Biblical Hebrew Forum

[David P Donnelly <davedonnelly1 AT juno.com>]

Are the 4 Hebrew letters of the Tetragrammaton consonants or vowels?

First-century priest and historian Falvius Josephus writes about the
sacred Name 
that was engraved on the headpiece of the high priest: 
>>>
A mitre also of fine linen encompassed his head, 
which was tied by a blue riband, 
about which there was another golden crown, 
in which was engraven the sacred name [of God]; 
it consists of four vowels.
>>>
Wars of the Jews, Book 5, chapter 5

It is well known that the Yod and the He and the Waw/Vav 
are all used as vowel-letters in the un-pointed Hebrew Text.
 
However, 
many sources say that vowel-letters were not used until about 1000
B.C.-900 B.C.
Is their any solid evidence 
that the Yod and the He and the Waw/Vav were not being used as vowel
letters 
when Genesis 2:4 was first written?

Dave Donnelly 
>From dwashbur AT nyx.net  Sat Sep 13 12:00:45 2003
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From: Dave Washburn <dwashbur AT nyx.net>
To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Scroll fragment Genesis 22 commentary reported
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 10:00:22 -0600
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Since the article doesn't say, do we have any idea which fragment he's ta=
lking=20
about?

On Saturday 13 September 2003 05:46, Stephen Goranson, PH.D. wrote:
> apology for cross-posting:
>
> An article today 13 Sept. in the Fort Worth Star Telegram quotes Hanan
> Eshel on a fragment on display now in Texas.
>
> [Quote:]
> In one fragment, Eshel believes he may have discovered an ancient
> commentary on Chapter 22 of Genesis that contradicts the traditional
> interpretation of God ordering Abraham to sacrifice his son Issac. In o=
ther
> words, Eshel said, he now believes that God may not have asked Abraham =
to
> sacrifice his son.
>
> "God called Isaac 'My son,' not 'your son,' " Eshel said. "This is the
> first time we have found this distinction." [End quote.]
>
> http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/living/religion/6753955.htm
>
> On the exhibit, see
> http://www.deadseaexhibit.com
> (Thanks to Matthew Hamilton for bibliography.)
>
> It may be that this refers to the fragment pictured at the top there, a=
nd
> in "selected highlights."
>
> Has anyone seen the exhibit or the "printed program guide" ($10)?
>
> best,
> Stephen Goranson
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> b-hebrew mailing list
> b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
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--=20
Dave Washburn
http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
"God does a lot of things in the Psalms
that He can't get away with in systematic theology."