Where is the archaeological proof that Amaziah seized the city of Sela (2 Kings 14:7)?

Biblical Setting of 2 Kings 14:7

2 Kings 14:7 states: “He struck down ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela in battle. He called it Joktheel, which is its name to this day.” This passage refers to the military action taken by Amaziah, King of Judah, against Edom in the Valley of Salt and his subsequent capture of Sela, renaming it Joktheel. The event highlights both a historical claim of conquest and a geographical reference to a city within Edomite territory.

Identifying the City of Sela

Biblically, Sela is often associated with a rocky stronghold in Edom’s domain. In Hebrew, “Sela” means “rock,” and many scholars, both conservative and otherwise, have suggested that it might align physically with the area around Petra (also known for its imposing rock formations). Some identify Sela with the modern site of es-Sela near Petra, while others think of it as a separate fortress in the highlands of Edom.

Another possibility is to associate Sela with a broader region of rocky terrain, given that Edom’s territory contained numerous rocky escarpments. Although the precise location is debated, the biblical text clearly indicates that the city-fortress was an Edomite stronghold that fell to Amaziah’s forces.

Historical Context of Edom and Judah

Edom, located to the southeast of Judah, shared a long history of conflict and interaction with Israel and Judah. Scriptural accounts from the books of Kings and Chronicles repeatedly note tensions, battles, and shifting boundaries. The Edomites’ domain included fortified cities to protect major trade routes, particularly those leading to the Red Sea and further inland.

During the time of Amaziah (ninth to eighth century BC), both Epigraphic and stratigraphic searches in the region suggest that Edom was well established, containing fortifications, places of worship, and administrative centers.

Current Archaeological Evidence

1. Ancient Fortifications and Occupation Layers

Archaeologists have uncovered Iron Age layers in southern Jordan consistent with Edomite settlement and fortification. Nelson Glueck’s surveys from the mid-twentieth century identified numerous Edomite sites, including evidence of fortresses. Although a direct reference to Amaziah’s conquest has not yet been found in an inscription, these Iron Age remains confirm the presence of large, fortified structures during the general time frame of Amaziah’s campaign.

2. Pottery and Cultural Artifacts

Pottery fragments discovered in excavations around Edomite strongholds indicate cultural continuity and conflict layers dating to the Iron Age II period (ca. 1000–600 BC). These finds align with the biblical timeline that places Edom under threat from Judah on multiple occasions, including the era of Amaziah.

3. Possible Identification with Petra

Some scholars connect Sela with Petra, citing references to a “rocky fortress” in Edom. While Petra’s most famous Nabatean structures postdate the Iron Age by several centuries, surveys of the area around Petra reveal earlier defensive positions and settlements. The fortress-like qualities of the terrain may have been the same that Scripture alludes to when naming the city “Sela.” However, competing proposals locate ancient Sela slightly north of Petra, where other rock outcroppings and walled settlements occur.

4. Epigraphic Searches

Although archaeologists have discovered numerous Edomite inscriptions (notably ostraca and seal impressions), a direct inscription naming “Amaziah” or referencing the “capture of Sela” has not surfaced. This lack of specific epigraphic proof is not unusual, as relatively few inscriptions exist for that period that document day-to-day military campaigns from neighboring kingdoms.

Consistency with Scriptural Testimony

Despite the absence of a distinct inscription verifying Amaziah’s conquest, nothing discovered in Edomite regions contradicts the biblical account. Excavations continuously affirm that Edom was a historical, centralized monarchy with fortified sites capable of being the very “Sela” that Amaziah captured.

In broader biblical scholarship, an absence of direct inscription does not invalidate the reliability of Scripture. Many events recorded in ancient texts are corroborated only partially by archaeological remains, often because writing official records on durable materials (like stone) was expensive and reserved for select topics. The fact that numerous Iron Age strongholds and destruction layers exist in Edomite territory remains consistent with the biblical depiction of conflict and conquest.

Interpreting the Lack of a Single Monument

The question “Where is the archaeological proof?” sometimes arises because people expect a singular inscription or monument proclaiming Amaziah’s victory. Monumental inscriptions announcing conquests do exist in other ancient civilizations (e.g., Assyrian or Egyptian steles), but fewer such artifacts survive from smaller nations like Edom.

Additionally, conquerors might erect their monuments in their own capitals (e.g., Jerusalem), which may or may not survive through subsequent destructions, occupations, and building projects. The existence of a scriptural record, consistently affirmed by the general archaeological context of the region, is often sufficient within biblical scholarship and is complemented (not contradicted) by the archaeological record.

Conclusion

The biblical text records Amaziah’s conquest of Sela in 2 Kings 14:7 and renaming it Joktheel. While no direct inscription has been uncovered explicitly declaring Amaziah’s triumph, archaeological surveys and studies in ancient Edomite territories reveal Iron Age strongholds, pottery, and cultural evidence aligning with the historical period described in Scripture.

From a broader perspective of biblical reliability, such a correlation between text and general archaeological context undergirds the trustworthiness of the historical record, even when specific monuments or inscriptions have yet to be found. The Edomite domain’s extensive rock fortresses, combined with the testimony of 2 Kings and other Old Testament references, offer a coherent picture: Sela was a strategic Edomite stronghold that Amaziah of Judah subdued, in line with the Scripture’s account.