Kingdom of Judah Stone Seal Found in Northern Israel

IFCJ Canada  |  February 20, 2026

Excavations in northern Israel are currently underway as part of construction for the Ein Tut Interchange. According to The Jerusalem Post, archaeologists leading the dig discovered a stone seal believed to have belonged to a high-ranking official of the Kingdom of Judah in the late eighth century B.C.E.

The seal, made of a light brown gemstone, is thought by archaeologists to have been “hung like a necklace around its owner’s neck” and is decoratively divided into three parts.

Four pomegranates are carved into the upper section of the seal, while the other two sections contain an ancient Hebrew inscription reading: “Belonging to Makhach (son of) Amihai,” the IAA explained.

“The importance of the seal derives both from its contribution to the treasury of biblical names, and from the fact that, unlike most seals of its type, this seal’s origin is from an organized archaeological excavation and not from antiquities collectors,” the late archaeologist David Amit had said of the discovery.

Additional artifacts were uncovered at the site, including jar handle fragments bearing royal seals inscribed with the words, “Belonging to the King.” The inscriptions also mention the cities of Hebron and Ziph, two major administrative centers during the First Temple period.

These 2,700-year-old findings provide a rare glimpse into the structure and functions of the administration in the Kingdom of Judah. Since the tribe of Judah settled primarily in the region south of Jerusalem, discovering artifacts this far north suggest the tribe’s administrative reach may have extended farther than previously thought. Archaeologist Dr. Amir Gorzalczany described their presence in this region as surprising.