world news
Archaeologists discover 2,700-year-old seal in Jerusalem helping affirm city’s biblical heritage
Archaeologists in Israel uncovered a stone seal they believe to be around 2,700 years old from the First Temple period, a find that strengthens the biblical heritage of Jerusalem.
The seal, discovered at the City of David National Park in Jerusalem, contains a winged figure with one arm raised forward with an open palm, the Israeli Antiquities Authority announced.
The seal was discovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the City of David Foundation near the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount in the Davidson Archaeological Garden.
On either side of the figure is an inscription in paleo-Hebrew script that reads “LeYehoʼezer ben Hoshʼayahu.”
The figure appears to be designed in the Neo-Assyrian Empire style, which makes the excavation team believe shows the influence of the empire in the region dating as far back as the ninth century B.C.
Yuval Baruch and Navot Rom, excavation directors for the Israel Antiquities Authority, described the seal of black stone as “one of the most beautiful ever discovered in excavations in ancient Jerusalem,” adding that the stone is “executed at the highest artistic level.”
“The figure of a winged man in a distinct Neo-Assyrian style is unique and very rare in the glyphic styles of the late First Temple period,” Baruch said. “The influence of the Assyrian Empire, which had conquered the entire region, is clearly evident here.”
According to Baruch, the finding contradicts assumptions that only elite members of society were literate. The piece seems to suggest that more people knew how to read and write at a basic level, at least for commerce needs.
Further descriptions of the finding state, “The name Yehoʼezer is familiar to us from the Bible (Chron. I 12:7) in its abbreviated form — Yoʼezer, one of King David’s fighters,” while also stating that “in the book of Jeremiah (43:2), describing the events of this very period, a person is mentioned with a parallel name, ʼAzariah ben Hoshʼaya.”
“The two parts of his first name are written in reverse order to the seal owner’s name, and his second name is the same, appearing in its abbreviated form. This writing form in the text fits the name on the newly discovered seal and it is thus appropriate for this time period.”
Ze’ev Orenstein, director of International Affairs for the City of David Foundation, told Fox News that the seal “joins the list of countless archeological discoveries in the City of David — the historic site of Biblical Jerusalem — affirming Jerusalem’s Biblical heritage.”
“It similarly serves as yet another affirmation of the thousands-of-year-old bond rooting the Jewish people in Jerusalem — not simply as a matter of faith, but as a matter of fact,” he said.
Earlier this month, the Israel Antiquities Authority shared the details of another excavation in Jerusalem, this time of the drainage channel from the Second Temple Period. The finding provided further insight into the city before the temple’s destruction in 70 A.D.
“Into the channel’s mouth were swept the detritus of the life above Jerusalem’s main street; where they remained preserved between the walls just as they were at the moment of the city’s destruction,” Excavation Director Ayala Zilberstein stated.
“Small finds tell us a big story, from Jerusalem’s heyday of prosperity and splendor when its streets bustled with life, until the city’s ebbing moments during the rebellion against the Romans, and its total abandonment following the Temple and city’s destruction.”
“Since most of these municipal channels were maintained and cleared regularly, to find layers of silt in the main drainage channel filling it to almost half its height, indicates a gradual neglect of city maintenance,” Zilberstein added. “And indeed, this very neglect and abandonment that we are now witness to here corresponds to the story of the process of Jerusalem’s destruction.”
Sources:Christian Post
Pakistan — Yet another Christian community in Pakistan is in a state of fear following a local Muslim’s false accusation of blasphemy.
On Aug. 27, a man named “Bugti” claimed a local Christian had burned a Quran in the Christian community of Gulshan-e-Mariam, Jam Kanda, Shah Latif Town, district Malir Karachi. Word of the incident spread, and tensions mounted until a Muslim mob formed on Aug. 30 and shouted threats. Nearly 40 of the more than 250 Christian families in the community fled, fearing violence. Members of the mob broke into those families’ homes and stole their belongings.
“The situation of the area was very harmful, and the Muslims of the area included were angry, and some masked persons were ready for the attack,” one person reported. “Luckily, all were saved after the statement of the man named Bugti, who saw the burnt Quran from a garbage canister near the Christian community’s area.”
