An archaeological site at the edge of the Hinnom Valley, Jerusalem, that had been excavated by Barkay and his team from 1975-1989. Of particular importance to biblical studies was the discovery of two silver amulets on which were inscribed quotations from Num 6:24-26 and Deut 7:9. These amulets have been dated to 725-650 BC. This date is held with great significance. Contemporary scholarship holds that the Pentateuch were produced late in ancient Israel's history, from the exilic or post-exilic periods; the most widely accepted view being that they arose out of Josiah's reforms began about 621 BC. These amulets, however, predate Josiah's reforms by several generations. Since the quotations were not likely to have been made unless they were held to be religiously significant, this means that the documents from which they were cited must have been extent and held to be authoritative in some important sense for a considerable period of time before, suggesting, therefore, that the Pentateuch are very likely much older than contemporary scholars are wont to date them.
Resources:
Erick Waaler, "A Revised Date for Pentateuchal Texts? Evidence from Ketef Hinnom," Tyndale Bulletin 53.1 (2002): 29-55. ☰
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