Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jonathan D. Safren" <yonsaf AT beitberl.ac.il>]

Brian Tucker 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
> 4. Gezer Calender, Hebrew, end of 10th century BCE
> 5. Mesha Stele, Hebrew script  mid. 9th century BCE
> 6. Kilamu inscription, Phoenician, last third of 9th century BCE
> 7. Siloam inscription, Hebrew, late 8th century BCE
> 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...
>
> --

The alphabet was known and used at Ugarit, though in cuneiform. Wouldn't you 
have to
fit that in somewhere?
Sincerely,
--
Jonathan D. Safren
Dept. of Biblical Studies
Beit Berl College
Beit Berl Post Office
44905 Israel
Tel. 972-9-7476397
Fax: 972-9-7476398