Ancient Ten Commandments tablet sold at auction for US$850,000

BEVERLY HILLS — The world’s earliest-known complete stone inscription of the Ten Commandments, described as a “national treasure” of Israel, sold at auction in Beverly Hills for US$850,000 (S$1.2 million).

Heritage Auctions said the 61cm square marble slab sold on Wednesday (Nov 16) night at a public auction of ancient Biblical archaeology artifacts.

The tablet weighs about 52kg and is inscribed in an early Hebrew script called Samaritan.

It likely adorned the entrance of a synagogue that was destroyed by the Romans between AD 400 and 600, or by the Crusaders in the 11th century, said Mr David Michaels, Heritage Auctions director of ancient coins and antiquities.

The auction house said the Israeli Antiquities Authorities approved export of the piece to the United States in 2005. The only condition was that it must be displayed in a public museum.

“The sale of this tablet does not mean it will be hidden away from the public,” Mr Michaels said. “The new owner is under obligation to display the tablet for the benefit of the public.”

The tablet lists nine of the 10 commonly known commandments, leaving out “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (King James translation), and adding one often employed by the Samaritan sect, encouraging worshippers to “raise up a temple” on Mount Gerizim, the holy mountain of the Samaritans, according to Heritage Auctions.

The tablet was one of a number of Biblical artifacts owned by the Living Torah Museum in Brooklyn, New York, that were up for auction.

The auction opened with a US$300,000 bid on the piece. The winning bidder does not wish to be identified. AP