Biblical Hebrew Forum

[John Ronning <ronning AT xsinet.co.za>]

Walter wrote: 

> If I had to pick a site for Beth-Aven (Hebrew bet awen), I would be looking
> for something near et-Tell which might preserve the Hebrew root `wn, and
> that would be Deir Dibwan. 

Suggested by A. Schlatter in 1893, G.A. Smith, 1899, F.M.
Abel, 1938, W.F. Albright, 1963.

But note Joshua 18:12-13 - the northern boundary of
Benjamin:
"It began at the Jordan, then goes up to the shoulder north
of Jericho, then up through the hill country westward, and
ends at the wilderness of Beth Awen.  From there the
boundary passes south in the direction of Luz, to the
shoulder of Luz (which is Bethel)."

This description puts the wilderness of Beth Awen to the
north of Bethel, so it seems doubtful that Beth Awen itself
is a couple kilometers south of Bethel (which would seem to
make Bethel closer to the wilderness of Beth Awen than Beth
Awen is itself), which is what happens when you put Bethel
at Beitin.

It's also doubtful that the biblical writer would describe
Deir Dibwan as west of Michmash - they weren't going by map
grids and magnetic compass directions - Michmash is almost
straight south of Deir Dibwan.

Other locations suggested (none of which are both east and
north of Beitin and west of Michmash):
Kh. Haiyan, Burg Beitin, Burqa, Et-Tell, Tell-Maryam, Kh.
Tell el-`Askar.

So good luck finding Beth Awen with the presupposition that
Beitin = Bethel.  But if you're willing to question that
presupposition (for which there is no proof), and lend some
credence to eye witness reports about the location of
Bethel, then Bethel = El Bireh, Beth Awen = Beitin, and Ai =
Kh. el Maqatir looks like a good fit of all the data.

Regards,

John Ronning

  The problem of locating
Beth Awen is a nice example of how slow scholars can be to
question their presuppositions when the data don't match up.





Problem is, I don't know if any ancient ruins
> exist at Deir Dibwan of the Iron Age.  We are told that Beth-aven was west
> of Michmash. There is a track going up "somewhat westerly" (WNW) of Mukhmas
> to Dibwan. Looking at the map grids, from the vicinity of the Jerusalem
> grid, I note that Deir Dibwan is one grid west of Mukhmas. Some scholars
> prefer Tell el Miriam due west of Mukhmas for Beth-Awen, problem is, it
> isn't east of Bethel (Beitin). I note the map reveals the Deir Dibwan area
> is the end of forested or cultivated slopes, to the east is only barren
> wilderness. If  Beth-Aven/awen is Dibwan, perhaps the cultivated lands set
> it off as an area beyond which was the wilderness, "the wilderness of
> Beth-Aven" ? Beth-Aven is said to be east of Bethel and near Ai (Josh.7:2),
> but west of Michmash (1Sam 13:5).
> 
> These are only suggestions, I wouldn't want to bet my life on any of this
> speculation !
> 
> All the best,
> 
> Walter
> 
> Walter Reinhold Warttig Mattfeld
> Walldorf by Heidelberg
> Baden-Wurttemburg
> Germany
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Subject: Position of accent in Aramaic
> From: Pere Casanellas <pere.casanellas AT retemail.es>
> Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 14:24:25 +0200
> X-Message-Number: 6
> 
> Dear list members,
> 
> According to the literature I have at hand, accent was usually on the last
> syllable in ancient, official and middle Aramaic (including Palestinian and
> Galilean Aramaic), but it was usually on the penultimate syllable in late
> Aramaic (Samaritan, Syriac, Babylonian Aramaic) as it is in modern Aramaic
> (at least in the dialect of Ma'lula).
> 
> So I suppose that the following Aramaic words which appear in the New
> Testament should be pronounced with the accent on the last syllable: abba
> (Mar 14:36; Gal 4:6; in spite of the pronounciation in modern Hebrew),
> raqa/reqa (Mat 5:22), talitha (Mar 5:40), effatha (Mar 7:34), rabbi (Joh
> 1:38), rabbuni (Joh 20:16)... But that the following words should be
> pronounced with the accent on the penultimate syllable: sabakhtani (Mar
> 15:34), Marana (1Cor 16:22).
> 
> I would appreciate any comment on this. This point is specially important
> when transcribing the above words in languages such as Catalan or Spanish
> because in these languages the orthography of a word, by means of the
> presence or absence of the graphic accent, always indicates the accented
> syllabe (for example, in Catalan the word "f=E0brica" has the accent on the
> first syllable; "fabrica" has the accent on the penultimate syllable; and
> "fabric=E0" has the accent on the last syllable).
> 
> When pronouncing the names of the tractates of the Talmud or of Babylonian
> rabbis, I suppose it should be better to follow the pronounciation not of
> classic Aramaic but of babylonian Aramaic, which, at least according to
> Kutscher (EncJud, vol. 3, col. 276 and 280), had the accent usually on the
> penultimate syllable. Does anybody know which were the rules of the
> position of the accent in this dialect?
> 
> Should we pronounce, for example, with the accent on the penultimate
> syllable: Yoma, Bava Qama, Bava Metsi'a, Bava Batra, Rabbi, Abba bar Abba,
> Abba Arika, Johanan bar Nappaha, Rab Kahana, Jose ben Hanina, Rab Huna...
> And with the accent on the last syllable: Evel Rabbati (second word),
> 'Eruvin, Gittin...?
> 
> Thank you in adavence for your help.
> _______________________________________
> 
> Pere Casanellas
> E-mail: pere.casanellas AT retemail.es
>          pcasanel AT pie.xtec.es
> Phone (& fax): +34-934 179 000
> Carrer Anna Piferrer, 11
> E-08023 Barcelona
> CATALONIA-SPAIN
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Subject: Elism, Yahwism and Elohimism
> From: lmbarre AT earthlink.net
> Date: 15 Jul 2000 16:14:00 -0800
> X-Message-Number: 7
> 
> I am soliciting reactions to my understanding that the three main  and 
> earliest socio-religious
> trajectories behind the OT traditions are Yahwism (Judah), Elism (Israel) 
> and Elohimism
> (Levitical).  We therefore have J, E and P as three versions of Israel's 
> nation epic.
> 
> LMB
> 
> L.M. Barrre, Ph.D.
> Hebrew Bible
> Angelfire.com/ca2/AncientIsrael
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Subject: Learning Hebrew Syntax ( Teaching Self )
> From: "Tony Starks" <data7201 AT aol.com>
> Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 22:45:18
> X-Message-Number: 8
> 
> Hi to all out there,
> I'm trying to learn biblical Hebrew Syntax without the benefits of a
> classroom/teacher surroundings. I'm totally new to the study of Hebrew
> Syntax and need some help. Usually a teacher explains what syntax is and
> how it is used. Also, examples are given of syntax and then the teacher
> gives exercises, to cement the examples--(I guess).
> Now my question is, What can i do to learn Hebrew Syntax without the
> classroom environment? I know this is the best way to learn, but my
> circumstances do not permit it. Are there beginning, intermediate and
> advance books i can look that? Any detailed ideas on exercises i can do to
> learn the material? I know there are many experts on this list and syntax
> may be easy for you guys and girls, but i'm just starting. What ever help
> you can give me will be appreciated. By the way, there are many great
> teachers on this list. So, i can not say "i'm learning on my own." :-)
> THANK.
>      Tony Stark.
> 
> ---
> 
> END OF DIGEST
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