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The Biblical figure Isaiah who prophesied the coming of the Messiah may have been an actual real person.
Researchers have found an ancient clay seal from around the time he was reportedly alive, marked with his name.
It was found just 3 metres from where the bulla of King Hezekiah of Judah, to which Isaiah was an adviser, was found in 2015.
"We appear to have discovered a seal impression, which may have belonged to the prophet Isaiah, in a scientific, archaeological excavation," said lead author Eilat Mazar of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
originally posted by: vinifalou
Great find!
Mankind is getting closer everyday to understand its past and how we ended up here.
Good thing it's a serious scientific research. S+F!
Either way, some people will not believe if it contradicts their current beliefs. Just sad. Open your mind!
originally posted by: DISRAELI
a reply to: Spider879
Not if "Isaiah" was a name in general use, which is very possible.
This is a "theophoric" name (combining the name of God with one of the qualities of God), and that form of name was certainly very popular in the Old Testament period.
Similarly "Micah". There is a prophet called Micah, a different prophet called Micaiah, and another unrelated Micah in the book of Judges. Those are just the ones we know about.
It's possible that this seal belongs to a more anonymous Isaiah.
The seal could have belonged to some other Isaiah hanging around at the time, since the name was a common one, and bullae commonly reference the signatory's father. Isaiah's father was not Navi, but Amoz.
originally posted by: havok
a reply to: JugHead
What? Why not?
They found a seal impression with the name Isaiah.
There is literal proof of a great phophets existence and signature for seals and tablets. Not much else needs to be said other than it's no longer a story or a passed down tale of some prophet.
This may be the concrete evidence 100's of scholars have been looking for.
However, Biblical archaeology comes with its own sets of pressures from both Church and State. I can think of no other branch that is so subject to confirmation bias.
originally posted by: jjkenobi
Cool find.
Maybe circumstantial, but add it to the mountain of other archaeological evidence that supports Biblical history and it paints a nice picture.
I can think of no other branch that is so subject to confirmation bias.