Teaching Team

Who In The World Is Sar-sekim?

Ever heard of this guy? To be honest I don’t remember ever reading about him either but he is in the Bible. He appears in Jeremiah:

Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon. (Jeremiah 39:3)

He is listed once as a top official of Nebuchadnezzar who helped out in the destruction of the first Temple on 9th Av, 586 BCE. What is exciting is that a tablet containing his name and high position within Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom was finally analyzed just recently at the British Museum 87 years after its discovery. Iriving Finkel, an assistant keeper at the museum’s Middle East department stated:

"This is a fantastic discovery, a world-class find. If Nevo-Sarsekim existed, [then] which other lesser figures in the Old Testament existed? A throwaway detail in the Old Testament turns out to be accurate and true. I think that it means that the whole of the narrative [of Jeremiah] takes on a new kind of power."

It seems very significant that this would come out so close to the traditional anniversary of the destruction of the Temple (just two weeks away). You can read the full report here. Also check out the one on the Pope… Very interesting.

About the Author: Toby Janicki is a teacher, writer, and project manager for First Fruits of Zion and Vine of David. He contributes regularly to Messiah Journal and has written several books including God-Fearers: Gentiles and the God of Israel.

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