Here are side by side "translations" of the Khirbet Qeiyafa ostracon. It is hard to believe that the translators are reading the same language, and of course, as Rollston points out, they are not.
http://debunkingchristianity.blogspot.co...ption.html
Again, as with the Tel Dan stele anything inside brackets [ ] is a guesstimate by the translator and must be discounted. If they could read the inscription clearly they would not have to guess!
http://debunkingchristianity.blogspot.co...ption.html
Quote:But how certain are the contents of this inscription? Without having to know Hebrew or the finer points of Northwest Semitic epigraphy, we can detect the actual level of uncertainty just by comparing these translations:
A. Translation on John Hobbins’ website:
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] . . .
B. Translation “provided by the University of Haifa”:
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
Again, as with the Tel Dan stele anything inside brackets [ ] is a guesstimate by the translator and must be discounted. If they could read the inscription clearly they would not have to guess!
