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| Ugarit and Hebrew | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 19 2011, 10:49 AM (589 Views) | |
| Edwin Deady | Nov 19 2011, 10:49 AM Post #1 |
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Came across something that is new to me although it may be old hat to other members. This is the closeness of the Ugarit and Hebrew languages. I have even seen the phrase that "Ugaritic was Hebrew Cuneiform". The puzzle is that close as the two cultures seem to be our records of both from the Bronze Age indicate a totally different attitude to trade and the sea. Ugaritic merchants had ships and even one of their kings seemed to have borrowed "money" to build them. The Bible OT on the other hand is very much landlocked but they had to draw on the products of trade for everyday and ritual necessities which could not all be supplied by plunder from Canaanite cities. Certainly aware of ships ie "the ships of Kittim" just not involved with them. Unless I am wrong and there was a thriving marine merchant class in which case I would like the references please. Edwin |
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| TSWilkinson | Mar 25 2012, 09:32 PM Post #2 |
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In the Early Bronze Age, Hebrews would have been familiar with Egyptian ships. The Medinet Habu relief shows Egyptian vessels with a sail and a crow’s nest atop the mast, also powered by oars, and with a large paddle at the stern for a rudder. The prow is fashioned in the figure of a lioness’ head having the body of a person in its mouth. These ships crossed the Mediterranean as early as the times of Moses (Deuteronomy 28:68). In Judges 5:17 (Middle Bronze Age), the Israelite tribe of Dan is spoken of as dwelling in ships. Scholars differ as to the exact meaning of this phrase, but it certainly indicates they were familiar with and used ships in their territory along the northern part of the Philistine coast. Three other tribes held territory along the Sea of Galilee, and it seems highly likely that they used fishing boats there. The earliest OT references to commercial shipping occur during the reign of King Solomon (Iron Age I) in conjunction with Hiram of Tyre (I Kings 9:26-28, 10:22, and 2 Chronicles 8:17, 18; 9:21). Of course, during Iron Age I Phoenician ships began to take over maritime trade, and there is a good deal of information on them—but not what you are looking for, I think. Our best information about shipping in the Bronze Age comes from the Uluburun shipwreck. There are several websites that allow you to view the artifacts found there, many of which are relevant to the Canaanite sea trade. Hope this helps! If you need more information or specific references, let me know exactly what you are looking for and I will get you what I can. Timothy |
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