Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Ian Hutchesson <mc2499 AT mclink.it>]

Brian wrote:

>Would you agree with the following: (please critique what is wrong with this
>succession scheme)
>
>1. Serabit el Khadem, Sinai, Proto-Canaanite, 1500 BCE
>2. Proto-Canaanite, 13-12th century BCE
>3. Ahiram Sarcophagus, Phoenician, 1000 BCE

(The date of the inscription is still up for grabs.)

>4. Gezer Calender, Hebrew, end of 10th century BCE

Following Garbini it is Phoenician, not Hebrew.

>5. Mesha Stele, Hebrew script  mid. 9th century BCE

Do we have any way of knowing that the name "Hebrew script" is not a misnomer?

>6. Kilamu inscription, Phoenician, last third of 9th century BCE
>7. Siloam inscription, Hebrew, late 8th century BCE

(This date has been questioned by Philip Davies et al. Davies thinks it is
much later. There has been some debate on the matter in [shudder] B.A.R.)

>8. Hebrew seals, 7th century BCE
>9. Hebrew ostraca, Arad, early 6th century BCE
>10 Elephantine Papyrus, Aramaic, late 5th century BCE
>11 Leviticus Scroll, Qumran, Paleo-Hebrew, late 2nd century BCE
>12 Isaiah Scroll, I, Qumran, square Hebrew script, late 2nd century BCE
>
>This may point to 1500 as a starting point? Or not...

I don't see what Proto-Canaanite has directly to do with Hebrew.


Ian