407 BCE·Second Temple·Artifact

Elephantine Papyri: Sanballat and Johanan

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:10; Nehemiah 12:22

Aramaic marriage document on papyrus from Elephantine, 449 BCE · Photo: Brooklyn Museum · No restrictions · Source

The claim

Nehemiah faces opposition from Sanballat, and Johanan serves as high priest.

What archaeology found

Aramaic papyri from a Jewish military colony on Elephantine Island in Egypt include a 407 BCE letter to Bagohi, governor of Judah. It mentions Johanan the high priest in Jerusalem and the sons of Sanballat, governor of Samaria.

Sources

Bezalel Porten, Archives from Elephantine: The Life of an Ancient Jewish Military Colony, University of California Press (1968)

Verdict history

Nov 10, 2026ConfirmedInitial verdict.