1
Literal Translation / Primary Inscription
Epigraphic RecordThe Paleo-Hebrew inscription reads: 'Belonging to Gedalyahu who is over the house' (l-Gdlyhw 'shr 'l h-byt), displaying the highest ministerial title in the royal court.
Bulla of Gedaliah Who Is Over the House
Early 6th-century BC clay seal impression belonging to Gedaliah the prime minister / governor of Judah
Direct Archaeological Attestation 92%
c. 586 BC
Discovery Excavation: Tel Lachish, Israel (J.L. Starkey, 1935)
Current Museum / Accession: Israel Museum, Jerusalem
A clay seal impression found in the Level II destruction debris of Lachish bearing the inscription 'Belonging to Gedaliah who is over the house' (lgdlyhw 'sr 'l hbyt).
Archival Museum & Excavation Photography
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Corroboration Distribution for Connected Passages (28 records)
93% Confidence
28 sources
64.29%
17.86%
Direct Archaeology 18 (64.29%)
Ancient Historians 3 (10.71%)
Dead Sea Scrolls & Manuscripts 5 (17.86%)
Scholarly Consensus 2 (7.14%)
Debated & Traditional 0 (0%)
Claim-by-Claim Epistemic Verification Breakdown
Rigorous 4-part empirical analysis separating ancient text from bias and consensus
2
Biblical Corroboration & Cross-References
Scriptural HarmonyCorroborates 2 Kings 25:22 and Jeremiah 40:5, where Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the remaining population of Judah following the destruction of Jerusalem.
Corroborated Passages:
3
Scholarly Debate, Historiography & Modern Consensus
Critical NuanceScholars debate whether this bulla belonged to Gedaliah while serving as royal chamberlain ('over the house') under Zedekiah immediately prior to 586 BC or during his brief tenure as Babylonian governor at Mizpah.
4
Ancient Author Bias, Royal Propaganda & Perspective
Ideological ContextPersonal seal of the chief magistrate of Judah; objective epigraphic attestation.
Corroborated Scripture Passages
Attested Figures & Kings
Excavations & Ancient Geography
Scholarly Editions & Critical Publications
- Hooke, S.H. (1935). 'A Seal Impression from Lachish'. PEFQS 67: 195-196.
- ANET 569