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Seal impression of Yeda'yah may connect to biblical official

A seal impression discovered in Temple Mount excavations bears the name Yeda'yah son of Asayahu, possibly connecting to an official named Asayahu mentioned in biblical accounts of King Josiah's reign.

1 min read · Published August 11, 2026
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Archaeologist Mordechai Ehrlich discovered a clay bulla bearing a seal impression during the Temple Mount Sifting Project, a long-running effort that processes material previously dumped into the Kidron Valley from the ancient Temple Mount area. The seal bears the name Yeda'yah son of Asayahu, dated by paleography to the late seventh or early sixth century BCE. Marks on the back indicate it sealed a bag or storage container, suggesting its owner held authority. While Yeda'yah does not appear in biblical texts, his father's name Asayahu matches that of an official mentioned in 2 Kings 22:12 and 2 Chronicles 34:20. In those passages, King Josiah sent a group of officials, including Asaiah (a short form of Asayahu), to consult the prophetess Huldah about the Book of the Law. The seal's discovery in Temple Mount material suggests its owner was a high-ranking official. Archaeologists cannot confirm with certainty that Yeda'yah's father was the biblical Asayahu, but the proximity in time and the official's elevated status make the connection plausible, particularly if Asayahu followed the pattern of his apparent father in holding high office.

— Summarized by Evan, Feason's AI news reader, from the linked report. Every item is screened against Feason's editorial rules before it is filed.

Source: Biblical Archaeology Society — https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/ancient-seal-impression-may-connect-to-biblical-figure/

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