Some time back an ostrakon was discovered at this Israeli town. Some scholars promptly called it the oldest Hebrew inscription ever found and instantly claimed it "proved" the bible stories of a Davidic Empire....which is a stretch even for them.
Anyway, attempts have been made to translate the "inscription" and this is really the point of the post. Courtesy of Wiki, here are two "translations" of the same five lines of text.
It is almost as if they are reading different languages which raises an interesting question. How certain can we be of any translation of an ancient text?
American paleographer, Christopher Rollston, has a lot more to say about this inscription.
http://www.rollstonepigraphy.com/?p=56
Anyway, attempts have been made to translate the "inscription" and this is really the point of the post. Courtesy of Wiki, here are two "translations" of the same five lines of text.
Quote:On 7 January 2010 Prof. Gershon Galil of the University of Haifa issued a press release in which he claimed to have deciphered the inscription as a legal document:
1 you shall not do [it], but worship the [Lord].
2 Judge the sla[ve] and the wid[ow] / Judge the orph[an]
3 [and] the stranger. [Pl]ead for the infant / plead for the po[or and]
4 the widow. Rehabilitate [the poor] at the hands of the king.
5 Protect the po[or and] the slave / [supp]ort the stranger.[4]
Prof Galil's translation is in contrast with that given by Prof. Hagai Misgav, supported, with variations, by professors Yardeni, Ahituv, and Schniedewind, at a conference on the inscription held at Hebrew University in October 2009:
1 Do not do [anything bad?], and serve [personal name?]
2 ruler of [geographical name?] . . . ruler . . .
3 [geographical names?] . . .
4 [unclear] and wreak judgment on YSD king of Gath . . .
5 seren of G[aza? . . .] [unclear] . . .[8]
It is almost as if they are reading different languages which raises an interesting question. How certain can we be of any translation of an ancient text?
American paleographer, Christopher Rollston, has a lot more to say about this inscription.
http://www.rollstonepigraphy.com/?p=56
