076 Shebaniah Lintel

Museum Description: Inscribed Lintel of a Rock-cut Tomb

Room: 57/Case: None/Number: WA 125205

Scripture: Isaiah 22:15

Due to its extremely rough surface, the writing now highlighted in white was undiscovered for 80 years.  It says: “This is the tomb of ... the Royal Steward” but the name of the steward has been destroyed by the hole where the lintel has evidently been reused.  Only the ending of the name remains, and is three of the four letters of the Tetragrammaton.  This means the name ended in 'iah', like Isaiah, Zedekiah etc.  The Royal Steward from the time of Hezekiah is named in the Bible in Isaiah 22:15 as Shebna, but as his name does not end in 'iah', it cannot refer to him.  Until you read Nehemiah 9:4, where the name Shebna is spelt Shebaniah, so now it could fit!  So could this be from his very tomb?  Well, why is Shebna referred to in Isaiah 22?  Verses 16-19 reveals he was counselled by Jehovah for having an elaborate rock-cut tomb!  We cannot say for certain, but it is possible this is actually what Jehovah referred to!  Evidently Shebna took the counsel, as he appears later in the book of Isaiah, though demoted to secretary.