Author: Stanislav Segert
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520342100
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 252
Book Description
In 1929, the first cuneiform tablet, inscribed with previously unknown signs, was found during archeological excavations at Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit) in northern Syria. Since then a special discipline, sometimes called Ugaritology, has arisen. The impact of the Ugaritic language and of the many texts written in it has been felt in the study of Semitic languages and literatures, in the history of the ancient Near East, and especially in research devoted to the Hebrew Bible. In fact, knowledge of Ugaritic has become a standard prerequisite for the scientific study of the Old Testament. The Ugaritic texts, written in the fourteenth and thirteenth centuries B. c., represent the oldest complex of connected texts in any West Semitic language now available (1984). Their language is of critical importance for comparative Semitic linguistics and is uniquely important to the critical study of Biblical Hebrew. Ugaritic, which was spoken in a northwestern corner of the larger Canaanite linguistic area, cannot be considered a direct ancestor of Biblical Hebrew, but its conservative character can help in the reconstruction of the older stages of Hebrew phonology, word formation, and inflection. These systems were later-that is, during the period in which the biblical texts were actually written-complicated by phonological and other changes. The Ugaritic texts are remarkable, however, for more than just their antiquity and their linguistic witness. They present a remarkably vigorous and mature literature, one containing both epic cycles and shorter poems. The poetic structure of Ugaritic is noteworthy, among other reasons, for its use of the "parallelism of members" that also characterizes such ancient and archaizing poems in the Hebrew Bible as the Song of Deborah (in Judges 5), the Song of the Sea (in Exodus 15), Psalms 29, 68, and 82, and Habakkuk 3. Textual sources and their rendering The basic source for the study of Ugaritic is a corpus of texts written in an alphabetic cuneiform script unknown before 1929; this script represents consonants fully and exactly but gives only limited and equivocal indication of vowels. Our knowledge of the Ugaritic language is supple-mented by evidence from Akkadian texts found at Ugarit and containing many Ugaritic words, especially names written in the syllabic cuneiform script. Scholars reconstructing the lost language of Ugarit draw, finally, on a wide variety of comparative linguistic data, data from texts not found at Ugarit, as well as from living languages. Evidence from Phoenician, Hebrew, Amorite, Aramaic, Arabic, Akkadian, Ethiopic, and recently also Eblaitic, can be applied to good effect. For the student, as well as for the research scholar, it is important that the various sources of U garitic be distinguished in modern transliteration or transcription. Since many of the texts found at Ugarit are fragmentary or physically damaged, it is well for students to be clear about what portion of a text that they are reading actually survives and what portion is a modern attempt to fill in the blanks. While the selected texts in section 8 reflect the state of preservation in detail, in the other sections of the grammar standardized forms are presented, based on all available evidence.
A Basic Grammar of Ugaritic Language
Author: Stanislav Segert
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520342100
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 252
Book Description
In 1929, the first cuneiform tablet, inscribed with previously unknown signs, was found during archeological excavations at Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit) in northern Syria. Since then a special discipline, sometimes called Ugaritology, has arisen. The impact of the Ugaritic language and of the many texts written in it has been felt in the study of Semitic languages and literatures, in the history of the ancient Near East, and especially in research devoted to the Hebrew Bible. In fact, knowledge of Ugaritic has become a standard prerequisite for the scientific study of the Old Testament. The Ugaritic texts, written in the fourteenth and thirteenth centuries B. c., represent the oldest complex of connected texts in any West Semitic language now available (1984). Their language is of critical importance for comparative Semitic linguistics and is uniquely important to the critical study of Biblical Hebrew. Ugaritic, which was spoken in a northwestern corner of the larger Canaanite linguistic area, cannot be considered a direct ancestor of Biblical Hebrew, but its conservative character can help in the reconstruction of the older stages of Hebrew phonology, word formation, and inflection. These systems were later-that is, during the period in which the biblical texts were actually written-complicated by phonological and other changes. The Ugaritic texts are remarkable, however, for more than just their antiquity and their linguistic witness. They present a remarkably vigorous and mature literature, one containing both epic cycles and shorter poems. The poetic structure of Ugaritic is noteworthy, among other reasons, for its use of the "parallelism of members" that also characterizes such ancient and archaizing poems in the Hebrew Bible as the Song of Deborah (in Judges 5), the Song of the Sea (in Exodus 15), Psalms 29, 68, and 82, and Habakkuk 3. Textual sources and their rendering The basic source for the study of Ugaritic is a corpus of texts written in an alphabetic cuneiform script unknown before 1929; this script represents consonants fully and exactly but gives only limited and equivocal indication of vowels. Our knowledge of the Ugaritic language is supple-mented by evidence from Akkadian texts found at Ugarit and containing many Ugaritic words, especially names written in the syllabic cuneiform script. Scholars reconstructing the lost language of Ugarit draw, finally, on a wide variety of comparative linguistic data, data from texts not found at Ugarit, as well as from living languages. Evidence from Phoenician, Hebrew, Amorite, Aramaic, Arabic, Akkadian, Ethiopic, and recently also Eblaitic, can be applied to good effect. For the student, as well as for the research scholar, it is important that the various sources of U garitic be distinguished in modern transliteration or transcription. Since many of the texts found at Ugarit are fragmentary or physically damaged, it is well for students to be clear about what portion of a text that they are reading actually survives and what portion is a modern attempt to fill in the blanks. While the selected texts in section 8 reflect the state of preservation in detail, in the other sections of the grammar standardized forms are presented, based on all available evidence.
