Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Ian Hutchesson <mc2499 AT mclink.it>]

At 09.52 01/02/99 +0200, Jonathan D. Safren wrote:
>I think I have already pointed out in a previous posting that the
>origins of the Northern tribes and the Southern tribes were different to
>begin with, that the etymology of Benjamin indicates that it was once
>the southernmost tribe, and that at the time the Song of Deborah was
>written, Judah and Simeon were not counted among the Tribes of Israel.

The name bani-yamini has long been associated with the same-named group of
nomads who were causing a lot of trouble around Mari in the 1600s BCE. What
the "south" was referring to is not indicated in the OT/HB.


Ian