Page 18 - Holyland Magazine - 2025 Edition

King Solomon’s Mines, Timna Park-
Photo: AnaRina Kreisman

giving an account of King Shalmaneser III’s Jewish outrage against Roman oppression The prophet Isaiah recorded this beautiful
war campaigns. Shalmaneser was one of the led to one of the largest revolts in Roman interaction between Jerusalem and God:
four Assyrian kings who exiled the 10 Tribes. history, a battle so fierce that it forced “Zion says,' My Lord has forgotten me. '” God
Roman Emperor Hadrian to deploy half of replies, “I will never forget you!” After 2,000
The Seal of Isaiah the Prophet and King the mighty Roman army against the revolt, years of slowly disappearing from the map,
Hezekiah resulting in the loss of at least one full legion ancient Biblical Jerusalem was rediscovered
Things can’t get any more real than seeing on Judean soil. The revolt ended in the 150 years ago. You can now walk along her
the seal of the beloved Prophet Isaiah, massacre of at least half a million Jews. ancient paths again when visiting the City
who prophesied hope and restoration – a of David. With it, a significant number of
message so needed in this chaotic world. Whether as an instigator or as a result of ancient revolt coins were unearthed with
Looking at the very seal this holy man the revolt, Hadrian razed Jerusalem to their minted messages: “Jerusalem the Holy,”
touched is deeply stirring. The seal was the ground and built a new city, "Aelia “For the Freedom of Zion,” and “For the
discovered in close vicinity of the royal seal Capitolina”. Jews were forbidden from Redemption of Jerusalem!” These coins were
of the righteous King Hezekiah, located at entering the city. As a further insult to the buried away for thousands of years, only to
the foot of the Temple Mount. Be sure to Jews, Hadrian also changed the province be unearthed for us now. Divine timing –
visit the Israel Museum to view these seals, of Judea to "Syria Palestina", better known divine call. Now more than ever, come visit
the City of David, where Hezekiah built the as Roman Palestine. With spiteful intent, Israel and speak words of encouragement to
water conduit, and the Davidson Center, he derived the name from Israel’s ancient Jerusalem’s heart.
where the seals were discovered. archenemy, the Philistines. But here’s the
kicker: the Philistines disappeared from "For Zion’s sake, I will not keep silent, and for
An infuriated Roman emperor and the history long before the rise of the Roman Jerusalem’s sake, I will not be quiet until her
ancient province of Judea Empire. righteousness goes forth as brightness, and
During Roman rule, the Jews revolted twice. her salvation as a blazing torch."
Once, before the destruction of the Temple, Jerusalem the Holy
known as the Great Revolt, and the Bar Empires consistently tried to erase Jerusalem ✦Isaiah 62:1
Kokhba Revolt that followed 60 years later. from the map, but God had other plans.

Seal of Isaiah “Jerusalem the Holy" Shekel of "Freedom of Zion" Pruta, Judea Capta Coin "House of David" inscribed
Courtesy of Eilat Mazar's Estate, 2019 Israel, circa 67 CE circa 67 CE George Blumenthal Collection on the Tel Dan Stele Israel
(Amazing Archaeological George Blumenthal Collection George Blumenthal Collection Photo: Ardon Barhama Museum
Discoveries, P.49) Photo: Ardon Barhama Photo: Ardon Barhama Photo: Ardon Barhama
Photo: Ouria Tadmor

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