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520342100
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 252
Book Description
In 1929, the first cuneiform tablet, inscribed with previously unknown signs, was found during archeological excavations at Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit) in northern Syria. Since then a special discipline, sometimes called Ugaritology, has arisen. The impact of the Ugaritic language and of the many texts written in it has been felt in the study of Semitic languages and literatures, in the history of the ancient Near East, and especially in research devoted to the Hebrew Bible. In fact, knowledge of Ugaritic has become a standard prerequisite for the scientific study of the Old Testament. The Ugaritic texts, written in the fourteenth and thirteenth centuries B. c., represent the oldest complex of connected texts in any West Semitic language now available (1984). Their language is of critical importance for comparative Semitic linguistics and is uniquely important to the critical study of Biblical Hebrew. Ugaritic, which was spoken in a northwestern corner of the larger Canaanite linguistic area, cannot be considered a direct ancestor of Biblical Hebrew, but its conservative character can help in the reconstruction of the older stages of Hebrew phonology, word formation, and inflection. These systems were later-that is, during the period in which the biblical texts were actually written-complicated by phonological and other changes. The Ugaritic texts are remarkable, however, for more than just their antiquity and their linguistic witness. They present a remarkably vigorous and mature literature, one containing both epic cycles and shorter poems. The poetic structure of Ugaritic is noteworthy, among other reasons, for its use of the "parallelism of members" that also characterizes such ancient and archaizing poems in the Hebrew Bible as the Song of Deborah (in Judges 5), the Song of the Sea (in Exodus 15), Psalms 29, 68, and 82, and Habakkuk 3. Textual sources and their rendering The basic source for the study of Ugaritic is a corpus of texts written in an alphabetic cuneiform script unknown before 1929; this script represents consonants fully and exactly but gives only limited and equivocal indication of vowels. Our knowledge of the Ugaritic language is supple-mented by evidence from Akkadian texts found at Ugarit and containing many Ugaritic words, especially names written in the syllabic cuneiform script. Scholars reconstructing the lost language of Ugarit draw, finally, on a wide variety of comparative linguistic data, data from texts not found at Ugarit, as well as from living languages. Evidence from Phoenician, Hebrew, Amorite, Aramaic, Arabic, Akkadian, Ethiopic, and recently also Eblaitic, can be applied to good effect. For the student, as well as for the research scholar, it is important that the various sources of U garitic be distinguished in modern transliteration or transcription. Since many of the texts found at Ugarit are fragmentary or physically damaged, it is well for students to be clear about what portion of a text that they are reading actually survives and what portion is a modern attempt to fill in the blanks. While the selected texts in section 8 reflect the state of preservation in detail, in the other sections of the grammar standardized forms are presented, based on all available evidence.
Divine Epithets in the Ugaritic Alphabetic Texts
Author: Aïcha Rahmouni
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004157697
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 481
Book Description
This study of the divine epithets in the Ugaritic alphabetic cuneiform texts from Ras Shamra and Ras Ibn Hani provides a new and comprehensive analysis of the epithets of the individual Ugaritic deities.
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004157697
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 481
Book Description
This study of the divine epithets in the Ugaritic alphabetic cuneiform texts from Ras Shamra and Ras Ibn Hani provides a new and comprehensive analysis of the epithets of the individual Ugaritic deities.
Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament, Second Edition
Author: Robert W. Rogers
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1597523070
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 629
Book Description
'The first major collection of cuneiform texts in English' Despite its age, this volume still has a major contribution to make. Unlike other collections, Rogers's volume includes the transliterated Akkadian for each text. This provides an invaluable access to the original texts without having a library that includes every volume of the original publications. A further asset is the collection of forty-eight excellent photographs and line-drawings. Included here are tablets, prisms, cylinders, seals, boundary stones, and bas reliefs. The bibliography is composed of two parts. The first includes the entries from Rogers's ÒList of Books Quoted or Mentioned,Ó but with numerous corrections and supplying much missing data. The second part is an updated list, organized by major cuneiform languages: Diverse Collections, Sumerian, Akkadian, Hittite, Hurrian, Eblaite, and Ugaritic. This will direct the reader to the wealth of primary documents that is now our privilege to read.
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1597523070
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 629
Book Description
'The first major collection of cuneiform texts in English' Despite its age, this volume still has a major contribution to make. Unlike other collections, Rogers's volume includes the transliterated Akkadian for each text. This provides an invaluable access to the original texts without having a library that includes every volume of the original publications. A further asset is the collection of forty-eight excellent photographs and line-drawings. Included here are tablets, prisms, cylinders, seals, boundary stones, and bas reliefs. The bibliography is composed of two parts. The first includes the entries from Rogers's ÒList of Books Quoted or Mentioned,Ó but with numerous corrections and supplying much missing data. The second part is an updated list, organized by major cuneiform languages: Diverse Collections, Sumerian, Akkadian, Hittite, Hurrian, Eblaite, and Ugaritic. This will direct the reader to the wealth of primary documents that is now our privilege to read.
Vertical Grammar of Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew
Author: David Toshio Tsumura
Publisher: SBL Press
ISBN: 1628374357
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 157
Book Description
An essential resource for sound exegesis of biblical poetry While previous books on parallelism have focused almost exclusively on semantic classification, in his new book David Toshio Tsumura focuses on the grammatical and phonetic aspects as well. In particular, he defines and illustrates the vertical grammatical relationship between parallel lines. Readers will master how to read Biblical Hebrew poetry effectively by focusing on the basic linguistic features of word order, parallelistic structure, and rhetorical devices. For the benefit of nonspecialists, all Hebrew poems are given in accessible transliteration. This book is an indispensable companion to the Hebrew Bible for both beginners and experienced scholars.
Publisher: SBL Press
ISBN: 1628374357
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 157
Book Description
An essential resource for sound exegesis of biblical poetry While previous books on parallelism have focused almost exclusively on semantic classification, in his new book David Toshio Tsumura focuses on the grammatical and phonetic aspects as well. In particular, he defines and illustrates the vertical grammatical relationship between parallel lines. Readers will master how to read Biblical Hebrew poetry effectively by focusing on the basic linguistic features of word order, parallelistic structure, and rhetorical devices. For the benefit of nonspecialists, all Hebrew poems are given in accessible transliteration. This book is an indispensable companion to the Hebrew Bible for both beginners and experienced scholars.
Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament
Author: G. Johannes Botterweck
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
ISBN: 9780802823458
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 734
Book Description
This multivolume work is still proving to be as fundamental to Old Testament studies as its companion set, the Kittel-Friedrich Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, has been to New Testament studies. Beginning with father, and continuing through the alphabet, the TDOT volumes present in-depth discussions of the key Hebrew and Aramaic words in the Old Testament. Leading scholars of various religious traditions (including Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Greek Orthodox, and Jewish) and from many parts of the world (Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States) have been carefully selected for each article by editors Botterweck, Ringgren, and Fabry and their consultants, George W. Anderson, Henri Cazelles, David Noel Freedman, Shemaryahu Talmon, and Gerhard Wallis. The intention of the writers is to concentrate on meaning, starting from the more general, everyday senses and building to an understanding of theologically significant concepts. To avoid artificially restricting the focus of the articles, TDOT considers under each keyword the larger groups of words that are related linguistically or semantically. The lexical work includes detailed surveys of a word s occurrences, not only in biblical material but also in other ancient Near Eastern writings. Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Ethiopic, Ugaritic, and Northwest Semitic sources are surveyed, among others, as well as the Qumran texts and the Septuagint; and in cultures where no cognate word exists, the authors often consider cognate ideas. TDOT s emphasis, though, is on Hebrew terminology and on biblical usage. The contributors employ philology as well as form-critical and traditio-historical methods, with the aim of understanding the religious statements in the Old Testament. Extensive bibliographical information adds to the value of this reference work. This English edition attempts to serve the needs of Old Testament students without the linguistic background of more advanced scholars; it does so, however, without sacrificing the needs of the latter. Ancient scripts (Hebrew, Greek, etc.) are regularly transliterated in a readable way, and meanings of foreign words are given in many cases where the meanings might be obvious to advanced scholars. Where the Hebrew text versification differs from that of English Bibles, the English verse appears in parentheses. Such features will help all earnest students of the Bible to avail themselves of the manifold theological insights contained in this monumental work.
