Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Brian Tucker <music AT riverviewcog.org>]

Lest I be accused of being unscholarly and using the Bible as a
prooftext here is my current understanding of the linguistic origins of
Hebrew (see chart below). Also, the Anchor Bible articles are good as
far as they go. My question concerning Shem, relates specifically to the
first time the term is used. Does someone know of an earlier use of the
term, why would one attach semitic to the discription of this language
family otherwise. Can someone suggest a better name? Also, there are
some questions on the first post that I would like to see answered by
someone...

Origin of northwest semitic languages

Amorite (2300-1000 B.C.E.) Oldest known NW semitic language. Spoken by
the Amurru from the area of Mari. (Chart divides into two groups -
Proto-Canaanite (directly below) and Proto-Aramaic inscriptions (below
after Deir 'Alla Inscription)).
|
Proto-Canaanite Inscriptions (Shechem, Gezer, Lackish (2000-1400 BCE)
|
Serabit el-Khadem (Sinai) (circa 1500 BCE)
|
Canaanite Group
|
Byblos dialect of Phoenician (1500 BCE)
Ugaritic (1400-1300 BCE)
Phoenician (1000 BCE - 500 CE)
Phoenician-Punic (1000 BCE - 200 CE N.Africa)
Ashdodite dialect of Phoenician
Canaanite ( )
Hebrew (1800 BC - present)
Ammonite (800-500 BCE inscriptions)
Moabite (850-500 BCE/835 BCE King Mesha Inscription
Edomite (600-400 BCE inscriptions)
Samaritan (700 BCE - present)
Deir 'Alla inscriptions (700 BCE)

END GROUP

Proto-Aramaic Inscriptions (1400 BCE)
|
Aramaic Group
|
Old Aramaic (1000 BCE-100 CE)
................................Ya'udic
................................Hatra
|
Imperial Aramaic (600-300 BCE)
Biblical: Daniel & Ezra
|
(Two Groups)
West Aramaic....................................East Aramaic
Palestinian (Talmud, Targumim)..........Babylonian (Talmud)
Nabataean (200 BCE-).....................Syriac (Peshitta)

Samaritan (400 CE-).........................Mandaean
Palmyrene (100 BCE-300 CE)..........Urmia
Melkite Palestinian (500-800 CE)......Zakho/Jabal Aram.

--
Brian Tucker
15633 Pennsylvania
Riverview, Michigan 48192
jbtucker AT metroshores.net
music AT riverviewcog.org