The oldest tablet with the Ten Commandments. Photo: apnews.
NEW YORK. The stone tablet, which is considered the oldest known monument recording the Ten Commandments, was sold at auction for a record-breaking sum of more than $5 million. This was reported by Time Ukraine Israel, citing ABC News.
This unique artefact, carved in marble and weighing 52 kilograms, was purchased by an anonymous collector who intends to donate it to an Israeli institution for conservation. As noted by Sotheby’s, the final price significantly exceeded preliminary estimates of $1-2 million after a tense international bidding process that lasted more than 10 minutes.
Unique historical value
The tablet dates from around 300-800 AD. The inscription is in Paleo-Hebrew script, the only complete example of its kind from antiquity. The text contains the Ten Commandments, which are familiar from both Christian and Jewish traditions, but with notable differences. The third commandment about taking the Lord’s name in vain is omitted, and instead a reference to worship on Mount Gerizim, a sacred site for the Samaritans, is added.
From unrecognised to world fame
The artefact was discovered in 1913 during excavations on the southern coast of Israel, but its significance was not appreciated at the time. The slab was even used as a paving stone in the courtyard of a local house. It was only in 1943 that the researcher who acquired it realised the true historical significance of the find.
A symbol of faith and history
“This unique object is a tangible link to ancient beliefs that have shaped global religious and cultural traditions. Its historical significance is invaluable,” Sotheby’s emphasised.
The stove, which has been used for centuries in everyday life, will now take an honourable place among cultural monuments, preserving its majestic history and spiritual heritage.
