Apr 07 2009
Why This Post Just Has To Be Different From All Other …
Be it a belated April fool joke or something to consider seriously during a break from the pre-holiday rush, reader Harvey Stelman sent me this link to the Los Lunas inscription in New Mexico, first brought to scholars’ attention in the 1850s.
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/6_18.htm
Enjoy in full or read the excerpts here!
The Los Lunas, NM Hebrew inscription
The Los Lunas Inscriptions: A comparison of the Hebrew text on the Los Lunas Inscription with the 3,000 year old Tell Dan Inscription of Israel.
Detailed Review of the Inscription: Roger Williamson’s article about his personal inspection and investigation of the Los Lunas Inscription, other inscriptions in the area and the topography.
More Pictures: Pictures by Matthew S. Demers of the Los Lunas inscriptions and surrounding ruins including the recent vandalism.
More Pictures: Pictures by Mike Hilson showing the recent vandalism of the Los Lunas Inscription.
More Pictures: Pictures by C. Klappauf of the rock and inscription including its recent vandalism.
Middle Semitic Script
Los Lunas Inscription
AHRC ID#:
18
Date of Writing:
c. 700 BCE
Location of Discovery:
Outside of Los Lunas New Mexico
Date of Discovery:
Unknown, brought to the attention of scholastics in the 1850’s.
Current Location:
Outside of Los Lunas New Mexico
Language:
Hebrew
Writing Surface:
Boulder face
Transliteration:
1. ANKY YHWH ALHYK AShR HWTsATYK MA{??-RTs}
2. LA YHYH ALHYM AHhRYM GhL PHNY
(This line belongs after the next line but appears to have been inserted here after the completion of the writing)
3. {?-MTsRYM} WBYT GhBDYM ? LA TGhShH LK PSL . LA TShA
4. {?-A}T ShM YHWH LShWA . ZAKWR AT YWM
5. HShBT LQDShW KBD AT ABYK WAT AMK LMGh{L-N?}
6. ARK?? YMYK GhL HADMH AShR YHWH ALHYK
7. {??-NTN} LK LA TRTs{?-H} LA TNAP . LA TGNB . LA
8. TGhNH BRGhK GhD ShKR . LA {?-THh}MD AShT RGhK
9. WKL AShR LRGhK .
Translation:
1. i yhwh your god who brought you out from land of
2. no will be gods after over my face
3. egypt and house servants ? no you do to you ? . no you do
4. at name yhwh to vain . remember at day
5. the shabbat to holy him honour at your father and at your mother in order that
6. long ? your days over the ground which yhwh your god
7. give to you no you murder no you adultery no you steal no
8. you humble in your neighbour witness false . no you covet wife of your neighbour
9. and all which to your neighbour
Alternate Translation:
1. I am Yahweh your God who brought you out from the land
2. No gods before me
3. ?and a house of servants ? do not do to you ? do not do
4. the name yhwh in vain . remember the day of
5. the Sabbath to make it holy honour your father and your mother in order that
6. your days be long over the land which yhwh your God
7. gives to you do not murder do not commit adultery do not steal do not
8. humble your neighbour or a false witness . do not covet the wife of your neighbour
9. and all that belongs to your neighbour
(Translation by Jeff A. Benner)
msniw