Police reportedly took Bugti and two Christians, a pastor and a police officer, to the Shah Latif Police Station to record their statements on the incident. Representatives of Muslim organizations in the area also visited the police station.
Police later met with religious and political leaders from the local Christian and Muslim communities. Bugti also attended the meeting and shared why he made the accusation.
“I found a burnt Quran from the garbage canister, but I have not seen anyone doing this,” Bugti said.
Although police have increased their presence in the area following the incident, ICC has heard reports of local Christians still feeling threatened and afraid.
False blasphemy charges have been weaponized against Christians for years and have been widely reported. Christians throughout Pakistan fear being targeted by the weaponizing of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Previous allegations made against believers have led to extensive destruction and even death.
Sources:persecution
Nicaragua— After months of diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Nicaraguan governments, 13 Nicaraguan pastors and attorneys affiliated with Mountain Gateway, a Texas-based ministry, were released from prison today.
“This is the day we have prayed and believed God for,” Jon Britton Hancock, founder of Mountain Gateway, said in a statement. “These pastors and attorneys have suffered greatly for the sake of the Gospel, but it has not been in vain. The Kingdom of God is advancing because of their persecution. Today, we cry tears of joy because our brothers and sisters are free!”
The 13 Mountain Gateway-affiliated prisoners were among 135 “unjustly detained political prisoners” released today through a deal arranged by the U.S. government, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.
“No one should be put in jail for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights of free expression, association, and practicing their religion,” Sullivan added.
Nicaraguan authorities arrested the 13 Mountain Gateway personnel in December 2023 following a large evangelistic event. In March, they were convicted of money laundering and sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. They were also fined nearly $1 billion.
International Christian Concern (ICC) President Jeff King recently spoke with Hancock about the challenges Mountain Gateway has faced in Nicaragua. ICC has also closely followed issues of religious freedom in Nicaragua, where more than 500 churches and religious organizations have been attacked since 2018.
Sources:persecution
ഫ്രാൻസിൽ വീണ്ടും ദൈവാലയം അഗ്നിക്കിരയാക്കി. ആരാധനാലയങ്ങളുടെ സുരക്ഷസംബന്ധിച്ചു വിശ്വാസികളുടെ ഇടയിൽ ആശങ്ക വർധിക്കുകയാണ്.
പാസ്-ഡി-കലൈസ് ഡിപ്പാർട്ട്മെൻ്റിലെ സെൻ്റ്-ഓമറിലെ ഇമ്മാക്കുലേറ്റ് കൺസെപ്ഷൻ ദേവാലയമാണ് കത്തി നശിച്ചത്.
ജോയൽ വിഗൂറക്സ് എന്നയാളാണ് പള്ളിക്കു തീയിട്ടത്. മുമ്പും നിരവധി ആരാധനാലയങ്ങൾക്കു തീയിടാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള ഈ ആളെ പോലീസ് അറസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്തു.
പ്രാദേശിക അധികാരികൾ പറയുന്നതനുസരിച്ച്, പുലർച്ചെ നാലുമണിയോടെയാണ് തീ ആളിപ്പടർന്നത്. 120 അഗ്നിശമന സേനാംഗങ്ങളുടെ ശ്രമഫലമായി രാവിലെ 7.15 ഓടെയാണ് തീ നിയന്ത്രണ വിധേയമാക്കിയത്. പരിക്കുകളൊന്നും റിപ്പോർട്ട് ചെയ്തിട്ടില്ലെങ്കിലും, മുൻകരുതലിൻ്റെ ഭാഗമായി കെട്ടിടത്തിനു സമീപം താമസിക്കുന്ന 60 ഓളം പ്രദേശവാസികളെ ഒഴിപ്പിച്ചു. പ്രാഥമിക അന്വേഷണത്തിൽ 39 കാരനായ ഒരു വ്യക്തി അതിക്രമിച്ചു കയറി സ്റ്റെയിൻ ഗ്ലാസ് ജനൽ തകർത്തതായി കണ്ടെത്തി.
Sources:marianvibes
False Blasphemy Charge Leaves Christian Community Reeling
Pakistan — Yet another Christian community in Pakistan is in a state of fear following a local Muslim’s false accusation...
