Leaves from an Epigrapher's Notebook: Collected Papers in Hebrew and West Semitic Palaeography and Epigraphy


Book Description

Preliminary Material -- The Development of the Jewish Scripts -- The Scripts of the Dâliyeh (Samaria) Papyri -- The Palaeographical Dating of the Copper Document -- Palaeography and the Date of the Tell Faḫariyeh Bilingual Inscription -- A Papyrus Recording a Divine Legal Decision and the Root rḥq in Biblical and Near Eastern Legal Usage -- Ammonite Ostraca from Tell Ḥisbān -- Epigraphic Notes on the ʻAmmān Citadel Inscription -- Notes on the Ammonite Inscription from Tell Sīrān -- A Forgotten Seal -- The Seal of Miqnêyaw, Servant of Yahweh -- Epigraphic Notes on Hebrew Documents of the Eighth-Sixth Centuries B.C.: I. A New Reading of a Place Name in the Samaria Ostraca -- Epigraphic Notes on Hebrew Documents of the Eighth-Sixth Centuries B.C.: II. The Murabbaʻât Papyrus and the Letter Found near Yabneh-yam -- Epigraphic Notes on Hebrew Documents of the Eighth-Sixth Centuries B.C.: III. The Inscribed Jar Handles from Gibeon -- A Literate Soldier: Lachish Letter III -- Lachish Letter IV -- An Ostracon in Literary Hebrew from Ḥorvat ʻUza -- Judaean Stamps -- An Inscribed Weight from ʻArâg el-ʾEmîr -- The Hebrew Inscriptions from Sardis -- Inscriptions from Tel Seraʻ -- A Philistine Ostracon from Ashkelon -- The Cave Inscriptions from Ḫirbat Bayt Layy [Khirbet Beit Lei] -- The Stele Dedicated to Melqart by Ben-Hadad of Damascus -- Fragments of the Prayer of Nabonidus -- An Aramaic Inscription from Daskyleion -- A New Aramaic Stele from Taymāʾ -- An Aramaic Ostracon of the Third Century BCE from the Excavations in Jerusalem -- A Note on a Burial Inscription from Mount Scopus -- The Arrow of Suwar, Retainer of ʻAbday -- An Inscribed Arrowhead of the Eleventh Century BCE in the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem -- Newly Discovered Inscribed Arrowheads of the Eleventh Century BCE -- Newly Found Inscriptions in Old Canaanite and Early Phoenician Scripts -- A Phoenician Inscription from Idalion: Some Old and New Inscriptions Relating to Child Sacrifice -- The Phoenician Inscription from Brazil: A Nineteenth-Century Forgery -- An Interpretation of the Nora Stone -- Phoenicians in the West: The Early Epigraphic Evidence -- The Oldest Phoenician Inscription from Sardinia: The Fragmentary Stele from Nora -- Phoenician Incantations on a Plaque of the Seventh Century BCE from Arslan Tash in Upper Syria -- A Second Phoenician Incantation Text from Arslan Tash -- The Old Phoenician Inscription from Spain Dedicated to Hurrian Astarte -- The Pronominal Suffixes of the Third Person Singular in Phoenician -- An Ostracon in Greek Bearing the Names of the Gates of Idalion -- A Newly Published Inscription of the Persian Age from Byblos -- Jar Inscriptions from Shiqmona -- Two Offering Dishes with Phoenician Inscriptions from the Sanctuary of ʻArad -- An Old Canaanite Inscription Recently Found at Lachish -- An Inscribed Jar Handle from Raddana by Frank Moore Cross and David Noel Freedman -- An Archaic Inscribed Seal from the Valley of Aijalon [Soreq] -- Inscribed Arrowheads from the Period of the Judges by J. T. Milik and Frank Moore Cross -- The Evolution of the Proto-Canaanite Alphabet -- A Ugaritic Abecedary and the Origins of the Proto-Canaanite Alphabet -- The Origin and Early Evolution of the Alph.




Scribes and Scrolls at Qumran


Book Description

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls altered our understanding of the development of the biblical text, the history and literature of Second Temple Judaism, and the thought of the early Christian community. Questions continue to surround the relationship between the caves in which the scrolls were found and the nearby settlement at Khirbet Qumran. In Scribes and Scrolls at Qumran, Sidnie White Crawford combines the conclusions of the first generation of scrolls scholars that have withstood the test of time, new insights that have emerged since the complete publication of the scrolls corpus, and the much more complete archaeological picture that we now have of Khirbet Qumran. She creates a new synthesis of text and archaeology that yields a convincing history of and purpose for the Qumran settlement and its associated caves.




