ARCHAEOLOGICAL REFERENCE TO THE SABBATH

 The oldest Archaeological find of the Sabbath is pottery from Josiah's time.  The Mesad Hashavyahu Ostracon is a piece of pottery dating to the time of King Josiah.  Below is an English translation of the text: 
. . . . Let my lord commander hear the case of his servant!  As for thy servant, thy servant was harvesting at Hazar-susim.  And thy servant was (still) harvesting as they finished the storage of grain, as usual before the Sabbath . . . . (Pritchard, 568)

The overall theme of this ostracon is a "person" (the author) who was pleading with someone of authority for Justice.  As part of this discussion the author mentioned that he finished his work before the Sabbath began.  He described this as his usual behavior.

In 2 Kings 22 we learn that the book of the law was read aloud to King Josiah.  He then realized that the nation had fallen into idolatry and sin and he repented.  In the next chapter, we learn that he had this book read to the people and renewed their covenant with God.

King Josiah then removed idols, pagan priests and other abominations from the land.  He turned the nation back unto the Lord and obedience to His Law.

The Mesad Hashavyahu Ostracon is a reminder that the Sabbath of the Lord Our God has been observed for thousands of years, despite claims to the contrary.

article by Kelly McDonald, Jr.
BSA President

www.biblesabbath.org


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