Biblical Hebrew Forum

[JimStinehart AT aol.com]

Karl: 
You wrote:  “Where )BL, alternate spelling )WBL, is  clearly defined, it 
refers to a
watercourse, such as an irrigation ditch or  stream bed. It has nothing to do
with pastureland (except to water it). With  this being the case, your
equation makes no sense.” 
The word )WBL, and its  variant )BL, only appear in the late Book of Daniel, 
and they are talking about  a river way out in Mesopotamia.  Daniel 8: 2, 3, 
6 
 Most  scholars do not see this word as being the same as )BL that is used 12 
times in  the Bible as the first word in Canaanite geographical place  names. 
)WBL and its shortened  form )BL, meaning “river”, may be related to YBL, 
which means “watercourse” or  “stream”.  Isaiah 30: 25;  44: 4 
By sharp contrast, the  Canaanite word )BL is not talking about a river or a 
stream, but rather is  talking about “excellent pastureland” or “meadow”, 
such as Abel-Beth-Maacah or  the Sorek Valley.  That Canaanite  word )BL is 
the 
same as the Egyptian letters JBR, which reference the Elah  Valley, the Sorek 
Valley, the Aijalon Valley, and Abel-Beth-Maacah on the  Thutmosis III list.  
JBR/)BL is  referencing a meadowland, not a river.  
Jim  Stinehart 
Evanston,  Illinois
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