstub notes, “Although the scripts have the same distant ancestor, those who deal with Canaanite inscriptions today are not familiar with South Arabian script.” Vainstub said that South Arabia is the region where Sheba was located, and they used the Sabaean language. Today modern Yemen is located there. If the inscription is Ancient South Arabian, it is the earliest Ancient South Arabian inscription found so far in Israel. The inscription, Vainstub says, indicates “the scribe was a native speaker from the Kingdom of Sheba who was involved in supplying the incense spices. This he contends points to previously unconfirmed strong trade ties between the two kingdoms.”

Another result of this find is that it gives credence to the biblical reference of a delegation from the kingdom of Sheba in the 10th Century BCE (as related in the books of Kings and Chronicles).

Vainstub concludes the find brings two conclusions. First, “of the geopolitical relations system in our region at that time-especially in light that it was found in an area known to be the administrative center during the days of Solomon.” Second, “It is another testament to the extensive trade and cultural ties that existed” between Israel under King Solomon and the kingdom of Sheba.

Once again the archaeologist’s spade affirms the biblical account.

(Source: The Times of Israel)