UT-Austin Hebrew Bible Comps Wiki
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This late 8th century inscription is an excellent exemplar of pre-exilic Hebrew language and script. The inscription was located in a water channel providing access to natural springs from within the walls of Jerusalem. From its discovery it was hailed as the tunnel that Hezekiah built as told in the HB. Although this has been challenged, the consensus has held that this does indeed date to this time, additionally evidenced by carbon dating of plaster on the tunnel’s bottom. The inscription is unique since it does not bear the name of a royal patron or seem to tout any particular political ideology. The inscription tells in triumphant language how two groups of miners bore through rock and were able to meet in the middle, no small feat by any standard. This may have been an inscription commissioned by the workman themselves. This still leaves the question of whether the workman commissioned a scribe to engrave it or they did it themselves. Regardless, the inscription is carved in beautifully cursive Hebrew, undoubtedly a well trained hand.

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