ISRAEL - Second Temple Stone Box Discovered
A rare and mysterious, multi-compartment stone container dating back to the days of the Second Temple that serves as evidence of the destruction of Jerusalem two millennia ago has been put on display for the first time at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Researchers assume that the box was used for commercial purposes, such as displaying premeasured goods.
“During excavations of the Pilgrimage Road where the box was discovered, many objects have been found as a testament to the flourishing commercial activity that took place alongside the road during the Second Temple period,” IAA excavation directors Dr. Yuval Baruch and Ari Levy said in a statement.
“Daily life and trade in Second Temple Jerusalem must have been conducted with strict adherence to Jewish purity laws,” they said. “Evidence of this can be seen by several distinct archaeological finds, such as thousands of limestone vessel fragments discovered in excavations throughout the ancient city and its surroundings.”
-www.jpost.com, 21 February 2024
Arno's Commentary
Whenever archaeological items dating back to the Second Temple are discovered, it attracts attention within religious circles. What becomes abundantly clear is that Jerusalem has Jewish roots, Jerusalem is Jewish, and Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel. Yet the world remains divided. Most nations insist on the so-called Two-State Solution, with West Jerusalem as the Jewish capital and East Jerusalem as the Arab-Palestinian capital.
What is Jerusalem’s future? Zechariah 8:3 answers: “Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain.”
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
