Elephantine Papyri: Sanballat and Johanan

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.

Where it was found

Elephantine Island, Aswan, EgyptView on OpenStreetMap

Sources

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

Verdict history

• Nov 10, 2026ConfirmedInitial verdict.