Critics often claim the Bible is not an accurate historical document. However, discoveries of the existence of Gemariah and Jerahmeel prove otherwise.

A clay seal impression of “Gemariah son of Shaphan the secretary”, one of “the officials” (Jeremiah 36:10-12 NIV) of King Jehoiakim was discovered in excavations of Jerusalem of 587-586 BCE destruction level. The inscription reads: “Belonging to Gemariah (son of) Shaphan”.

Researchers possess both a clay seal and a seal impression of “Jerahmeel, a son of the king” Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:26 NIV), which were both acquired on the antiquities market. The clay seal and the seal impression both read: “Belonging to Jerahmeel the king’s son”.

Of course, Gemariah and Jerahmeel are just two of many obscure people who mentioned in the Bible. What can we learn from the discoveries of the existence of these two obscure individuals?  We are given valuable documented evidence of the truthfulness of God’s Word, the Bible! 

“God will always be true”—Romans 3:4 NJB

“Your word is truth”—John 17:17

“The word of the Lord endures forever”—1 Peter 1:25 NIV

These artifacts are just some of the many thousands that have been discovered which support the Bible’s genuineness.

“And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power”—Job 26:14 NIV

In contrast, the Book of Mormon and the Koran have no supporting artifacts! The more time that goes by, the stronger the case becomes for the authenticity of the Bible becomes, and the weaker the case in support of these other works becomes.