The Associates for Biblical Research has announced the discovery of a ceramic pomegranate during the 2018 excavation season at biblical Shiloh. Shiloh was the center of Israelite worship and site of the tabernacle for over 300 years. The 20 cm-long pomegranate was unearthed in situ, and still had four of the five prongs intact. Pomegranates were common motifs in the Israelites' worship at the tabernacle, having adorned the hem of Aaron's robe (Ex 28:34; 39:26), and later in the first temple (1 Ki 7:17, 42). This discovery confirms the biblical description of Shiloh as a temenos (a sacred, dedicated precinct) early in Israel's history. Dr. Scott Stripling, ABR's Director of Excavations at Shiloh, is currently working on a peer-reviewed article about the pomegranate.
ABR'S News Release:
- http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2018/08/22/NEWS-RELEASE-ABR-Makes-Important-Discovery-at-Biblical-Shiloh.aspx
Digging for Truth Episode (Hear Dr. Scott Stripling describe the discovery starting at 16:14):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC2W1gSXUpI