Biblical Hebrew Forum

[dwashbur AT nyx.net]

On 14 May 2009 at 23:36, Yitzhak Sapir wrote:

> Karl's claims are further elaborated in that message.
> 
> "the title and author were added to the end of a document, instead of at
> the front as is modern practice (since at least the first millennium
> BC to now"
> 
> Accordingly, Karl argues, if one sees a document with the title and
> author at the end, it suggests a very early date for that document.
> The colophon in the LXX of Esther is an example of the title and
> author being added at the end.  It is clearly well into the first millenium
> BCE.  It therefore suggests that if someone sees a document with the
> author and title at the end it is not necessarily early.  This undermines
> Karl's method.

The approach deals with much more than just title and author.  To get the 
full idea one 
needs to check out P. J. Wiseman, "New Discoveries in Babylonia About 
Genesis" (London: 
Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1946) where the idea was first presented in a more 
or less full 
form.  There's a summary of the whole approach at

http://www.biblemysteries.com/library/genesis.htm

The lectures Karl remembers were probably based on Wiseman's work.  I read 
the book in 
the early 80's and it made a lot of sense.  Your reduction of it to nothing 
more than a 
colophon of title and author doesn't do it any kind of justice.

Dave Washburn

Ibuprofen, Hebuprofen, Shebuprofen, Theybuprofen, wouldn't you like to be a 
profen too?