{"id":2620159,"date":"2026-06-27T22:12:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T02:12:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-this-ancient-stone-found-in-israel-is-linked-to-a-biblical-king\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T22:16:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T02:16:58","slug":"how-this-ancient-stone-found-in-israel-is-linked-to-a-biblical-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-this-ancient-stone-found-in-israel-is-linked-to-a-biblical-king\/","title":{"rendered":"How This Ancient Stone Found in Israel Is Linked to a Biblical King"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-this-ancient-stone-found-in-israel-is-linked-to-a-biblical-king%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2620159&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An ancient large stone discovered in Israel may provide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mich-lawsuit-shows-evidence-of-election-fraud-electronic-vote-tampering\/\" title=\"Mich. lawsuit shows ... of election fraud, electronic vote tampering\">additional evidence<\/a> supporting biblical reforms initiated by King Hezekiah. The nearly 5-foot-tall, 1,600-pound stone, called a massebah or standing stone, was found in what was once a luxurious mansion dating back to the late 11th or early 10th century BC. Interestingly, the stone was incorporated into the home&#8217;s platform, not lying down consequently of destruction. Archaeologist Avraham Faust suggests that the reforms of King Hezekiah in the 8th century BC, which included the removal of high places and cultic objects, may have influenced residents to repurpose the stone from religious use. Evidence of such reforms has been seen in other temples and shrines abandoned during his reign. Additionally, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/megyn-kelly-gets-emotional-as-shares-throwback-clip-from-wedding-day-on-15th-anniversary-with-husband\/\" title=\"Megyn Kelly Gets Emotional As Shares Throwback Clip From Wedding Day On 15th Anniversary With Husband\">burned wood<\/a> found beneath the platform might be linked to cultic practices. this revelation provides supplementary insight into household religious practices and domestic architecture during Israel&#8217;s Iron Age, reminding scholars of the broader scope of religious reform beyond public structures.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>An enormous stone found in Israel may serve as additional historical proof of the reforms launched by the ancient King Hezekiah.<\/p>\n<p>Bar-Ilan University professor Avraham Faust recently published a paper in the peer-reviewed Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology about the cultic stone, which is nearly 5 feet tall and weighs over 1,600 pounds.<\/p>\n<p>The stone \u2014 known as a massebah, or standing stone \u2014 was commonly associated with Near Eastern cults, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/rare-cultic-stone-from-israelite-mansion-may-testify-to-king-hezekiahs-biblical-reform\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> from The Times of Israel.<\/p>\n<p>This stone was found in what was once a mansion, probably built in the late 11th or early 10th century BC, and was destroyed during the Assyrian invasion of the northern kingdom of Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Curiously, the stone was not lying down because of the home being destroyed, but for a completely different purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Residents appeared to have repurposed the stone \u2014 incorporating it into the platform of their dwelling.<\/p>\n<p>Faust said that the religious reforms of King Hezekiah, likely during the 8th century BC, may have motivated the residents to stop using the cultic object for its original purpose.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost scholars consider and debate two main reforms that led to religious changes during the Iron Age, Hezekiah\u2019s and King Josiah\u2019s,\u201d Faust told The Times of Israel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince Josiah\u2019s reform is thought to have happened later in the 7th century, it is not really relevant, but Hezekiah is believed to have reigned in the 8th century, so it could fit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Bible indeed describes in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=2%20Kings%2018&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2 Kings 18<\/a> that Hezekiah \u201cremoved the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Faust said archaeologists have found some temples and shrines that stopped being used around the time of Hezekiah\u2019s reign \u2014 such as cultic structures at Lachish, Arad, and Beersheva.<\/p>\n<p>But the practice of Near Eastern religion within households likely occurred as well, meaning the end of cultic worship in such settings could be historically significant.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe debate has focused on public buildings devoted to cultic activity, but we have very few such buildings from Judah, and even considering additional evidence for public cult, we are left with evidence from three or four sites,\u201d Faust said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTheir interpretation is debated. For some scholars, they are enough to prove the reform; for others, they are not. But if we look carefully at domestic architecture, we might <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >find additional evidence<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the particulars of the stone itself, the home had a four-room structure, which was a common style of architecture during the Iron Age.<\/p>\n<p>Archaeologists found chunks of burned wood under the platform that included the stone, which may have also been linked to cultic worship.<\/p>\n<p>They were unable to determine what type of wood they had found.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-of-appeals-in-swing-states-drop-major-ruling-hurting-kamala-harris-chances-against-trump\/\" title=\"Court of Appeals in Swing States Drop Major Ruling, Hurting Kamala Harris&#039; Chances Against Trump\">highly engaged readers<\/a>, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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