Earliest Written Reference to YHWH (God)

by John Venlet

Though controversies abound as to when the Israelites first entered Canaan, and as to when the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) were written, a curse tablet found on Mt. Ebal, in Israel, could very well put to rest these controversies.

If the claims are indeed correct, this tiny 2 cm x 2 cm (0.78 x 078 inch) curse tablet can potentially be seen as one of the greatest archaeological discoveries ever, reports Israel Hayom. It would be proof of the first used name of ‘the Lord’ in the ‘Promised Land’ and set the perceived age of literacy back by several centuries.

Though I need no proofs to bolster my faith, none-the-less I find it exceptionally fascinating that this curse tablet was found on Mt. Ebal, which, as Deuteronomy 27 reveals to us was directed to be cursed, and Mt. Ebal also plays a role after the Israelites defeated the king of Ai, as mentioned in Joshua 8. Also of interest and related to this find of the curse tablet, is the altar mentioned in Joshua 8, as in 1980 an actual altar was found on Mt. Ebal which dates to the timeframe of Joshua and the Israelites arrival in Canaan.

Curse Tablet Found on Mount Ebal Suggests Early Literacy Came to Israel

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