Studies in Jewish Babylonian Aramaic


Book Description

This book is the first wide-ranging study of the grammar of the Babylonian Aramaic used in the Talmud and post-Talmudic Babylonian literature to be published in English in a century.




The Origins and Development of the Waw-consecutive: Northwest Semitic Evidence from Ugarit to Qumran


Book Description

Preliminary Material -- Early Extra-biblical Evidence -- The Waw-Consecutive in Hebrew Prose -- The Waw-Consecutive in Qumran Literature -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index of Texts -- Index of Authors -- Index of Subjects.




Write That They May Read


Book Description

Write That They May Read is a collection of essays written in honor of our mentor, friend, and fellow scholar, Professor Alan R. Millard. Respectful of his contribution to our understanding of writing and literacy in the ancient biblical world, all the essays deal with some aspect of this issue, ranging in scope from archeological artifacts that need to be "read," to early evidence of writing in Israel's world, to the significance of reading and writing in the Bible, including God's own literacy, to the production of books in the ancient world, and the significance of metaphorical branding of God's people with his name. The contributors are distributed among Professor Millard's peers and colleagues in a variety of institutions, his own students, and students of his students. They represent a variety of disciplines including biblical archeology, Egyptology, Assyriology, Hebrew and other Northwest Semitic texts, and the literature of the Bible, and reside in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Germany. Write That They May Read contains contributions by: Section 1: Artifacts and Minimalist Literacy 1. "See That You May Understand": Artifact Literacy--The Twin-cup Libation Vessels from Khirbet Qeiyafa Gerald Klingbeil, Research Professor of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Andrews University Martin Klingbeil, Professor of Biblical Studies and Archaeology, and Associate Director, Institute of Archaeology Southern Adventist University 2. Ketiv-Qere: The Writing and Reading of EA 256 and Its Place in Reflecting the Realia of Power and Polity in the LBA-IA Golan and Peripheries Timothy M. Crow, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Akron; Professional Fellow Old Testament, Ashland Theological Seminary 3. Another Inscribed Arrowhead in the British Museum Terrence C. Mitchell†. Former Keeper of Western Asiatic Antiquities, The British Museum, London, England 4. Earliest Literary Allusions to Homer and the Pentateuch from Ischia in Italy and Jerusalem Paul J. N. Lawrence, Translation Consultant, Summer Institute of Linguistics International 5. The Etymology of Hebrew lōg and the Identity of Shavsha the Scribe Yoshiyuki Muchiki, Professor of Biblical Theology, Japan Bible Seminary, Tokyo Section 2: Artifacts and Official Literacy 6. The Writing/Reading of the Stone Tablet Covenant in the Light of the Writing/Reading/Hearing of the Silver Tablet Treaty Gordon Johnston, Professor of Old Testament, Dallas Theological Seminary 7. For Whose Eyes? The Divine Origins and Function of the Two Tablets of the Israelite Covenant Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Wheaton College 8. Write That They May Judge? Applying Written Law in Biblical Israel Jonathan Burnside, Professor of Biblical Law, Law School, University of Bristol. 9. "And Samuel Wrote in the Book" (1 Samuel 10:25) and His Apology in First Samuel 1-15 Wolfgang Ertl, Dozent am Bibelseminar Bonn, Bornheim/Germany; Associate Professor of Old Testament, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary 10. "For the one who will read it aloud will be able to run with it" (Habakkuk 2:2c) David Toshio Tsumura, Professor of Old Testament, Japan Bible Seminar Section 3: The Rise of Literary Literacy 11. The History and Pre-History of the Hebrew Language in the West Semitic Literary Tradition Richard E. Averbeck, Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 12. Divine Action in the Hebrew Bible: "Borrowing" from Ancient Near Eastern Cultures and "Inspiration" C. John Collins, Professor of Old Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary 13. Encoding and Decoding Culture Jens Bruun Kofoed, Professor of Old Testament, Fjellhaug International University College, 14. No Books, No Authors: Literary Production in a Hearing-Dominant Culture John H. Walton, Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College 15. The Discovery of the Book of the Law in 2 Kings 22:8-10 in the Light of the Literary Renaissance of the Eighth to Seventh Centuries in the Ancient Near East James K. Hoffmeier, Emeritus Professor of Old Testament and Near Eastern Archaeology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 16. "Read This Torah" (Deuteronomy 31:11): The Importance and Function of Israel's Primary Scripture in Early Spiritual Growth David C. Deuel, Academic Dean Emeritus, The Master's Academy International 17. What is a "Messianic Text"? The Uruk Prophecy and the Old Testament Ernest C. Lucas, Vice-Principal Emeritus, Bristol Baptist College, UK 18. "Joshua 24 and Psalm 81 as Intertexts" Cheryl Eaton, PhD Candidate, Trinity College, Bristol 19. "Much Study is a Weariness of the Flesh": To Read or not to Read in Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 Knut Heim, Professor of Old Testament, Denver Seminary Section 4: Metaphorical Literacy 20. Belonging to YHWH: Real and Imagined Inscribed Seals in Biblical Tradition Carmen Joy Imes, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Prairie College, Three Hills, Alberta 21. Reading the Eye: Optic Metaphorical Agency in Deuteronomic Law A. Rahel Wells, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, Andrews University 5. Epilogue 22. Literacy and Postmodern Fallacies Richard S. Hess, Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Denver Seminary Abstract: 23. In Praise of a Venerable Scribe: A Tribute to Alan R. Millard Edwin M. Yamauchi, Professor of History Emeritus, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio [with contributions from Daniel I. Block and Paul J. N. Lawrence]




