Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Ishinan" <ishinan AT comcast.net>]

Dear Jim,

In your posts, you have often alluded to Abdi-H.eba *(1), the local ruler of 
Jerusalem, in connection with the Hurrians.

In my opinion, Abdi H.eba has nothing to do with the Hurrians.  Further, 
Abdi H.eba, which has been mentioned in line two of the Amarna Tablet 286 * 
(2),  is a simple case of onomastics theophory. The following Abdi H.eba 
name is derived from the Semitic word Abd (= "obedient" or "servant") added 
to the name of the Ancient Egyptian god of inundation, H.eba. Theophoric 
names were exceedingly common in the Ancient Near East and especially in 
Semitic names.

It makes more sense to find H.eba (the name of an Ancient Egyptian god) in a 
personal name, especially in view of the relationship between the vassal 
ruler, Abdi H.eba, who owed his position to the grace of his suzerain the 
Egyptian Pharaoh.

To know more about the Egyptian god of inundation H.eba, see: Revue 
Égyptologique publiée sous la direction de Heinrich Karl Brugsch, François 
Joseph Chabas, et Eugène Révillout, Paris, 1880. pages 14 & 17.


A JPEG showing the meaning of the name of the Egyptian god H.eba has been 
forwarded to you for your personal edification.  Any member who desires a 
copy, please send me your request in private. I'll be more than glad to 
oblige.

Best regards,

Ishinan Ishibashi

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* (1)  H. = A voiceless pharyngeal fricative consonantal sound in Ancient 
Egyptian corresponding to Akkadian = kh.
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* (2) Amarna Tablet 286:

Knudtzon, J. A. Die El-Amarna-Tafeln. Vorderasiatische Bibliotek, vol. 2. 
Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs, 1907-1915 (repr. Aalen: O. Zeller, 1964).

Transliteration:
1- um-ma m Abdi-H.eba ardu-ka-ma
2- 7-ta-a-an ù 7-ta-a-an am-qut-mi
3- ma-an-na ip-Sá-ti a-na Sarri bêli-ia

Translated from the Akkadian as :

1- Message of Abdi-H.eba, your servant:
2- seven times and seven times I fall down.
3- What have I done to the king, my lord?
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