description Lachish Letters Overview
The Lachish Letters are a collection of about 21 Hebrew inscriptions written in ink on pottery shards (ostraca) in Paleo-Hebrew script. Discovered in 1935 at Tell ed-Duweir, identified as the ancient city of Lachish, they date to around 586 BCE during the Babylonian invasion of the Kingdom of Judah. The letters are military dispatches exchanged between outposts and include references to fire signals and the fall of nearby cities. They are significant for the study of biblical Hebrew language and the history of Judah's final days, and are housed in the British Museum.
help Lachish Letters FAQ
Where were the Lachish Letters discovered?
The letters were discovered in 1935 during excavations at Tell ed-Duweir, which archaeologists identified as the ancient biblical city of Lachish. The site is located in present-day Israel.
What exactly are the Lachish Letters?
They are a collection of about 21 Hebrew inscriptions written in ink on broken pieces of pottery, known as ostraca. The text is written in Paleo-Hebrew script.
What time period do the Lachish Letters date back to?
The ostraca date to around 586 BCE, during the critical period of the Babylonian invasion of Judah. They provide a firsthand account of the military and political panic leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem.
What do the Lachish Letters say?
Written by a military commander named Hoshayahu to his superior, the letters describe the failing morale of Judean troops. One famously reads, 'we are watching the fire-signals of Lachish... for we cannot see Azekah,' indicating the rapid advance of the Babylonian army.
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