13 Mountain Gateway-Affiliated Personnel Released after Nearly 9 Months in Prison
Nicaragua— After months of diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Nicaraguan governments, 13 Nicaraguan pastors and attorneys affiliated with...
ഫ്രാൻസിൽ വീണ്ടും ദൈവാലയം അഗ്നിക്കിരയാക്കി
ഫ്രാൻസിൽ വീണ്ടും ദൈവാലയം അഗ്നിക്കിരയാക്കി. ആരാധനാലയങ്ങളുടെ സുരക്ഷസംബന്ധിച്ചു വിശ്വാസികളുടെ ഇടയിൽ ആശങ്ക വർധിക്കുകയാണ്. പാസ്-ഡി-കലൈസ് ഡിപ്പാർട്ട്മെൻ്റിലെ സെൻ്റ്-ഓമറിലെ ഇമ്മാക്കുലേറ്റ് കൺസെപ്ഷൻ ദേവാലയമാണ് കത്തി നശിച്ചത്. ജോയൽ വിഗൂറക്സ്...
ആന്ഡ്രോയിഡ് 15 പുറത്തിറക്കി ഗൂഗിള്, ഏതെല്ലാം ഫോണുകളില് ലഭിക്കും? എത്രനാള് കാത്തിരിക്കണം?
ആൻഡ്രോയിഡിന്റെ പുതിയ പതിപ്പായ ആൻഡ്രോയിഡ് 15 ഒഎസ് ഗൂഗിൾ ഔദ്യോഗികമായി പുറത്തിറക്കി. സെപ്റ്റംബർ മൂന്ന് ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച ഒരു ബ്ലോഗ് പോസ്റ്റിലാണ് ഗൂഗിൾ പുതിയ ഒഎസ് പുറത്തിറക്കിയതായി അറിയിച്ചത്....
ഇനി വിമാനങ്ങളിൽ ഫോൺ ‘ഓഫ്’ ചെയ്യേണ്ട; വൈഫൈ എത്തി, ആ പ്രശ്നത്തിന് തീരുമാനമായി
വിമാനങ്ങളിൽ യാത്രചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ ഫോൺ ഉപയോഗിക്കരുതെന്ന നിബന്ധനയുണ്ടെന്ന് നമുക്ക് അറിയാം. അതുകൊണ്ട് തന്നെ വിമാനയാത്ര തുടങ്ങുന്നതിന് മുൻപ് തന്നെ ഫോൺ സ്വിച്ച് ഓഫ് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഫ്ലൈറ്റ് മോഡ് ഓൺ...
Madman’ shoots up home of Pastor Greg Locke with one of his children inside
Tennessee Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet is praising God for protecting his family after...
-
Travel4 months agoയാക്കൂസ കരിഷ്മ:ഓല സ്കൂട്ടറിനേക്കാൾ വിലക്കുറവിൽ കുഞ്ഞൻ കാർ; സിറ്റി യാത്രകൾക്ക് ഇനി ഇവൻ മതിയാവും
-
National12 months agoബൈബിൾ വിതരണം ചെയ്യുന്നതും നല്ല മൂല്യങ്ങൾ പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നതും മതപരിവർത്തനമല്ല: അലഹബാദ് ഹൈക്കോടതിയുടെ നിര്ണ്ണായക വിധി
-
world news11 months ago50 രാജ്യങ്ങളിലേക്ക് കുവൈത്ത് പൗരന്മാർക്ക് വിസയില്ലാതെ സഞ്ചരിക്കാം
-
National6 months agoനെയ്തേലിപ്പടി ക്രൂസേഡിന് അനുഗ്രഹീത സമാപ്തി
-
Life11 months agoമനുഷ്യന് താമസിക്കാന് ചന്ദ്രനില് വീടുകള്; നാസ 3ഡി പ്രിന്ററുകള് ചന്ദ്രനിലേക്കയക്കും
-
Movie6 months agoActor Ryan Phillippe ‘Craving’ Relationship With God After Movie About Christian Missionary
-
Movie9 months agoBrazilian gospel singer Pedro Henrique dies of heart attack after collapsing on stage
-
Sports7 months agoMichigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh Reveals ‘Mini Revival’, 70 Players Baptized Last Season