The Seal of Jeroboam
 THE
PICTURE OF the seal shown with this article, carries the inscription
`Belonging to Shema, servant of Jeroboam'. The seal was found in
archaeological excavations at Megiddo in Northern Israel during the Turkish
occupation of the land. The original seal is carved in jasper, while the
picture is of a bronze cast taken from it. But the striking feature of the
seal is the roaring lion that was used as a symbol for the southern kingdom
of Judah.
The seal belonged to Shema
a servant of Jeroboam. Now most biblical scholars accept that this refers to
king Jeroboam II of whom we read:
"In the fifteenth
year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king
of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned for forty-one years."
2 Kings 14:23 NIV
But, what was the servant
of a king of Israel doing with the royal symbol of the rival kingdom of
Judah? We believe the explanation could be that there had previously been
war between kings Jehoash and Amaziah, for the Bible tells us:
"Judah was routed by
Israel...Jehoash...captured Amaziah king of Judah...Jehoash went to
Jerusalem...He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found
in the temple of the LORD...He also took hostages and returned to
Samaria." 2
Kings 14:12-14 NIV
Jeroboam has been
acknowledged as a powerful ruler who put into effect building projects
throughout the land. The archaeologist, professor Yadin, has said of the
buildings uncovered at Hazor and attributed to Jeroboam, that they are
`among the finest of the entire Israelite period.' But the biblical record
also tells us that he took back a lot of territory lost to previous
invaders. We read:
"He was the one who
restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath (Northern Syria) to
the Sea of the Arabah,...(Dead Sea)"
2 Kings 14:25 NIV
These conquests were the
outcome of a prophecy from God through Jonah. But this same record tells us:
"As for the other
events of Jeroboam's reign, all he did, and his military achievements,
including how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which
had belonged to Yaudi (Judah), are they not written in the book of the
annals of the kings of Israel?"
2 Kings 14:28 NIV
The conquest
of Judah and the carrying to Samaria of the contents of the Jerusalem
temple, along with the recovery of large tracts of Judaean land, would have
made Jeroboam feel that he was entitled to exercise his power over the
southern kingdom and use its symbol on a seal as his own. This is another
amazing way that an archaeological find not only confirms the accuracy of
God's Word, but also how a little further study of the scriptural record
gives us the answer to what appears to be a difficulty. |
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