Tag Archives: Tel Dan Stele

Pope Francis Given Copy of Tel Dan Stele

Pope tel dan stele

According to the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in honor of Pope Francis’ visit, President Rivlin gave him a copy of what appears to be the Tel Dan Stele — the inscription that famously mentions the “House of David”.

717. EARLY ARAMAIC INSCRIPTION FOUND IN DAN, DATING FROM THE  9TH. C. BC. THE TEXT MENTIONS THE BATTLE OF BEN HADAD KING OF ARAM AGAINST THE "HOUSE OF DAVID", MEANING ONE OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL  "And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali."  I KINGS 15:20
בית דוד  or “House of David” hilighted.

From the article:

The gift was chosen in particular as an expression of the deep roots shared by Judaism and Christianity, and as King David is regarded by both Judaism and Christianity as the founder of the House of David, revered in tradition as being from which would come the redemption of humanity, and from whom the Messiah would be descended.

Peace,
-Steve