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
ISBN: 9780802823458
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 734
Book Description
This multivolume work is still proving to be as fundamental to Old Testament studies as its companion set, the Kittel-Friedrich Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, has been to New Testament studies. Beginning with father, and continuing through the alphabet, the TDOT volumes present in-depth discussions of the key Hebrew and Aramaic words in the Old Testament. Leading scholars of various religious traditions (including Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Greek Orthodox, and Jewish) and from many parts of the world (Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States) have been carefully selected for each article by editors Botterweck, Ringgren, and Fabry and their consultants, George W. Anderson, Henri Cazelles, David Noel Freedman, Shemaryahu Talmon, and Gerhard Wallis. The intention of the writers is to concentrate on meaning, starting from the more general, everyday senses and building to an understanding of theologically significant concepts. To avoid artificially restricting the focus of the articles, TDOT considers under each keyword the larger groups of words that are related linguistically or semantically. The lexical work includes detailed surveys of a word s occurrences, not only in biblical material but also in other ancient Near Eastern writings. Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Ethiopic, Ugaritic, and Northwest Semitic sources are surveyed, among others, as well as the Qumran texts and the Septuagint; and in cultures where no cognate word exists, the authors often consider cognate ideas. TDOT s emphasis, though, is on Hebrew terminology and on biblical usage. The contributors employ philology as well as form-critical and traditio-historical methods, with the aim of understanding the religious statements in the Old Testament. Extensive bibliographical information adds to the value of this reference work. This English edition attempts to serve the needs of Old Testament students without the linguistic background of more advanced scholars; it does so, however, without sacrificing the needs of the latter. Ancient scripts (Hebrew, Greek, etc.) are regularly transliterated in a readable way, and meanings of foreign words are given in many cases where the meanings might be obvious to advanced scholars. Where the Hebrew text versification differs from that of English Bibles, the English verse appears in parentheses. Such features will help all earnest students of the Bible to avail themselves of the manifold theological insights contained in this monumental work.
The Storm-god in the Ancient Near East
Author: Alberto Ravinell Whitney Green
Publisher: Eisenbrauns
ISBN: 1575060698
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 383
Book Description
Green traces these motifs through the Mesopotamian, Anatolian, Syrian, and Levantine regions; he argues that, in the end, Yahweh of the Bible can be identified as a storm-god, though certain unique characteristics came to be associated with him: he was the creator of all that is created and the self-existing god who needs no other."--BOOK JACKET.
Publisher: Eisenbrauns
ISBN: 1575060698
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 383
Book Description
Green traces these motifs through the Mesopotamian, Anatolian, Syrian, and Levantine regions; he argues that, in the end, Yahweh of the Bible can be identified as a storm-god, though certain unique characteristics came to be associated with him: he was the creator of all that is created and the self-existing god who needs no other."--BOOK JACKET.
