Biblical Hebrew Forum

[JimStinehart AT aol.com]

Bill Rea:
 
You wrote:  “If I understand Jim's line of argument he is claiming that there
 is physical evidence for the Genesis stories but that he alone in
 the world can interpret it properly. This, of course, is the problem.
 The physical evidence has to be clearer than that or it's not
 really worth much.”
 
On the contrary, I keep setting forth, very openly, arguments that suggest a 
mid-14th century BCE composition date for the Patriarchal narratives.  For 
example, as to the identity of the four attacking rulers in chapter 14 of 
Genesis, I see “Amrapel” as being the actual name of the most prominent 
brother of 
Aziru, the iniquitous Amorite of Amurru in the mid-14th century BCE, and as 
such as being an apt nickname for Aziru.  As to Joseph’s Egyptian name, I see 
the 
Egyptian phrase “pa nTr” in the middle of that name, which is an Egyptian 
phrase virtually unknown in Biblical times except in the mid-14th century BCE.
 
I have been wisely advised by the Moderators not to repeat my old arguments 
and not to make non-linguistic arguments.  But let me just say that as to 
every 
single story in the Patriarchal narratives that I have discussed on this 
b-Hebrew list, which covers a fair share of the text to this point, I have 
always 
related every story in the text explicitly to the well-documented secular 
history of the mid-14th century BCE.
 
Rather than claiming that I alone can interpret the evidence properly, I am 
specifically asserting the exact opposite:  anyone who is willing to look 
objectively at the evidence I am setting forth on the b-Hebrew list should be 
able 
to see that the entirety of the Patriarchal narratives is fully redolent of 
the mid-14th century BCE, and of no other era.
 
As to “physical evidence”, the Amarna Letters are physical evidence, and 
they fit the received text of the Patriarchal narratives perfectly.  
“Abimilki of 
Surru” in the Amarna Letters matches beautifully to “Abimelek of Sur” in the 
Patriarchal narratives, as each is constantly jousting over contested access 
to valuable water wells in an otherwise wealthy locale.
 
I make no claim whatsoever that I alone can interpret this evidence.  It’s 
there for everyone to see.  There’s no way that four southern Hebrews in the 
mid-1st millennium BCE, namely JEPD, could come up with “Amrapel”, “pa nTr” 
and 
“Abimelek of Sur” right out of the Amarna Letters and Akhenaten’s Great Hymn 
to the Aten.  No way.  There’s your evidence.  Out in the open.  For all to 
see.
 
Jim Stinehart
Evanston, Illinois




**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.      
(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/
2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)