I've actually never been asked that particular question, but if I was to be
asked, and since I'm not an expert on Hurrian toponyms, I’d tell the student
to look it up. HALOT would obviously be one source that I'd refer him to, but
there are a dozen other lexica and dictionaries and encyclopedias that are
much more up-to-date. I'd also suggest that the name is a play on the word
"Rasha'", "evil", befitting the king of evil Gomorra. And I'd readily admit
that I don't really know for sure.
End of discussion for me.
Yigal Levin
From: JimStinehart AT aol.com [mailto:JimStinehart AT aol.com]
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 1:51 AM
To: fournet.arnaud AT wanadoo.fr; leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il;
b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] HALOT Etymologies
Dr. Fournet:
You wrote: “I read it as a polite though ironic request not to defend that
point of
view...”
1. When the freshmen ask Prof. Yigal Levin what the name BR$( at Genesis 14:
2 means, do you think he answers as follows?