Lachish in the earlier days of Israel (now Tell ed-Duweir)
was a fortified city, which in the history of Israel was of
great importance. Explorations revealed that the city was
apparently destroyed twice by fire - assumedly in 618-619
and in 609-607 B.C. Between 1935 – 1938, 21 written
potsherds were found in the ashes of the second fire. These
potsherds are also called ostraka (singular: ostrakon). These
ostraka were in fact written letters. The letters were written
from an outpost of Judean forces and were meant for Ya'osh,
a military commander in Lachis. The background of the letters
has to do with threats coming from Nebuchadnezzar, the King
of Babylon. Because of the uprising of Israel he marched upwards
to Jerusalem.
Letter IV :
“May YHWH cause my lord to hear good
news,... we are watching the fire signals of Lachis, according
to the signs my lord gives, because we can not see Azekah”
-
It is interesting to know that the Bible also speaks
of this situation in Jeremiah 34:6, 7: "Then Jeremiah
the prophet spoke all these words to Zedeki'ah king of Judah,
in Jerusalem, when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting
against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that
were left, Lachish and Aze'kah; for these were the only fortified
cities of Judah that remained." (Revised Standard Bible)
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