Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jack Kilmon" <jkilmon AT historian.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "B. M. Rocine" <brocine AT twcny.rr.com>
To: "Biblical Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT franklin.metalab.unc.edu>
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 2:48 PM
Subject: [b-hebrew] RE: joash transcription


> From Ken:
> > I compared the two transcriptions Jim mentioned, and I'm puzzled by
> > parts of Jack's translation. Is anyone else willing to hazard a
> > translation? In B-Hebrew transliteration (and * marks a word boundary),
> > the inscription appears to read,
>
> I'm game, Ken.  It sounds like a dedication plaque:
>
> >
> > XZYHW * M...
> [A]xazyahu k[ing]...
>
> > HDH W)($ * )T * ...
> [Ye]hudah And I made [the]...
>
> > H * K)$R * NML)H * ND
> ... according as was given(filled) the dona-
>
> > BT * LB )$ * B)RC * WBMD
> -tion-cache of the heart of each man of (developed)country and wilder-
>
> > BR * WBKL * (RY * YHDH * L
> -ness and all the cities of Yehudah to...
>
> > TT * KSP * HQD$M LRB *
> give silver to multiply the holy (things),
>
> > LQNT * )BN * MXCB * WBR
> to aquire hewn stone and juni-
>
> > $M * WNX$T * )DM L($T *
> pers and the brass of Edom to make
>
> > BML)KH * B)MNH * W)($
> by labor faithfully.  And I did
>
> > )T * BDQ * HBYT * WHQRT S
> the repair of the house and framework a-
>
> > BB * W)T * HYC( * WH$BK
> -round and the extension and the lattice-
>
> > M * WHLWLM * WHGR(T * WH
> -s and the staircases and the gutter and the-
>
> > DLTT * WHYH * HYM * HZH
> -doors.  And this day will become
>
> > L(DT * KY TCLX * HML)KH
> a testimony for the work will prosper.
>
> > YCW * YHWH * )T * (MW * BBRKH
> So commands YHWH his people with blessing.


Mine was just a beginning effort upon which I thought everyone would improve
and tweak.  The palaeo-Hebrew/Phoenician fonts are available for all at my
website, http://www.historian.net/files.htm

The tablet is a further example of a big problem in archaeology in Israel
and important artifacts.  Like the "James Ossuary," I believe the Joash
tablet is genuine.  Unfortunately, the odds are that any artifact important
to history is more likely to be found by untrained and unmotivated people
than by archaeologists.  Examples are the temple pomegranate and the ben
Neriya seal.  Obviously a provenanced artifact is going to eliminate the
inevitable "It's a hoax!" hue and cry to a great extent, although it didn't
prevent it for the Tal Dan Inscription.  It is the palaeographic and
philological aspects that draw the most comment simply because there just
isn't enough exemplary epigraphy from that time period to give us a handle
on the orthography and idiom, like why doesn't bytdwd have a divider?  Does
bdq mean damage, repair, gap, breach or leak?  How often are absolute or
construct states used?  How many more pieces of epigraphy are in private
hands in Israel where the finders/owners are reluctant to come foreward?
Perhaps some kind of amnesty/reward system may bring a lot "out of the
woodwork" with even greater reward if the finder reveals a provenance
leading to more discoveries.  Of course, a policy like this would work best
in a peaceful theatre.

shlama amkon
Jack