Near Lachish in Lakhish Regional Council, Southern District, Israel — West Asia (the Levant in the Middle East)

Testimony to Approaching Disaster - the Lachish Letters

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 3, 2019

1. Testimony to Approaching Disaster - the Lachish Letters Marker

Inscription. In this room some 20 potsherds were discovered, bearing inscriptions in ink (ostraca) in ancient Hebrew. These letters are dated to the last years before the Babylonian invasion of the Land of Israel (beginning of the sixth century BCE).

The letters were written by Hoshayahu, the commander of one of the nearby fortresses, and were addressed to Yaush, the governor of Lachish. Some scholars believe believe that these were drafts or copies of letters that were sent from Lachish to Jerusalem. According to that theory, Hoshayahu was the commander of Lachish and Yaush was an important commander or minister in the government of Judah in Jerusalem.

Letter IV: ”May God cause my lord to hear, this very day, tidings of good. And now, according to everything which my lord has sent, this has your servant done. I wrote on the sheet according to everything which you sent to me. And inasmuch as my lord sent to me concerning the matter of Beit Harapid, there is no one there. As for Semachiah, Shemaiah took him and sent him up to the city. And may (my lord) be apprised that we are watching for the fire signals of Lachish according to all the signs which my lord has given, because we cannot see Azekah.”

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters

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• Forts and Castles • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 700 BCE.

Location. 31° 33.872′ N, 34° 50.859′ E. Marker is near Lachish, Southern District, in Lakhish Regional Council. Marker can be reached from Southern District Route 3415, 2.3 kilometers south of Southern District Route 35, on the right when traveling south. Unfortunately, Google maps does not provide any names for two of the key roads that one will need to use to get to this marker. So from the intersection of Route 35 and Route 3415, go south on Route 3415 for 2.3 kilometers and turn right on an un-named road. Proceed south on the un-named road for 750 meters and the first road that you come to on your left, turn left onto another un-named road. Travel 400 meters over this second un-named road and you will arrive at the parking lot for the Israeli National Park that features the ruins of ancient Lachish, where this marker is located, at the top of the Judean ramp, and in the ruins of one of the enclosure towers of the city gate complex. Touch for map. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 18 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Welcome to the City Gate (a few steps from this marker); Confronting Enemy Threats - the City’s Fortifications (a few steps from

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 3, 2019

2. Testimony to Approaching Disaster - the Lachish Letters Marker

A close-up view, of the reproduction of "ostraca" that appears on this marker, showing an artist's rendering of two of the Lachish Letters.

this marker); Might and Authority - the Royal Palace (within shouting distance of this marker); Artist's Rendering of the City Gate (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Tel Lachish National Park (about 120 meters away); Assault by Sennacherib's Army (about 120 meters away); Tel Azekah (approx. 17.2 kilometers away in Jerusalem District).

More about this marker. Regarding the marker itself, there is a vertical timeline on the left side of the marker that runs from 1029 BCE to 586 BCE. The timeline identifies the years 1029 to 928 BCE as being the era of the Kingdoms of Saul, David and Solomon. Then, the years 928 to 720 BCE as being the era of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And then, the years 720 to 586 as being the era of the Kingdom of Judah, with the notation that the destruction of the First Temple takes place in 586 BCE. This timeline also includes a short highlighted parallel timeline that identifies the years 727 to 698 BCE as being the time of the Kingdom of Hezekiah, with the notation that the year 701 BCE was the year of Sennacherib's conquest of Lachish.

Regarding the marker location, in 2019, because I traveled to Israel as part of a tour group,

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 3, 2019

3. Testimony to Approaching Disaster - the Lachish Letters Marker

taking pictures of historical markers and recording location information for each marker that I photographed was a difficult assignment. Then too, having two bad knees and walking with a cane made keeping up with my tour group, much less recording location information as well, even more difficult. So I am using my Google Map skills, from at home, to provide the needed location information and map coordinates. Anyone that visits these markers is welcomed, and encouraged, to improve on the provided information.

Also see . . .
1. Lachish (BiblePlaces.com). This is a link to additional information regarding this marker. (Submitted on April 24, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

2. Tel Lachish - Wikipedia. This is a link to additional information regarding this marker. (Submitted on April 24, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

3. Lachish - Jewish Virtual Library. This is a link to additional information regarding this marker. (Submitted on April 24, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

4. Why Lachish Matters · The BAS Library. This is a link to additional information regarding this marker. (Submitted on April 24, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

5. Lachish letters - Wikipedia. (Submitted on April 24, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 3, 2019

4. Testimony to Approaching Disaster - the Lachish Letters Marker

View of the marker situated in the ruins of one of the enclosure towers of the city gate complex.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 3, 2019

5. Testimony to Approaching Disaster - the Lachish Letters Marker

A more distant view of the marker situated in the ruins of one of the enclosure towers of the city gate complex.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 260 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 24, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.