British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Understanding the History of Ancient Israel
Abstract
West Semitic Inscriptions and IXth c. BCE Ancient Israel
André Lemaire, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris
Although limited in number, West Semitic inscriptions throw some light on the history of this period.
I – List of the IXth c. BCE West Semitic Inscriptions
- IXth c. Hebrew inscriptions are very few (around ten), very short or fragmentary, and contain mainly personal names.
- Moabite inscriptions are important (three fragments of monumental inscription and probably two inscribed seals)
- Phoenician inscriptions attest the use of Phoenician writing in the kingdom of Tyre (fragments), Byblos, Samal, Cyprus, Sardinia.
- Aramaic royal inscriptions are attested in the kingdom of Damascus, Hamath?, Beit-Gush/Arpad?, Samal, Arslan-Tash?, Guzana.
II – Main Evidence for IXth c. BCE Ancient Israel
Two inscriptions are directly connected with the history of IXth c. ancient Israel: the Mesha stela and the Tel Dan stela. Both are fragmentary royal inscriptions of enemies of Israel and Judah and were engraved in late IXth c. Both use history as propaganda.
- Although we do not have the bottom of the stela, the Mesha inscription gives us information about the relations between Moab and Israel (and Judah) for more than 75 years.
- Very fragmentary, the Tel Dan stela gives us some information about the period c. 850-840.
- Both are good examples of the existence and problems of West Semitic contemporary historiography to be critically used.