NEW YORK (AP) According to Sotheby’s auction house, the oldest known stone tablet with the Ten Commandments, which dates from 300 to 800 A.D., will go up for auction in New York this month.
On December 18, the 155-pound (52-kg) marble slab bearing the commandments written in Paleo-Hebrew script will go up for auction.
When the tablet was discovered in 1913 while doing railroad excavations along Israel’s southern coast, it was first not acknowledged as a historically significant relic.
According to Sotheby’s, it was utilized as a pavement stone at a nearby residence until 1943, when it was purchased by a researcher who recognized its importance.
The inscription engraved on the slab adheres to the biblical passages that are well-known to both Christians and Jews, but it leaves out the third commandment, which forbids using the Lord’s name in vain. According to Sotheby’s, it contains a new mandate to worship atop Mount Gerizim, a Samaritan-only sacred site.
According to Sotheby’s, the tablet is expected to fetch between $1 million and $2 million at auction.
The Associated Press, 2024. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. It is prohibited to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or redistribute this content without authorization.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!