‘LMLK’ Seals

The ‘LMLK’ jar (Hebrew for ‘to the king’) is a type of jar that appeared near the end of the 8^th century BCE in the Kingdom of Judah and disappeared around the mid-7^th century BCE. The name of the jar comes from the type of stamp that decorated these jars’ handles: One of two winged symbols (a scarab/a circle) and around it the word ‘LMLK’ (‘to the king’). Often the name of one of four cities in the Kingdom of Judah was included in the stamp: Hebron, Zif, Socoh or MMST (which hasn’t been identified yet). The purpose of the jars was carrying liquids, likely wine and oil. The jars could hold between 39.75 liters to 51.80 liters.

‘LMLK’ jar handles were first discovered by British archaeologist Charles Warren in 1867 while holding excavations in Jerusalem. Since then hundreds of such handles have been found in sites such as Lachish, Ramat Rachel, Beit Shemesh, Timnath and more. There are two main theories surrounding the purpose of these jars: Wine and oil jars intended as tax payment to the Assyrian Empire or wine and oil jars stockpiled by King Hezekiah in preparation for his rebellion against the Assyrians. It is not known why there was a need for special stamps, given that other kingdoms in the area paid taxes to the Assyrians through wine and oil, but did not stamp their jars in a special way. Some have suggested that the stamps were intended to emphasize the rise of a new king – Hezekiah – and the changing of the face of the kingdom. Indeed, a similar winged symbol was found on a bulla carrying the signature of Hezekiah.

Sources:

Anonymous, ‘Phœnician Inscription on Jar Handles’ PEQFS 2 (1870), p. 372

A. Mazar, ‘Jar Stamps from Judah’, Qadmoniyot 54 (2021), pp. 56-58

N. Na’aman, ‘The lmlk Seal Impressions Reconsidered’, TA 43 (2016), pp. 111-125

D. Ussishkin, The Renewed Archaeological Excavations at Lachish (1973-1994) – Volume IV: The Iron Age and Post-Iron Age Pottery and Artefacts, Tel Aviv 2004