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Archaeologists Just Found One of King Hezekiah’s Toilets, and It May Prove the Bible

Archaeologists Just Found One of King Hezekiah’s Toilets, and It May Prove the Bible

This is a crazy story. Archaeologists in Israel were recently digging at the site of the ancient city of Tel Lachish located in the Kingdom of Judah. There, they uncovered what is believed to be a 2,700-year-old toilet like one actually described in the Bible. Seriously.

The toilet was found in a room of a multi-chambered gate, that may have once been a shrine. Nearby, were small alters to cult figures which appeared to have been intentionally damaged: their “horned corners had been smashed.” According to The Times of Israel, it looks like ancient Israelite rulers installed a toilet in the alter room as a way of desecrating idols to false gods. As it turns out, this exact scenario is mentioned in the Old Testament. 2 Kings 10:27 says that Israelite forces had previously “demolished the sacred stone of Baal and tore down the temple of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine to this day.”

2 Kings 18:4 describes how Hezekiah later destroyed idols and alters to other gods. He “removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles.” The researchers believe this toilet was installed as part of Hezekiah’s reforms against cult worship.

As Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Sa’ar Ganor, explained to the paper, “The cult worship was eradicated, here’s the evidence, smashing the altar horns. But not only was it annulled, in Lachish they put in a throne, the same stone you see here.”

As Live Science noted, this toilet installed under King Hezekiah’s reforms may have never actually been used, but could have served as a symbol.

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