Photo: Jehoash Inscription
According to an article published in Bible History Daily, the Israeli government has appealed a judge’s decision in which he said that the government had not proved that the Jehoash inscription was a forgery.
The Jehoash inscription was part of a legal case in which the Israeli government accused Oded Golan of trafficking in forged antiquity. Below is an excerpt from the article:
The Israel government has appealed Jerusalem Judge Aharon Farkash’s decision in the case of the “Jehoash” inscription, an inscription which, if authentic, would be the only surviving royal Israelite inscription. In the 5-year trial, the so-called “forgery case of the century,” the government alleged that the 15-line “Jehoash” inscription was a forgery; the judge ruled that the government had not proved its case and declined to convict the defendant, Oded Golan.
The archeologists working for the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) failed to prove that the Jehoash inscription was a forgery. Now the IAA is appealing the decision of the judge to the judges of the Israel’s Supreme Court. If archeologists failed to prove the authenticity of the object, how will the judges decide on the authenticity of the Jehoash inscription?
Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary
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Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament 
I have been following this case very closely. Your question is what we Israeli’s would call שאלה טובה. The IAA and prosecutors are not likely seeking justice. I think they are appealing because they are the “law” and they are able to use tax money indiscriminately. The silver lining though is that this is connected to the Yaakov (James) ossuary and it will continue in the news. As a chemist I was able to see quickly that the ossuary had come from the Talpiot Tomb A and was absolutely compelling that the family of the 1st century Torah observant Jewish leader (and Mashiach ben Yoseph) Yeshua bar Yoseph, himself, and part of his family was buried there.
So are you also a Hebrew scholar, able to read Hebrew?
I was formerly a Christian but converted to orthodox Judaism when I put the 1st century in an Hebrew-Israeli-Jewish context. I have learned both conversational and written Hebrew since then, and my family lives in Israel. I go back and forth from the US to Israel because of work.
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Eliyahu,
The case of the Jehoash inscription is highly influenced by politics and the archeological interest of this case take a secondary position. I do not know modern Hebrew; I can only deal with the Hebrew found in the Hebrew Bible.
I have a lot of sympathy for orthodox Judaism. I wish you well.
Claude Mariottini
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I am currently writing a Bible Study on the verse in Hebrews “you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. I read your BLOG started in 2007 and want to ask permission to copy and share it with my study group. I am still not clear on the subject so, I humbly ask, if you can share anything further I would be very grateful!
May The Lord bless you in Abundance!
In His Service,
Rev. Adelle Barr
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Dear Adelle,
I apologize for the delay in answering your comment. You have my permission to use my article. At the present I do not have any additional material on the subject. I may come back to it again later. If you want, send me an email and let me know your concerns about this topic and I may answer it with a post on the topic.
Claude Mariottini
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So has this blog died? Not intended as a criticism, just a question. You have a lot of good material here and it’d be a shame to lose it. Thought if life gets busy then something has to go.
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Dan,
My blog has not died. I have been on sabbatical and during that time I was unable to take time off to blog.
I am back and I hope you continue visiting my blog.
Claude Mariottini
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