A seal was found from the time of the Judean kings in Jerusalem. It has a winged “genie” depicted on it. How important is it?
The unusual aspect of this find is the appearance of an image of a Neo-Assyrian spirit being on a seal from Jerusalem, with Hebrew names on it. It is a small black seal that is beautifully carved with this image. Beside it is the name of the owner in Old Hebrew (Paleohebrew) letters and translated, “(belonging) to Yehoʿezer son of Hoshaʿyahu.” The first name, meaning “the LORD is help / has helped,” and the second, meaning, “the LORD has saved.” Both names appear on other seals and seal impressions. The second name (but not necessarily the same name bearer) appears in the Bible in Jeremiah 42:1-2 and (later than this seal) in Nehemiah 12:32. The names, the fact of a seal in Jerusalem with such names, and the Neo-Assyrian art form are not unusual. Nor is it unusual to have such items from the 8 th and 7th century BC. The unique aspect of this seal is that the art form on the seal should be found in a Judean and Jerusalem context alongside Yahwistic names of father and son (Yahwistic refers to names containing the divine name God often translated “the LORD”). Most Judean seals from this period do not have any image on them. They either have just writing or some geometric designs, or a Judean/biblical figure such as a lion. Therefore, this seal is unique in combining the pagan art (and a beautiful miniature example of it) with the Judean names in a Judean context.
What does this tell us about the possessor of the seal? Well, based on where it was found and the names of the owner and his father as associated with the language and script of Judah, as well being names connected with the confession of the LORD God of Judah, we can conclude that he was a Judean of the late eighth or more likely the seventh century BC who, like most Judeans, held a name that was proper to the official religious culture of the day. Whether he was a believing and faithful Judean is not possible to say. However, the possession of a seal with a beautiful artistic design of a religious genie or spiritual being (demon?) honored by the imperial power of Assyria that controlled the Levant at this time and heavily influenced Judah, suggests that the owner may have been part of the elite administration of Judah. Perhaps he served under a king such as Manasseh who ruled for much of the seventh century and accommodated Assyria (politically, culturally, and religiously) as much as possible.
For more on the find, see https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-816895
