The “Golden Bell” discovered in the City of David (Ir Dovid) - Photo credit: Vladimir Neichin
What a treasure it was! So delicate, beautiful in all its simplicity, but to suggest that here was one of the many golden bells that hung from the hem of the High Priest of Israel’s Golden Garments used in the Temple of Herod’s services is revolutionary. With a small buttonhole at the top, a Second Temple Era (1st century C.E) artifact was discovered in a drainage canal just west of the Western Wall of the Temple in the Ir David (City of David) National Park. According to excavation managers Eli Shukrun and Ronny Reich:
Ir David Excavation Managers Eli Shukrun and Ronny Reich – “It appears the bell was sewn on the garment of a man of high standing in Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period (first century C.E.)." It is known from the biblical book of Exodus that the high priests wore bells like this. While it is not certain that this bell belonged to a high priest, it cannot be ruled out.
The bell was exposed in the city’s main drainage channel of that period, between the layers of dirt that had been piled on the floor of the channel. This drainage channel was built and hewn west to the Western Wall of the Temple Mount and drained the rainfall in the different parts of the city, through the City of David and the Shiloah Pool to the Kidron valley.”
Along the main street near the Shiloh Pool in the City of David, was an interchange near Robinson’s Arch. Here the temple worshipers would enter the sacred premises of the Temple of Herod.
What is believed that a Jewish man of eminence, or possibly the High Priest of Israel was walking along this street when a small bell on the hem of his robe fell off into the drain beneath the street. According to the TaNaKh, in the Book of Exodus called Shemos, we read:
Shemos (Exodus) 28:3-5; 33-35 – “And you shall speak to all the wise-hearted people whom I have invested with a spirit of wisdom, and they shall make the vestments of Aaron, to sanctify him to minister to Me. These are the vestments that they shall make: a Breastplate, an Ephod, a Robe, a Tunic of a box-like knit, a Turban, and a Sash…They shall take the gold, the turquoise, purple, and scarlet wool, and the linen. …You shall make on its hem pomegranates of turquoise, purple and scarlet wool, on its hem all around, and gold bells between them, all around; a gold bell and a pomegranate, a gold bell and a pomegranate on the hem of the robe, all around. It must be on Aaron in order to minister, it’s sound shall be heard when he enters the Sanctuary before Hashem and when he leaves, so that he not die.”
The Golden Garment of the High Priest
According to ancient Jewish traditions, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) who presided over the Temple services in Jerusalem wore golden bells on the edges of the Blue Robe called the Me’il Techelet that was worn under the Golden Garment of the High Priest’s Garment used on the High and Holy Days of the temple services. This was specifically described in Exodus that the “bells of gold” were to be attached to the hem of the Me’il Techelet, alternating with pomegranates made from turquoise, purple, and scarlet wool. There were to be seventy two “golden bells” in all the way around the hem of the Royal Blue Linen Garment.
Yet, the TaNaKh does not specify whether the golden bell was created to look like “sea shells”. So while it is unknown whether this “bell of gold” that was created by the Hebrew artisans for the trimming on the bottom of the Royal Blue Robe that was worn by the High Priest, the archeologists gives it a high probability.
You might Want to Explore the Following Series of Articles:
The Prophet Jeremiah and the Five Guardians of Solomon’s Temple Treasures
“The Emeq HaMelekh – The Story of the Five Hebrew Priests who Hid the Treasures of Solomon’s Temple”
Go to Part One – “The Emeq Ha Melekh (Valley of the Kings) - The Hebrew Account of Hiding the Ark, the Sanctuary and the Treasures of Solomon’s Temple”
Go to Part Two – “The Hiding of the Ark, the Furnishings and the High Priest Garments with the Sanctuary of the Congregations”
Go to Part Three – “The Copper Scroll, the Anointing Oil, the Temple Incense and the Ashes of the Red Heifer”
Go to Part Four – “The Exile of Judah and Babylon the City of Wonders - Section One”
Go to Part Five – “Babylon, the City of Wonders – Section Two”
Go to Part Six – “Baghdad, the 49 Lamped Menorah, Bread Molds, and the Table of Showbread”
Go to Part Seven – “The Garden of Eden, the Margalit Pearl, Almugim Trees, Golden Tables of Showbread and Industrial Gemstones”
Go to Part Eight – “Industrial Gems, Golden Trees, The Tree of Life, the Guardian Angel of Solomon’s Temple”
Go to Part Nine – “The Cosmic Golden Curtains”
Go to Part Ten – “The Garments of the Priests, Levites and the High Priest”
Go to Part Eleven – “The Harps and Lyres of King David”
Go to Part Twelve – “Treasures at Ein Kahal, in a Wall at Babylon” and at Tel Bruk where the Willow Tree was in Babylon”
Go to Part Thirteen – “The Twelve Stones for the Tribes of Israel, David, son of David, a righteous king over Israel and the Gihon River at the Final Restoration of Israel”
If you have wondered how biblical prophecy fits into your life, and how it will affect the Return of the House of Israel, then the G-d of Israel is beginning his “call” to bring you home, too. You might desire to reconnect with the Biblical portrayals on what is and may be happening in your near future.
This Biblical portrayal includes Prophecies that the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel are about to return to the Land of their Biblical Inheritance. This is Divine Destiny in living reality as the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel return to their Homelands first in Shomron (Samaria), Israel. If you want to learn more, Contact “Kol Ha Tor Vision”, the Voice of the Turtledove.
Here is a joint Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to bring awareness of the imminent fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies regarding the Redemption of all Israel (12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United). This super Event of all Times will entail Establishing the Shomron (the Ancient Bible Heartland of the Patriarchs) and the Judean Wilderness as part of the Land of Israel, and preparing the “Land” for the Return of the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel and then the Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about Kol Ha Tor Vision for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”, a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House in Samaria, that is hosting a Shomron / Samaria 13-day Succot Tour in October 2011 to reacquaint the Returning Lost Tribers of the House of Israel and a “Glenn Beck "Restoring Courage" Back-Up Jerusalem Tour” on August 21-27, 2011.