Page 16 - Holyland Magazine - 2025 Edition
P. 16

WRITTEN IN STONE

The enduring legacy of the Jewish connection to Israel

AnaRina Bat Tzion Kreisman                       worldwide. More than the Jewish presence        1993, a stele was discovered in Tel Dan. It
                                                 on the land, archaeology has revealed           contained the first extra-Biblical reference
The last year and a half has been                tremendous treasures proving the Biblical       to the Davidic Dynasty. Triangulating time,
             difficult, and yet Israel has felt  narrative itself. Exploring these artifacts,    place, and context, it is most likely that the
             tremendous love and ongoing         most found in the Land of Israel, not only      stele was written, or in this case edged into
             support from her allies and         bolsters and enhances your Bible study but      stone, on behalf of the King, Hazael (1 Kings
             friends who rallied to her aid,     also serves as a portal to the past, spiriting  19 and 2 Kings 12) who led the Arameans
visiting and volunteering with open hearts       you away to ancient Israel.                     in battle against the forces of King Jehoram
and hands.                                                                                       of Israel, son of Ahab, and King Ahaziah of
                                                 Visiting Israel is typically a whirlwind        Judah. The Tel Dan Stele reads:
But with it came difficult questions from the    experience, and it's challenging to retain all  "I killed the king of Israel... I slew the king of the
outside world. So how do you answer those        the information you learn while visiting the    House of David."
who ask about the Jews and their right to        sites. Learning about these unearthed truths
live and defend their Homeland?                  beforehand will give you an even deeper         Proof of King Ahab, Jezebel, Omri and
                                                 appreciation on your next soulful visit to      Jehu
One word: Covenant.                              Israel.                                         The wicked Ahab, along with King Omri,
                                                                                                 is mentioned in the Moabite Stone (also
The Bible states it so clearly. But not          Spread out on an organized Biblical timeline,   known as the Mesha Stele), alongside the
everyone lives by faith, you say. So, let the    you can now view these amazing artifacts        Tetragrammaton, or the ineffable and holiest
ancient enemies of Israel come and educate       on our new site, israelintheirland.com. Here    name of God (Y-H-V-H). Continuing their
the modern ones.                                 are some of the important ones.                 wicked streak, Jezebel also gets an innings
                                                                                                 with the discovery of a Phoenician Seal
Did you know that, ironically, it is the         The House of David                              with the Inscription: “Belonging to Jezebel.”
ancient enemies of Israel that confirm the       Until 30 years ago, there was no physical       Even King Jehu is mentioned in the Black
3,500-year Jewish presence in the land?          evidence that King David existed. Then, in      Obelisk, a four-sided black limestone stele
Written in clay and stone and displayed
in renowned museums and institutions

                                                                                                 Herodian Park. Photo: AnaRina Kreisman

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