Biblical Hebrew Forum

[rob acosta <robacosta AT hotmail.com>]

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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