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  • From: rob acosta <robacosta AT hotmail.com>
  • To: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Mighty
  • Date: Sun, 22 May 2011 11:27:35 -0600


Jim

My comments were in response to you numerous statements about the supposedly
poor conditions of the SouthernLevant as compared to the north and your use
of this supposed contrast to support your theories as to why Abraham livedin
the northern half of Canaan.If you had left your arguments as simply a matter
of linguistics, that would be one thing.But your assertions about the
conditionsof the south versus the north, as though you were an
Archaeobotanist on the level of the great Ofer Bar Yosef is what prompted my
response. Such demonstrably false assertions cannot be left to stand
uncontested.

You wrote: "It is unlikely that the city of Hebron, by contrast, ever had a
grove of oak trees."
The question is, on what is such a statement, and many more like it, based?
Not on science, that is for certain. Let's set the story straight once and
for all. Anyone of the readers of this site can verify these facts for
themselves and don'thave to endure the misinformation of Mr Stinehart.. I
suggest you read: " Distribution and Extinction of Ungulates during the
Holocene of the Southern Levant" byElla Tsahar Ido Izhaki , Simcha
Lev-Yadun, , Guy Bar-Oz
Available online.Play close attention to the charts: To sum very briefly
Locations of ungulates, hoofed animals, from the Bronze age are studied.
You will see, Hippopotamus thrived in the Southern Levant during the time
of Abraham as far inland as near Tel Masos and south of Gaza as well as up
the Palestine coast to Haifa. Hippos, require deep, slow moving rivers and
abundant plant life to thrive...both were provided by an obviously lushforest
fed by the waters of the hill country, forests which you have denied existed.
Next, look at the charts for locations of hartebeest and the incredible,
wondrous Aurochs,(wild cattle) which at the time stoodbetween 6 and 7 feet
tall at the shoulders. They were swift and aggressive making it little wonder
they were consideredto be gods by the locals. The greatest concentration of
all these animals was in the Southern Levant. Add to this mix lions, bears,
panthers, hyenas, wart hogsetc. This incredible assemblage of wildlife
required a lush ecosystem to support them, and archaeobotanists have
determined thepredominant tree in this forest was the oak.(five varieties)
Oaks live to at least 850 years.. is also a no brainer that with oak as the
predominate tree of the Mediterranean Forest there would be great oaks north
and south in Canaan. We can therefore dismiss your claims about no oaks in
Hebron and in fact every other claim you have made regarding thetrees in
Canaan and Edom. This is not amateur guessing based on long outdated views,
as you do so frequently, but the conclusions of University Level studies.
During the Bronze Age the southern Levant was what scientists call an
"African Echo"...as rich and as lush as any nationalpark in sub saharan
Africa. You claim Hebron was "modest" and that Abraham used up his wealth
here. Only if he were an incompetent fool. The point again being Abraham
did not make his decision on where to go based the Aijulon supposedly being a
morefertile, desirable place than the south. That is an outdated, uninformed
view.
Two closing points. By examination of the pollen core samples of soil
dating back to 3000 BC and earlier archaeobotanisthave determined the hill
country just north of Jerusalem underwent rapid deforestation beginning about
1400 BC thruabout 1100BC.
At the same time you will read in the Ungulates piece, a great Extinction
of the larger ungulates, the hippos and aurochsbegan about 1300 BC through
about 800BC.
Both incidents indicate the infiltration of a large, non indigenous group
into Canaan which coincides with the invasion of the Hebrews of Joshua's
time. This is physical, scientific evidence of an invading group,
restricted to a specific time period that is not acknowledged by some.(some
claim the Hebrews were indigenous peoples who just took over Canaan over
time. The record of deforestation tells a different story)Unfortunately many
mainstream "authorities" fail to examine the conclusions in archaeobotany,
palynology and zooarchaeology.
Jim, confine your arguments, such as they are, to linguistics, which is
quite obviously subjective in many instances.No more comments about the
"rugged" southern levant or some amateurish comments of the altitude of the
hills aboutHebron. These are painful to read they are so misinformed. Don't
continue to misinform others, particularly young people, by claiming to bean
authority on ancient history, to know where oaks could and couldn't grow (you
made some claim about few oaks in the shephelaof all things)or even the
Amarna letters and your confused and long outdated chronology of of Aziru.
Much has been discovered and long accepted conclusions revised in just the
past 10 years. For everyone else I hope this info on Ungulates and the true,
wondrous condition of ancient Palestine...south as well as north, will be of
some use in future discussions and that they will no longer be cluttered by
false claims.
Rob Acosta




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