The Bethlehem Bulla and Bible Archaeology

Kyle Butt, D.Min.

Inspiration of the BibleArchaeology

Most ancient authors who wrote about historic events have often been proven wrong when archaeologists and historians uncover details about the facts in question. In fact, it is not uncommon to discover that even modern historians are forced to issue retractions, correct errant statements, or publish revised editions of their books. Generally speaking, as more accurate information is uncovered about a certain historical event, the more the ancient authors who attempted to chronicle it are shown to have missed details and made mistakes. One collection of books, however, enjoys the singular distinction of being correct about everything it records. In fact, as more information comes to light concerning the events it relates, the more the text is validated, and often vindicated, from fallacious accusations of error. Archaeology repeatedly confirms the details documented in the books of the Bible.

Often, the archaeological discoveries come in the humblest of forms. For instance, in 2012, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced that researchers discovered a small piece of clay, known as a bulla, that was about half an inch across, roughly the size of an adult thumbnail. A bulla is a clay seal or stamp that people used in ancient times to “tag” certain items, somewhat like how we in modern times would have a tag on a shirt, or a brand insignia printed on a cup. This bulla proved to be remarkable because it contained a Hebrew inscription from 2,700 years ago, documenting that it came from the town of Bethlehem, in Judah, the birthplace of Jesus.1 This inscription is the oldest extrabiblical archaeological evidence of the town of Bethlehem that plays such a prominent role in the birth story of Christ. Furthermore, it was from this town that the prophet Micah predicted the Messiah would come, approximately 700 years before Jesus was born (Micah 5:2). And the bulla dates very close to the time of Micah, between 800-700 B.C., putting it roughly around the time of King Hezekiah.

While this find stands as excellent evidence of the Bible’s accuracy, it is not unusual. Thousands of discoveries across the centuries have validated the biblical text and proven it to be the most accurate ancient material ever penned. The prophet Isaiah once challenged the idolators of his day, by calling on their idols to “show the former things, what they were, that we may consider them” (Isaiah 41:22). God’s point through the prophet was clear: the God who gets all the historical facts right, every time, without a single error, is the true God. Through the pages of the Bible, God accepted His own challenge to the false idols, and has repeatedly shown what really happened in the past, so we can know that the God of the Bible is the true God.

Endnotes

1 “History of Bethlethem Documented by First Temple Period Bulla from the City of David” (2019), Biblical Archaeology Society, https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/earliest-history-of-bethlehem-documented-by-first-temple-period-bulla-from-the-city-of-david/.

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