Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peter.r.kirk AT ntlworld.com>]

On 10/07/2003 06:57, Walter R. Mattfeld wrote:

> Peter Kirk wrote:
>
> "No, Walter, this does not follow. In the Genesis account, it is not
> Egyptians calling Potiphar a saris, it is the Hebrew author who is using
> a Hebrew word, chosen as the best equivalent in Hebrew for Potiphar's
> Egyptian title or rank. So we should look not for when the word might
> have come into use in Egyptian, but when it might have come into use in
> Hebrew."
>
> Dear Peter,
>
> When did Assyria come to dominate the land of Canaan and Israel/Judah,
> introducing the Assyrian titularly _sa resi_ to the Hebrew vocabulary ? By
> 721 BCE Israel is carried off into Exile by the Assyrians and Judah falls to
> the Babylonians in 586 BCE. It would appear to me that the 9th-6th centuries
> would be the most likely time frame for an Assyrian title for a "governor"
> to be introduced into the Hebrew vocabulary.
Now you are putting forward a sensible argument, based on the use of the 
word in Israel and not in Egypt. But the most you can prove by this kind 
of argument is that there was a final redaction of Genesis after this 
kind of date (already suggested by 36:31 etc), when possibly an archaic 
term was replaced by one in more current use.

> Professor Redford examined the history of Egyptian names appearing in
> Genesis, noting WHEN these names FIRST appeared in Egyptian records. The
> viewing audience may have an interest in his observations :
As discussions of historicity and dating are off topic for this list, 
and as mockery of those who according to you 'see themselves as 
"defenders of Holy Writ"' most certainly is, I will not comment further.

--
Peter Kirk
peter.r.kirk AT ntlworld.com
http://web.onetel.net.uk/~peterkirk/