The thrill of the auction floor reached new heights Wednesday night as an ancient stone tablet, inscribed with nine of the Ten Commandments, sold for an astonishing $5.04 million at Sotheby’s in New York—more than double its initial estimate. The anonymous buyer, who pledged to transfer the relic to an Israeli institution for public display, emerged victorious after an intense bidding war against collectors from around the globe.
Estimated to be 1,500 years old, this extraordinary artifact is a rare historical treasure and one of the most significant archaeological discoveries from Israel. Weighing around 114 lbs. and standing 23.6 inches tall, the tablet is engraved with 20 lines of ancient Hebrew text. Intriguingly, it replaces the commandment “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” with an instruction to worship God on Mount Gerizim, a site sacred to the Samaritan community. This fascinating detail positions the relic as a tangible link to the cultural and religious diversity of late Roman-Byzantine Israel.
Discovered by chance in 1913 during railway construction near Yavne, the tablet served for decades as a paving stone at the entrance of a local home, which caused partial erosion of its inscription. It wasn’t until 1943, when Tel Aviv city archaeologist Jacob Kaplan acquired it, that its historical importance was fully recognized. Kaplan, alongside Israel’s second president, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, published the first study on the artifact, cementing its status as a “national treasure.”
Despite this designation, the tablet was sold to Rabbi Shaul Deutsch, who transported it to the United States and displayed it in his Brooklyn museum. At the time, its export was permitted under a special license stipulating that the artifact must remain accessible to the public.
In 2016, Rabbi Deutsch auctioned the tablet in Beverly Hills for $850,000 to fund the expansion of his museum. However, the tablet’s value soared dramatically last night as global recognition of its historical significance fueled fierce competition, culminating in a record-breaking sale.
Sotheby’s, owned by Israeli-French billionaire Patrick Drahi, reported exceptional interest from bidders across Asia, Europe, Israel, and the United States. “This is not just an ancient artifact—it is a bridge between cultures, beliefs, and generations,” the auction house declared. “Its timeless significance draws collectors from around the world.”
However, the sale was not without controversy. Some experts have questioned the tablet’s origin and authenticity. Dr. Brian Daniels, director of research at the University of Pennsylvania’s Cultural Heritage Center, noted in The New York Times that artifacts from the region are often plagued by forgeries. “While the tablet could be genuine, there is no definitive proof,” he said.
Dr. Christopher Rollston, chair of the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at George Washington University, also expressed skepticism regarding the tablet’s age. “Sotheby’s claims it is 1,500 years old, but without a formal archaeological excavation or clear documentation from the time of its discovery, this cannot be verified,” he remarked.
Questions also surround the story of the tablet’s discovery. While it is said to have been unearthed in 1913 during railway construction, Dr. Rollston pointed out that no records from that period support this claim. “Such narratives are often fabricated by dealers or forgers to lend artifacts an air of authenticity,” he cautioned.
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The inscription itself has raised eyebrows due to its unusual directive to worship God on Mount Gerizim, a site sacred to the Samaritans. This anomaly has led some to suspect a modern modification. “Forgers often include unexpected content to spark interest and attract attention,” Rollston explained.
Despite these doubts, Sotheby’s maintained that the tablet shows natural signs of wear and aging, supporting its claim as an authentic ancient relic. Whether the tablet, described by some as a cornerstone of Western culture, will return to its homeland remains to be seen. According to the buyer’s pledge, it seems likely. Regardless, the truth—like the inscription—remains carved in stone.