An Eye for Form”


Book Description

At the first meeting of his class in Northwest Semitic Epigraphy at Harvard, Frank Cross would inform students that one of the things each of them needed was an “eye for form.” By this, he meant the ability to recognize typological or evolutionary change in letters and scripts. Frank, like his teacher William Foxwell Albright, was a master of typological method. In fact, typology was the dominant feature of his epigraphic work, from the origins of the alphabet to the development of the scripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Indeed, he has written about the importance of typology itself. Because Frank Cross has so dominated the study of the ancient Near East in the last 60 years, Aufrecht once asked him what he considered his primary field of study to be. Without hesitation, he said, “Epigraphy.” It seems, therefore, that the field that he loved and to which he contributed so much is an appropriate subject for this Festschrift in his honor, which is being presented by his colleagues, friends, and former students. Included are an appreciation by Peter Machinist and a contribution by the late Pierre Bordreuil.




Transitivity and Object Marking in Biblical Hebrew


Book Description

Based on author's dissertation (doctoral--Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 2012).




T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Second Temple Judaism Volume One


Book Description

The T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Second Temple Judaism provides a comprehensive reference resource of over 600 scholarly articles aimed at scholars and students interested in Judaism of the Second Temple Period. The two-volume work is split into four parts. Part One offers a prolegomenon for the contemporary study and appreciation of Second Temple Judaism, locating the discipline in relation to other relevant fields (such as Hebrew Bible, Rabbinics, Christian Origins). Beginning with a discussion of terminology, the discussion suggests ways the Second Temple period may be described, and concludes by noting areas of study that challenge our perception of ancient Judaism. Part Two presents an overview of respective contexts of the discipline set within the broad framework of historical chronology corresponding to a set of full-colour, custom-designed maps. With distinct attention to primary sources, the author traces the development of historical, social, political, and religious developments from the time period following the exile in the late 6th century B.C.E. through to the end of the Bar Kokhba revolt (135 C.E.). Part Three focuses specifically on a wide selection of primary-source literature of Second Temple Judaism, summarizing the content of key texts, and examining their similarities and differences with other texts of the period. Essays here include a brief introduction to the work and a summary of its contents, as well as examination of critical issues such as date, provenance, location, language(s), and interpretative matters. The early reception history of texts is also considered, and followed by a bibliography specific to that essay. Numerous high-resolution manuscript images are utilized to illustrate distinct features of the texts. Part Four addresses topics relevant to the Second Temple Period such as places, practices, historical figures, concepts, and subjects of scholarly discussion. These are often supplemented by images, maps, drawings, or diagrams, some of which appear here for the first time. Copiously illustrated, carefully researched and meticulously referenced, this resource provides a reliable, up-to-date and complete guide for those studying early Judaism in its literary and historical settings.




Akkadian Loanwords in Biblical Hebrew


Book Description

Akkadian Loanwords in Biblical Hebrew is an in-depth examination of Hebrew words that are of Akkadian origin or transmitted via Akkadian into the Hebrew lexicon.




The Verbal Tense System in Late Biblical Hebrew Prose


Book Description

This study offers a synchronic and diachronic account of the Biblical Hebrew verbal tense system during the Second Temple period, based on the books of Esther, Daniel, and Ezra and Nehemiah, along with the non-synoptic parts of Chronicles.