What are Bullae? To answer this question we must first recognize that there are seals and bullae. A seal is an object that is inscribed on one side with words or pictures. This seal often served as a signature, which would be pressed into clay or wax thus leaving an imprint. These were often affixed to documents or objects. The clay or wax impression are called bullae which are often hardened to aid in preservation.
There are examples of seals (genuine and replicas) in these cases. For example, case one contains a Hyksos seal as well as a seal that has the name of Thutmose III. Many bullae related to Biblical figures have been found in archaeological digs or on the antiquities market. For Example:
1. "Belonging to Ahaz, son of Jotham, King of Judah."
2. "Belonging to Hezekiah, [son of] Ahaz, King of Judah."
3. "Shebnayahu [serven]t of the King."
4. "Isaiah prophet."
5. "[belonging] to Azariah son of Hilqiyahu"
6. "Belonging to Seriah son of Neriah."
7. " Belonging to Yehuchal son of Shelemiyahu son of Shovi."
8. "Belonging to Gedaliah son of Pashhur."
9. "Belonging to Gemeryahu son of Shaphan."
10."Belonging to Matanyahu son of Ho[...]."
11. "Belonging to Hanan sone of Hilkiah."
12. "Belonging to Elishama son of Semachiah."
13. "Belonging to Jerahmeel the king's son." Referencing King Jehoiakim.
14. "Belonging to Pedaiah, son of the king." The king would be Jehoiachin.
15. "Belonging to Hananiah son of Azariah."
16. "Belonging to Gedaliah son of Immer."
17. "Belonging to Shelemiah son of Shema."
18. "Belonging to Malchijah son of the king." The king would be Zedekiah.
19. "Belonging to Gedaliah who is over the house."
20. "Belonging to Jaazaniah servant of the king."
21. Belonging to Nathan Melek, servant of the King."
Some seals have been found. These Seals are from:
1. Jezabel wife of Ahab
2. "Yeho'ezer son of Hosh'ayahu."
These impressions were obtained by pressing the material against the actual bullae.
1. Impression that states Gemeryahu son of Shaphan. The bullae that this impression is from comes from the 6th century BC. Gemeryahu is believed to be another way to spell Jeremiah (a common way to spell Judean names in this period). Gemeryahu was the son of Shapan, the Scribe. (Jeremiah: 36:10-12 and 2 Kings 22)
2. Impression that states Belonging to Baruch the Scribe. Baruch was the son of Neriah and became the scribe of the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:32). He wrote down the first and second editions of Jeremiah's prophecies as they were dictated to him. Baruch remained true to the teachings and ideals of the great prophet, although, like his master, he was at times almost overwhelmed by despondency. Both Baruch and Jeremiah witness the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem of 587-586 BC. Baruch's bullae may even retain his fingerprint. Some scholars believe this bullae is a forgery.
3. Impression that states “Belonging to Jerahmeael”, son of King Azriel. Jerahmael lived in in the 6th century BC (Jeremiah 36:26)
4. Impression that states “Belonging to Seriah”. Seriah was the son of Neriah and brother of Baruch. He lived int eh 6th century BC (Jeremiah 36:32).
5. Impression that states, "Belonging to Jotham." 750-735 BC. Jotham was a king of Juda, and son of Uzziah by Jerusha, daughter of Zadok. Jotham was 25 when he began h is reign, and reigned for 16 years. It is thought that his reign commenced as a coregency with his father, which lasted for 11 years. Because his father Uzziah was afflicted (possibly with leprosy) after he entered the Temple to burn incense, Jotham became governor of the palace and the land at that time, while his father lived in a separate house as a leper. The Gospel of Matthew lists Jotham of Judah in the genealogy of Jesus. He is recorded as having built the Upper Gate of the Temple of Jerusalem. Jotham was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah, and benefited from their advice (1 Kings 15:32-38).
6. Impression that states "Belonging to Ahaz": 735-686 BC. Ahaz was king of Judah, and the son and successor of Jotham. He became king of Judah when he was 20 years old and reigned for 16 years. It is thought that Ahaz was coregent with Jotham from 736/735 BC, and that his sole reign began in 732/731 BC. His reign would have ended in 716/715 BC. The Gospel of Matthew lists Ahaz of Judah in the genealogy of Jesus. He is also mentioned in Isaiah 14:28. (1 Kings 16:1-20)
7. Impression that states "Belonging to Hezekiah:" 715-686 BC. According to the Hebrew Bible, Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz and the 13th king of Judah. He is one of the most prominent kings of Judah and is mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus. Hezekiah witnessed the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrian Sargon in 720 BC, and was king of Judah during the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib in 701 BC. He enacted sweeping religious reforms, including a strict mandate for the sole worship of Yahweh and a prohibition on venerating other deities within the Temple in Jerusalem. Isaiah and Micah prophesied during his reign. Hezekiah is mentioned by name on Sennacherib's prism, an ancient (non-Biblical) document that supports the Biblical narrative.
8. Impression stating "Belonging to Manasseh": 697-642 BC. Manasseh was a king of Judah and the only son of Hezekiah with Hephzibah. He became king at the age of 12 and reigned for 55 years (2nd Kings 21:1-18 and 2nd Chronicles 32:33-33:20). He began his reign as a co-regent with his father Hezekiah in 697/696 BC. Manasseh was the first king of Judah who would not have had a direct experience with the Kingdom of Israel, which had been destroyed and scattered by the Assyrians in 720 BC. He re-instituted pagan worship and reversed the religious reforms made by his father Hezekiah; for which he is condemned in several texts. He died in 643 BC after a reign of 55 years.