Ancient Tablet Inscribed with Ten Commandments Expected to Fetch $2 Million at Auction

The oldest known tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament is expected to sell for up to $2 million at an auction next month.

The stone, dating to around 1,500 years ago from the Late Roman-Byzantine period, is an extraordinary relic of antiquity—yet it was overlooked for centuries. Weighing 115 pounds and standing two feet tall, the oldest biblical artifact was discovered in 1913 during the construction of a railway line in southern Israel.

Inscribed with 20 lines of text, the stone closely mirrors biblical verses common to both Jewish and Christian traditions. However, it includes only nine of the Ten Commandments from Exodus, omitting the one that says, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.” In its place, the inscription commands worship on Mount Gerizim. 

The ancient tablet will be on display at Sotheby’s New York showroom starting December 5, ahead of its auction later that month. Found near the remains of early synagogues, mosques, and churches, the stone is inscribed with the Ten Commandments in Paleo-Hebrew script. 

Despite its historical importance, the stone was not recognized at first and was used as a paving slab outside a home for three decades, with the inscription facing upward and exposed to heavy foot traffic. Fortunately, its significance was eventually acknowledged, and it was preserved. 

A press statement describes the tablet as a key example of the Samaritan Decalogue, which features divine commandments central to multiple faiths. The statement suggests it was likely displayed in a synagogue or private residence. 

Samaritanism, an ancient monotheistic religion based on the first five books of the Old Testament, holds Mount Gerizim in the modern-day West Bank as the sacred dwelling place of Jehovah, instead of Mount Zion, as in Judaism. 

Richard Austin, Sotheby’s global head of books and manuscripts, said in a statement: “This exceptional tablet is not only a crucial historical artifact but also a direct link to the beliefs that have influenced Western civilization. To engage with this shared cultural treasure is to travel through centuries and connect with diverse cultures and faiths, all told through one of humanity’s earliest and most enduring moral frameworks.” 

lefThe auction is scheduled for December 18, but the tablet will be available for viewing at Sotheby’s New York showroom starting December 5.