The world is bracing for history to be made as the oldest known stone tablet inscribed with the Biblical Ten Commandments heads to auction this December. A remarkable relic from approximately 1,500 years ago, this massive stone measures two feet tall and weighs around 115 pounds. Scheduled for auction at Sotheby’s in New York, the tablet is expected to fetch between $1 million and $2 million.
With the auction slated for December 18, the tablet will first be available for public viewing starting December 5, allowing enthusiasts and potential buyers alike to appreciate its antiquity and significance. Sotheby’s Sharon Liberman Mint, a senior specialist in Judaica, noted this auction as not just another sale, but as likely one of the most significant events showcasing ancient history. "We understood how powerful the object was," she shared, emphasizing its unmatched historical and religious significance.
The artifact has quite the backstory; it was unearthed during railway construction near what is now southern Israel back in 1913. After its discovery, it ended up being sold to and used as paving by an unaware local resident, who had no idea of the biblical importance of the stone. It remained largely unnoticed until 1943 when archaeologist Jacob Kaplan recognized and decoded its inscriptions.
The inscriptions, rendered in Paleo-Hebrew script, detail nine out of the traditional Ten Commandments. Interestingly, the commandment “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” is replaced with instructions for Samaritan worshipers, indicating reverence for Mount Gerizim, which holds sacred significance for the Samaritan community.
What distinguishes this tablet is its cultural wealth—it provides insight not only about Jewish and Christian traditions but also about Samaritanism, which holds its own interpretations of these ancient edicts. Richard Austin, Sotheby’s Global Head of Books and Manuscripts, highlighted the significance of the tablet, stating, "This remarkable tablet is not only vastly important historically but is also a tangible link to beliefs central to Western civilization." Austin believes exploring this artifact is akin to traversing thousands of years of heritage and connects with transformative faiths worldwide.
Part of the intrigue of this auction stems from its historical vulnerabilities. The tablet's original setting was likely erased during the Roman invasions or the Crusades, offering layers of narrative about the resilience and continuity of religious beliefs through time. The stone evokes not just reverence for its physical presence but for the ideas it embodies—ideas of morality, law, and community.
The public can view the tablet at Sotheby's New York showroom starting December 5, but the auction itself falls just before Christmastime, promising to attract collectors, historians, and entities interested in the powerful moral codes dictated by the Ten Commandments. Following the previous record-breaking sale of a 1,000-year-old Hebrew Bible, which sold for over $38 million, interest is high, and potential bidding wars could reflect the importance placed on such enduring historical artifacts.
This larger narrative reflects humanity's ever-evolving representation of values and moral frameworks across cultures. The Ten Commandments have long served as cornerstones of law and ethical conduct for billions globally, making the upcoming auction not merely the sale of stone and script but a moment to recognize the foundational beliefs shared across religions.
Aside from its economic significance, the artifact offers those involved—a uniquely privileged chance to engage with sustained religious discourse, whether they’re collectors or devoted faith practitioners. The tablet stands not only as memorabilia from the past but also as a bridge connecting cultures faced with shared existential questions set forth centuries ago. This unique archaeological piece serves as both reminder and relic—encapsulating faith and morality intertwined throughout human history.
Looking to this upcoming event, it seems clear: interest is bound to be tremendous, both from collectors wanting to possess this piece of history and from the wider public eager to witness the sales process of such weighty remnants. Beyond the auction gavel's fall, what reverberates is the acknowledgment of the Ten Commandments’ lasting legacy, influencing the wheels of justice, ethics, and communal dynamics universally.
