Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Peter Kirk"<peter_kirk AT sil.org>]

I can't prove it. But the mentions of Babylon as well as Ur Kasdim in 
Genesis 11 are evidence pointing in that direction. Yes, I followed 
the earlier discussion, and concluded that we simply cannot know for 
certain. And of course traditions and legends from Babylon could 
easily have made their way to northern Mesopotamia or even all the way 
to Canaan long before the exile (as conventionally understood).

Peter Kirk


______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: Re: SV: Gilgamesh
Author:  <yonsaf AT beitberl.beitberl.ac.il> at Internet
Date:    18/01/2000 21:14


Peter Kirk wrote:

> Good evidence that the early part of Genesis is based on Sumerian 
> traditions brought to Canaan from southern Mesopotamia by the
> Patriarchs. Don't forget that the exile was not the only point of 
> contact between Jewish and Mesopotamian cultures.

[JSafren] Prove that the Patriarchs came to Canaan from Southern Mesopotamia 
and
 not
from Northern. The Biblical and extra-Biblical evidence is all for Northern - 
am
d that
includes the name of Abraham's city, which is not Ur but Ur Kasdim.  And see 
my 
long
discussions with NPL on this list and on ANE,

Yours,
Jonathan D. Safren