The Ebla Tablets, discovered in the 1970s, are a remarkable collection of over 17,000 clay tablets inscribed with cuneiform script in the ancient Eblaite and Sumerian languages. The tablets date back to around 2500 -2300 BCE and provide a wealth of information about the political, economic, and religious aspects of life in the ancient city of Ebla, located in modern-day Syria. Written in a Semitic language closely related to Akkadian, the tablets offer valuable insights into the culture and society of the ancient Near East, as well as notable connections to the biblical narrative. The Ebla Tablets are significant for their mention of names and places that also appear in the Bible, such as the city of Ur and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Discovery
The Ebla Tablets were discovered by Italian archaeologist Paolo Matthiae and his team in the ancient city of Ebla, located in modern-day Syria. Ebla was one of the earliest kingdoms in Syria and a prominent city-state, which existed from around 3500 to 2300 BCE. The tablets were found in the ruins of the city’s royal palace, known as the “Palace G.”
Notable aspects
The Ebla Tablets cover a wide range of topics, including administrative records, economic transactions, legal documents, and literary works. Their significance in relation to the Bible lies in their mention of names and places that also appear in the Bible, such as the city of Ur, the city of Sodom, and the city of Gomorrah. Additionally, the Ebla Tablets provide valuable insight into the culture, society, and religious practices of the region, some of which are similar to those described in the Old Testament.
Year of Creation
The Ebla Tablets all date from 2500 -2300 BCE. Starting in 2500 BCE, when Ebla became a political capital, and ending around 2300 BCE when Elba’s royal palace was destroyed and built over with a new structure.
Relevant Quotations
While there are no direct quotations from the Bible found in the Ebla Tablets, however some of the texts contain information that can be compared to biblical narratives:
- Mention of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah: The destruction of these cities is described in the Bible (Genesis 19), and their mention in the Ebla Tablets provides evidence for their existence during the time of Ebla.
- References to the city of Ur: The city of Ur is mentioned in the Bible as the birthplace of the patriarch Abraham (Genesis 11:27-32). The Ebla Tablets’ mention of Ur confirms its existence during this period.
- The Eblaite pantheon: The Ebla Tablets contain information on the religious practices and beliefs of the people of Ebla, some of which parallel the religious practices described in the Bible. The Eblaite pantheon includes gods such as Dagan, who was also worshipped in ancient Canaan, the region where the Israelites would later settle.