A seal with the Hebrew inscription “belonging to Shema, servant of Jeroboam” was excavated at Megiddo in the area of the gatehouse or palace of the late 10th century BC. The seal is made of jasper, was decorated with a carved lion, and painted on either side of the lion with an ankh and palm tree. Originally it was mounted on a ring of metal, but was damaged when the city was attached and destroyed by Pharaoh Shoshenq I.
After its excavation, it was lost or stolen, but fortunately it had been carefully photographed. Stratigraphic evidence indicates the seal is from the 10th century BC and the reign of King Jeroboam I, the former warrior who became king (ca. 931-910 BC).
Historical Note
Jeroboam son of Nebat had rebelled against Solomon, fled to Egypt, returned after Rehoboam was crowned, and was soon made king by the northern tribes, becoming first king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Unfortunately, he led Israel into idolatry by erecting forbidden stone altars with golden calf idols in Dan and Bethel.
(See 1 Kings 11:40-12:33; 2 Kings 14:23-15:1; 23:15; Hosea 1:1; and Amos 1:1; 7:9-11)
