Biblical Hebrew Forum

[dwashbur AT nyx.net]

On 10 Oct 2008 at 7:04, George Athas wrote:


> Secondly, if "Hebron" as a proper noun does not appear until late, all that 
> tells us is that the author of the patriarchal narratives lived at a late 
> date -- certainly much later than the Amarna period.

This is true even if we allow for some later modification of place names, 
such as "Dan" in 
Gen 14:14, which wasn't called Dan until the time of the judges.  I am 
inclined to agree with 
Jim that the patriarchal narratives are probably based on even more ancient 
records, and 
with Karl I believe that the bulk of the Pentateuch was written by Moses, but 
we have to 
allow for modifications by later editors, especially in the case of place 
names.  A good 
modern example would be the whole Leningrad/St. Petersburg matter in Russia.  
If the 
name Hebron doesn't appear south of Jerusalem until later, then either the 
author or an 
editor of the narratives changed the place-name in the text to Hebron so 
readers would 
have a better idea of where the events took place.  All other things being 
equal, it's a much 
simpler explanation.

Dave Washburn
"I'll hold the nail.  And when I nod my head, you hit it with the hammer."