Ten Commandments tablet to go on sale for over $1 million, on condition it remains on public view

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Image: Jorisvo | Dreamstime.com

 

The oldest inscribed stone tablet of the Ten Commandments is about to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s. Thought to date back to the Late Roman-Byzantine period, around 1,500 years ago, this 113-pound marble tablet tells a fascinating story of cultural crossover and survival.

 

The ancient relic, standing about two feet tall, was unearthed in 1913 during railway excavations near Yavneh, Israel. For three decades, it played a far less glamorous role as a paving stone at the entrance to a local house. The inscription faced upwards, enduring foot traffic until 1943 when a scholar finally recognized its true value.

 

The tablet’s inscription contains 20 lines of Paleo-Hebrew script, featuring most of the commandments familiar to both Jewish and Christian traditions.

 

What makes this artifact particularly intriguing is its departure from the traditional Biblical text. While it closely follows the verses familiar to both Jewish and Christian faiths, it omits the commandment “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.” Instead, it includes a distinctive instruction to worship at Mount Gerizim, a site held sacred by the Samaritan community.

 

The focus on Mount Gerizim serves as a reminder of the diverse faith communities that have lived in the region over centuries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sotheby’s will publicly display this artifact starting on December 5, before auctioning it on December 18, 2024. The tablet’s journey from a neglected paving stone to a highly valued relic has made it a symbol of resilience—one that spans faiths and eras. 

 

Despite its designation as an Israeli “National Treasure,” the artifact received permission to leave the country in 2005 under one crucial condition: it must remain accessible to the public. Sotheby’s has maintained this requirement, ensuring future buyers commit to sharing this piece of history through educational institutions.

 

 

• https://observer.com/2024/11/ten-commandments-stone-tablet-auction-sothebys/ 
• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-ancient-tablet-inscribed-with-nine-of-the-ten-commandments-from-the-book-of-exodus-is-for-sale-180985473/ 
• https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/13/style/oldest-tablet-10-commandments-scli-intl/index.html