Neriah
Neriah ("Lord is my Lamp") is the son of Mahseiah, as well as the father of Baruch and Seraiah ben Neriah, mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah of the Hebrew Bible. He is mentioned in Jeremiah 32:12 and 51:59.
Contents
Talmud
The Talmud lists him and his sons Seraiah ben Neriah and Baruch as prophets
Historicity
In 1975, a clay bulla purportedly containing Baruch's seal and name appeared on the antiquities market. Its purchaser, a prominent Israeli collector, permitted Israeli archaeologist Nahman Avigad to publish the bulla.[1] Although its source is not definitively known, it has been identified as coming from the "burnt house" excavated by Yigal Shiloh. The bulla is now in the Israel Museum. It measures 17 by 16 mm, and is stamped with an oval seal, 13 by 11 mm. The inscription, written in the ancient Hebrew alphabet, reads:[2]
| Line | Transliteration | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | lbrkyhw | [belonging] to Berachyahu |
| 2 | bn nryhw | son of Neriyahu |
| 3 | hspr | the scribe |
In 1996, a second clay bulla emerged with an identical inscription; presumably stamped with the same seal. This bulla also was imprinted with a fingerprint;[3] Hershel Shanks, among others, speculated that the fingerprint might be that of Baruch himself;[4][5] the authenticity of these bullae however has been disputed.ibid.
Another bulla was found with the name of "SERIAHU NERIAHU believed to belong to Seraiah ben Neriah.[6]
