The oldest known Ten Commandments tablet is going up for sale at the auction house Sotheby’s in New York City. The BBC showcased it on Monday, Dec. 9, and it is set to be bid on this month.
Sotheby’s International senior specialist Sharon Liberman Mintz told the BBC, “We have one of the most important treasures that I have ever handled. It dates back to the late Roman-Byzantine period from over 1,500 years ago, and it is inscribed in Paleo-Hebrew script with the words of the Ten Commandments.”
The ancient marble slab will go up for auction on Wednesday, Dec. 18. It’s on track to fetch between $1 million to $2 million.
Archaeologists uncovered the artifact during railroad excavations in 1913 along Israel’s southern coast. The relic remained in a home as a paving stone until a scholar with a keen eye bought it in 1943, revealing its historical significance.
Point phone camera here
According to Sotheby’s, the tablet is over 150 pounds and nearly 2 feet tall.
Liberman Mintz told the BBC, “In fact, this is exactly the same measurements that the rabbis from the early centuries agreed was the measurements of the original Ten Commandments that Moses carried down from the mountain.”
Sotheby’s said the inscriptions carved into the slab include all but the third verse. That verse is the commandment against taking the Lord’s name in vain. Instead, this portion consists of an order to worship Mount Gerizim, an ancient holy site.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
THE OLDEST KNOWN TEN COMMANDMENTS TABLET IS GOING UP FOR SALE BY AUCTION HOUSE SOTHEBY’S [SOTH-AH-BEES] IN NEW YORK.
THE TABLET, SHOWCASED BY THE B-B-C, IS SET TO BE BID ON THIS MONTH.
[SHARON LIBERMAN MINTZ]
WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TREASURES THAT I HAVE EVER HANDLED. IT DATES BACK TO THE LATE ROMAN BYZANTINE PERIOD FROM OVER 1,500 YEARS AGO, AND IT IS INSCRIBED IN PALEO-HEBREW SCRIPT WITH THE WORDS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
THE ANCIENT MARBLE SLAB WILL GO UP FOR AUCTION ON DECEMBER 18TH AND IS EXPECTED TO FETCH ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO TWO MILLION DOLLARS.
THE ARTIFACT WAS UNCOVERED DURING RAILROAD EXCAVATIONS IN 1913 ALONG ISRAEL’S SOUTHERN COAST AND REMAINED IN A HOME AS A PAVING STONE UNTIL A SCHOLAR WITH A KEEN EYE BOUGHT IT IN 1943, REVEALING ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
[SHARON LIBERMAN MINTZ]
THIS STONE WEIGHS 155 POUNDS AND IT MEASURES ABOUT 20 BY 22 INCHES, AND IN FACT THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME MEASUREMENTS THAT THE RABBIS FROM THE EARLY FIRST CENTURIES AGREED WAS THE MEASUREMENTS OF THE ORIGINAL TEN COMMANDMENTS THAT MOSES CARRIED DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN.
SOTHEBY’S [SOTH-AH-BEES] SAYS THE INSCRIPTIONS CARVED INTO THE SLAB INCLUDE ALL BUT THE THIRD VERSE.
TH COMMANDEMENT AGAINST TAKING THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN.
INSTEAD, THIS PORTION INCLUDES AN ORDER TO WORSHIP ON MOUNT GERIZIM [GHERR-IZ-IM] , AN ANCIENT HOLY SITE.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Getty Images
Deportation showdown: San Diego sheriff will defy new ‘super sanctuary’ law
-
Getty Images
Missing virus vials: Australian officials investigate biosecurity breach
-
AP Images
New charges filed in former One Direction Singer Liam Payne’s death
-
Getty Images
Turkish President Erdogan says he and Putin are ‘the only two leaders left’