Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Ian Hutchesson <mc2499 AT mclink.it>]

At 09.32 02/01/00 +0200, Jonathan D. Safren wrote:
>Ian Hutchesson wrote:
>
>> Jonathan D. Safren, responding to James West wrote:
>>
>> >Notice I wasn't talking about the United Monarchy (David and
>> >Solomon), for which we have no external documentation, but about the
>> externally
>> >documented Kingdoms of Israel and Judah from the 9th century on.
>>
>> Isn't this painting the situation in hues that are not appropriate? We have
>> documentation of the Kingdom of Israel for a stretch in the ninth century
>> and we have documentation of the Kingdom of Judah from the end of the
eighth
>> century on. This is of course consistent with a possible rise of a state
>> Judah on the demise of Israel at the hands of the Assyrians.
>>
>
>Doesn't change the picture, Ian. Where are the royal inscriptions from 
>whatever period?

Such a question is worthwhile when contemplating the possibility that there
were literary texts written in Palestine before the Second Temple period.

As to the two kingdoms, I'd be happy with archaeological evidence of any
sort for a royal residence which is where one usually finds the richest
finds in the ANE. No palaces, no tombs, no royal inscriptions (but a
hellovalotta locally produced scarabs from all periods down to the Persian
that usually bear designs rather than inscriptions).


Cheers,


Ian