A timeless piece of human history is headed for auction this December in Suthini. On December 18, the oldest stone tablet of the Ten Commandments will enter the main center as a one-piece auction as part of the Books and Manuscripts auction with an estimate of $1-2 million. Dating back to the Late Roman-Byzantine period (ca. 300-800 CE) and weighing 115 kilograms, this 1,500-year-old stone tablet stands two meters tall and is considered the only complete example of its kind from this period. . Written in Paleo-Hebrew, its version of the laws shows a unique twist: the instruction to worship at Mount Gerizim replaces the more familiar command not to take the Lord's name in vain.
The story of the tablet is as interesting as its content. Unearthed in 1913 during excavations for a railroad on Israel's southern coast, it was initially dismissed as an ordinary paving stone and spent three decades as such—a literal stepping stone at the entrance of a local house, with its inscription exposed to the daily walking path. It was not until 1943, when a scholar discovered it, that its true value as one of the most influential human writings was recognized. Scholars believe that it was originally decorated on the entrance of a synagogue near present-day Yavneh, which was later destroyed by invaders—possibly Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, or Crusaders—between the years 400 and 12th century.
The twenty lines of this tablet closely follow the Bible verses common to Jewish and Christian traditions, although there are some notable differences. The omission of “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain” and the addition of the command to worship at Mount Gerizim indicate its Samaritan origin. This ancient painting serves as a deep link to one of the most enduring moral codes underpinning Western civilization, which includes Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
“This remarkable tablet is not only a very important piece of history, but a tangible link to the beliefs that helped shape Western civilization,” said Richard Austin, Sotheby's Head of Books and Manuscripts, in a statement. “To experience this shared cultural heritage is to travel through thousands of years and connect with the cultures and religions that are said to be one of the first and most enduring moral principles of human beings.”
This isn't the tablet's first time at auction. It was sold in 2016 at a Beverly Hills Heritage Auction for $850,000, starting with an opening bid of $250,000. Its previous tour included the ownership of Mr. Kaplan, who rediscovered its value after purchasing it in 1943. Kaplan sold it to antiques dealer Robert Deutsch in the 1990s, who later passed it on to Rabbi Saul Deutsch. Deutsch made it the centerpiece of his Living Torah Museum in Brooklyn in 2005.
Since its rediscovery, the tablet has been included in books such as Review of Biblical Archaeology and was read by scholars, including Dr. Ben-Zvi. Although it is called a “National Treasure” by Israel, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) approved its export to the United States in 2005 under one condition: it must be displayed in a public museum. Suthu follows this condition in its sales, with a notice to consumers stating that the tablet must always be accessible to the public by borrowing or donating to educational institutions.
The sale of the tablet is just one of several notable Judaica sales
Suthu is not usually sold in high-end Judeaica. Last year, it auctioned off a 1,100-year-old Hebrew Bible known as the “Codex Sassoon” for $38.1 million, making it the second most expensive manuscript ever sold. Discovered by the American Friends of the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, the manuscript was declared “the first and most complete Bible,” deriving its name from its distinguished collector, David Solomon Sassoon. Earlier this year, Suthu also sold the 700-year-old “Shem Tova Bible” for $7 million, underscoring the high demand for these rare cultural artifacts.
Meanwhile, Christie's also made a mark in the Judaica market, achieving high results for sales of Hebrew manuscripts, books, and silver artifacts. Highlights include the £225,000 sale of a German parcel-gilt bessamim tower in 2020, the $1,565,000 sale of a Rothschild Torah scroll in 2014 and a Mahzor manuscript written in Tuscany around 1490, which sold for millions of 1.9 in 2012.
