Object Record

Metadata

Accession number

09.250

Title

Ketef Hinnom II facsimile

Date

7th century BC

Notes

This silver amulet was discovered in burial chambers of Ketef Hinnom, an ancient settlement southwest of Jerusalem. A translation of the miniscule inscription reads
May h[e]
sh[e] be blessed by YHWH,
the warrior and
the rebuker
of [E]vil: May YHWH bless you,
keep you.
May YHWH make
his face shine
upon you and
grant you p[ea]ce
Dated 400 years before the Dead Sea Scrolls, the inscription contains the oldest-known reference to a Bible passage, the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24-26.

Barkay believed the amulets were used to protect the owner from evil.

Collection

John Hellstern Collection