Late 7th-century BC Judahite military fort correspondence explicitly mentioning the 'House of YHWH' (Jerusalem Temple)
Over 100 Paleo-Hebrew ostraca found in the Negev border fortress of Arad, including letters addressed to fortress commander Eliashib ordering rations for Kittim mercenaries and referring to the temple.
Rigorous 4-part empirical analysis separating ancient text from bias and consensus
Ostracon 18 lines 9–14: '...and concerning the matter which you commanded me, it is well. He is staying in the House of YHWH (byt yhwh).' Other ostraca order flour, bread, and wine for the 'Kittim' (Greek/Cypriot mercenaries).
The earliest direct epigraphic reference in Hebrew to the Jerusalem Temple as 'House of YHWH' (byt yhwh); corroborates Judahite military logistics and threats from Edom (`OBA.1:10–14`).
Excavations at Arad uncovered a localized Yahwistic fortress temple with an altar of unhewn stone and incense altars, dismantled in the late 8th c. BC, corroborating Hezekiah's cultic centralizing reforms (`2KI.18:4, 22`).
Direct military administrative orders reflecting the grave tension of defending the southern border against imminent Babylonian and Edomite incursions.