Bullae of Baruch son of Neriah

Bullae of Baruch son of Neriah is a clay bulla measuring about 17 by 16 millimeters, dated to approximately 605 BC to 586 BC, currently housed at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel.

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Discovery

The Bullae of Baruch son of Neriah was discovered in the antiquities market in the 1970s, with reports suggesting a findspot near Tell Beit Mirsim, about 20 kilometers southwest of Hebron. Despite claims, no archaeological excavation was verified at the site, and traces of illegal digging were noted. The bullae were first examined by Israeli archaeologist Nahman Avigad in 1975 as part of a hoard that would ultimately number over 250 bullae, including one attributed to Yerahme’el, the son of King Jehoiakim. The collector Reuben Hecht acquired 49 pieces of the hoard and donated his collection to the Israel Museum.

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Physical Description

The Bullae of Baruch son of Neriah is made of clay that has been identified as Moza marl rather than the terra rossa used by Jerusalem scribes, though that identification has been called into question. The seal is well-preserved, featuring an inscription in ancient Hebrew script. It measures about 17 by 16 millimeters, making it a small but significant piece of archaeological evidence.

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Content and Inscription

The bulla is inscribed in ancient Hebrew with the phrase "Belonging to Berechiahhu (or Berekhyahu) son of Neriahu, the Scribe." This inscription is attributed to Baruch, the scribe and confidant of the prophet Jeremiah, who is mentioned in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 36:32). If the bulla is authentic, the content of the inscription highlights the professional identity of Baruch as a scribe, underscoring the historical presence of literacy and administration in Judah during the late 7th to early 6th century BC.

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Biblical Significance

The Bullae of Baruch son of Neriah is directly linked to the biblical narrative, especially in the book of Jeremiah. Baruch is a key figure in the Old Testament, serving as Jeremiah's scribe and assistant, responsible for writing down prophecies and messages delivered by the prophet (Jeremiah 36:32). If authentic, this artifact would provide tangible evidence for Baruch son of Neriah, the scribe named in Jeremiah 36:32.

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Scholarly Significance

The bullae's emergence on the antiquities market and subsequent scholarly examination have sparked significant debate regarding its authenticity. Its unprovenanced nature raised suspicions, and the clay's identification as Moza marl, rather than the terra rossa used by Jerusalem scribes, has been cited as evidence of forgery, although a later rejoinder called into question the validity of identifying the clay as Moza marl. The scholarly community remains divided: Yuval Goren and Eran Arie (BASOR 372, 2014) argued on several grounds, including the clay, the cord impression on the reverse and the spelling of "the scribe", that both Berekhyahu bullae are modern forgeries, while the 2016 rejoinder by Pieter van der Veen, Robert Deutsch and Gabriel Barkay (Antiguo Oriente 14) argued that these objections do not stand up to scrutiny, though it acknowledges that this does not prove the bullae authentic. This debate underscores ongoing challenges in biblical archaeology regarding provenance and authenticity of artifacts.

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See also: Baruch, Old Testament