The Babylonian Destruction of Lachish and Azekah
Pictured here is one of the twenty-two ostraca that were discovered in Lachish, written in ancient Hebrew script. In comparison to the cuneiform, the findings with written Hebraic text of this period further prove the high degree of literacy amongst the Jews.This letter reflects an atmosphere of imminent danger imposed by the Babylonian forces, suggesting that Azekah, sixteen kilometers north of Lachish, had already fallen to the Babylonians:
“…we are watching the Lachish (fire) signal according to the signs which my lord has given, because we do not see (the fire-signal from) Azekah.”
Jeremiah 34:6-7 verifies the story:
“Jeremiah the prophet relayed all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah …when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah, that is, Lachish and Azekah….”
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Lachish Letter (Lachish Ostracon 4)
Israel Antiquities Authority / The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Ardon Bar-Hama
Lachish Letter drawing
Hand copy from Harry Torczyner, Lachish I, The Lachish Letters, 1938
Overview
The Lachish Ostracon 4
“…we are watching the Lachish (fire) signal according to the signs which my lord has given, because we do not see (the fire-signal from) Azekah.”
In the Bible
“Jeremiah the prophet relayed all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah …when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah, that is, Lachish and Azekah….”
"וַיְדַבֵּר֙ יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֔יא אֶל־צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה אֵ֛ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה... וְחֵ֣יל מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֗ל נִלְחָמִים֙ עַל־יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְעַ֛ל כָּל־עָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה הַנּֽוֹתָר֑וֹת אֶל־לָכִישׁ֙ וְאֶל־עֲזֵקָ֔ה ..."
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