Shaphan: Difference between revisions
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'''Shaphan''' is a scribe mentioned in the [[Old Testament]] ([[II Kings]] 22:8-10). |
'''Shaphan''' is a scribe mentioned in the [[Old Testament]] ([[II Kings]] 22:8-10). |
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==Biblical account== |
==Biblical account== |
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==Bullae of Shaphan== |
==Bullae of Shaphan== |
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During the excavations at the [[City of David]] headed by [[Israel]]i [[archaeology|archeologist]] [[Yigal Shiloh]], a number of [[bulla (seal)|bullae]] were discovered in [[stratum]] X, destroyed by the Babylonians in ca. 586 |
During the excavations at the [[City of David]] headed by [[Israel]]i [[archaeology|archeologist]] [[Yigal Shiloh]], a number of [[bulla (seal)|bullae]] were discovered in [[stratum]] X, destroyed by the Babylonians in ca. 586 BCE. Bulla 2 reads: ''belonging to Gemaryahu ben Shaphan''. Shiloh posited that the Gemaryahu of this bulla is to be identified with "Gemaryahu son of Shaphan the scribe" who is mentioned in a biblical text, a figure during the reign of [[Jehoiakim]] (r. 609-598 BCE).<ref>Jer 36:10 et passim</ref> If this is the case, Ahikam and Gemaryahu are both sons of Shaphan. However, archaeologist [[Yair Shoham]] notes: ''It should be borne in mind, however, that the names found on the bullae were popular in ancient times and it is equally possible that there is no connection between the names found on the bullae and the person mentioned in the Bible.''<ref>Yair Shoham, "Hebrew Bullae" in City of David Excavations: Final Report VI, Qedem 41 (Jerusalem: [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]], 2000), 33.</ref> |
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Shaphan's grandson is [[Gedaliah]], the short-lived governor of Judah appointed by [[Nebuchadnezzar]] after the destruction of [[Jerusalem]] in [[586 BCE]]. |
Shaphan's grandson is [[Gedaliah]], the short-lived governor of Judah appointed by [[Nebuchadnezzar]] after the destruction of [[Jerusalem]] in [[586 BCE]]. |
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Revision as of 21:22, 25 November 2010
Shaphan is a scribe mentioned in the Old Testament (II Kings 22:8-10).
Biblical account
When the chief Temple priest Hilkiah discovers an ancient Torah scroll, he gives it to the scribe Shaphan, who in turn brings in to King Josiah. Josiah reads it aloud to a crowd in Jerusalem, resulting in a great religious revival. Many scholars believe this was either a copy of the Book of Deuteronomy or a text that became a part of Deuteronomy as we have it; as a result the event is known as the Deuteronomic reform.
According to the Bible, Shaphan had a son named Ahikam.[1]
Bullae of Shaphan
During the excavations at the City of David headed by Israeli archeologist Yigal Shiloh, a number of bullae were discovered in stratum X, destroyed by the Babylonians in ca. 586 BCE. Bulla 2 reads: belonging to Gemaryahu ben Shaphan. Shiloh posited that the Gemaryahu of this bulla is to be identified with "Gemaryahu son of Shaphan the scribe" who is mentioned in a biblical text, a figure during the reign of Jehoiakim (r. 609-598 BCE).[2] If this is the case, Ahikam and Gemaryahu are both sons of Shaphan. However, archaeologist Yair Shoham notes: It should be borne in mind, however, that the names found on the bullae were popular in ancient times and it is equally possible that there is no connection between the names found on the bullae and the person mentioned in the Bible.[3]
Shaphan's grandson is Gedaliah, the short-lived governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE.
See also
References
- ^ see Jeremiah 40:5 and II Kings, 25:22.
- ^ Jer 36:10 et passim
- ^ Yair Shoham, "Hebrew Bullae" in City of David Excavations: Final Report VI, Qedem 41 (Jerusalem: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2000), 33.