An Introduction to Ugaritic
Author: John Huehnergard
Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers
ISBN: 1598568205
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 266
Book Description
Highly respected linguist John Huehnergard brings his command of and vast knowledge in the field of comparative Semitic linguistics to this introductory grammar. Every aspect of the grammar is enriched by his broad understanding, while maintaining an unexcelled directness and order to the learning of the fundamental grammar of Ugaritic. Designed for students already familiar with Biblical Hebrew, this grammar contains the information necessary to help them become proficient in Ugaritic, and includes exercises to assist in learning basic grammar before commencing work with the actual Ugaritic texts. It is set apart from other gram¬mar books by its immense understanding of comparative Semitic grammar, and the concise and accurate manner in which Huehnergard presents the information. Special Features: - A glossary of all Ugaritic words used in the grammar - An appendix by Ugaritologist John Ellison on the scribal formation of the Ugaritic abecedaries - A number of full-color photographs of Ugaritic tablets - Keys to the exercises - Bibliographic information and indexes
Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers
ISBN: 1598568205
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 266
Book Description
Highly respected linguist John Huehnergard brings his command of and vast knowledge in the field of comparative Semitic linguistics to this introductory grammar. Every aspect of the grammar is enriched by his broad understanding, while maintaining an unexcelled directness and order to the learning of the fundamental grammar of Ugaritic. Designed for students already familiar with Biblical Hebrew, this grammar contains the information necessary to help them become proficient in Ugaritic, and includes exercises to assist in learning basic grammar before commencing work with the actual Ugaritic texts. It is set apart from other gram¬mar books by its immense understanding of comparative Semitic grammar, and the concise and accurate manner in which Huehnergard presents the information. Special Features: - A glossary of all Ugaritic words used in the grammar - An appendix by Ugaritologist John Ellison on the scribal formation of the Ugaritic abecedaries - A number of full-color photographs of Ugaritic tablets - Keys to the exercises - Bibliographic information and indexes
The Origin of Israelite Zion Theology
Author: Antti Laato
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 0567680037
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 354
Book Description
In this examination of Zion theology and how it arises in the book of Psalms Antti Laato's starting-point is that the Hebrew Bible is the product of the exilic and postexilic times, which nonetheless contains older traditions that have played a significant role in the development of the text. Laato seeks out these older mythical traditions related to Zion using a comparative methodology and looking at Biblical traditions alongside Ugaritic texts and other ancient Near Eastern material. As such Laato provides a historical background for Zion theology which he can apply more broadly to the Psalms. In addition, Laato argues that Zion-related theology in the Psalms is closely related to two events recounted in the Hebrew Bible. First, the architectural details of the Temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6-7), which can be compared with older mythical Zion-related traditions. Second, the religious traditions related to the reigns of David and Solomon such as the Ark Narrative, which ends with David's transfer of the Ark to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6). From this Laato builds an argument for a possible setting in Jerusalem at the time of David and Solomon for the Zion theology that emerges in the Psalms.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 0567680037
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 354
Book Description
In this examination of Zion theology and how it arises in the book of Psalms Antti Laato's starting-point is that the Hebrew Bible is the product of the exilic and postexilic times, which nonetheless contains older traditions that have played a significant role in the development of the text. Laato seeks out these older mythical traditions related to Zion using a comparative methodology and looking at Biblical traditions alongside Ugaritic texts and other ancient Near Eastern material. As such Laato provides a historical background for Zion theology which he can apply more broadly to the Psalms. In addition, Laato argues that Zion-related theology in the Psalms is closely related to two events recounted in the Hebrew Bible. First, the architectural details of the Temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6-7), which can be compared with older mythical Zion-related traditions. Second, the religious traditions related to the reigns of David and Solomon such as the Ark Narrative, which ends with David's transfer of the Ark to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6). From this Laato builds an argument for a possible setting in Jerusalem at the time of David and Solomon for the Zion theology that emerges in the Psalms.
Mighty Baal
Author: Stephen C. Russell
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004437673
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 228
Book Description
Mighty Baal offers a fresh portrait of the ancient Near Eastern god Baal. Its eleven essays are written in honor of Mark S. Smith, who has been the leading historian of Baal over the last four decades.
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004437673
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 228
Book Description
Mighty Baal offers a fresh portrait of the ancient Near Eastern god Baal. Its eleven essays are written in honor of Mark S. Smith, who has been the leading historian of Baal over the last four decades.
Imagining God
Author: Humberto Casanova
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1532688202
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 308
Book Description
An ever-growing number of Christians are becoming more and more uncomfortable with the tenets of the church, the stories of the Bible, and the church's worldview. Statistics show that these feelings easily escalate into a crisis of faith, and for now their predicament is being resolved by leaving the church. This book will certainly help dealing with the crisis by showing that the language of faith is built by a web of metaphors taken from the Ancient Near East. We do not need to take biblical language literally, but as parables for human values in need to be assessed critically.
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1532688202
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 308
Book Description
An ever-growing number of Christians are becoming more and more uncomfortable with the tenets of the church, the stories of the Bible, and the church's worldview. Statistics show that these feelings easily escalate into a crisis of faith, and for now their predicament is being resolved by leaving the church. This book will certainly help dealing with the crisis by showing that the language of faith is built by a web of metaphors taken from the Ancient Near East. We do not need to take biblical language literally, but as parables for human values in need to be assessed critically.