Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Dave Washburn" <dwashbur AT nyx.net>]

On this subject it seems to me that we have one possible dating 
tool that hasn't been discussed yet, in Gen 47:26 where Joseph 
established a law regarding a fifth of everyone's crops going to 
Pharaoh, a law that continues "to this very day" heb. `ad hayyom 
hazzeh.  Has the question of such a law in ancient Egypt been 
investigated at all?  I'm also interested in studies of the phrase `ad 
hayyom hazzeh as a possible dating tool in other passages, 
particularly those mentioning place names (i.e. "it's called x to this 
very day").  If we take the phrase at face value, it seems to me that 
the durations of such laws and place names might give us, at 
least, latest possible dates for some of the texts before us.

Dave Washburn
http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.
                                   Psalm 86:11