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The official word about the new inscription is finally out!  I've been unable to tell anyone about the new stele since we found it a little more than a week ago; unfortunately though, I am still not allowed to disclose its content (you will have to wait for Dr. Pardee's presentation at SBL).  I will say though that it is well worth the admission price for the Boston meeting, both from the point of view of philology and archaeology!  The press release gives a general idea:

NEW ALPHABETIC INSCRIPTION FROM ZINCIRLI

On July 21, 2008, the Neubauer Expedition to Zincirli, directed by
Prof. David Schloen of the University of Chicago and by associate
director Amir Fink, found an inscribed basalt stele at the site of
Zincirli (pronounced "Zin-jeer-lee") in Gaziantep province in
southeastern Turkey. The remarkably well-preserved stele, 70
centimeters wide and 95 centimeters tall, was found intact in its
original location. It was set into a stone wall with its protruding
tenon still inserted into the stone-paved floor. The alphabetic
inscription on the stele is written in Sam'alian, the language spoken
in the region of Zincirli (ancient Sam'al) during the Iron Age. It
commemorates the life of "Kattammuwa servant of Panamuwa," probably a
high official of King Panamuwa, who reigned during the eighth century
B.C. A bearded figure is depicted on the stele, seated in a chair in
front of a table laden with food. Beside him is a thirteen-line
inscription, elegantly carved in raised relief and preserved in almost
pristine condition nearly three millennia after it was inscribed. It
describes the establishment of the memorial stele and associated
mortuary rites. This stele is unique in its combination of pictorial
and textual features and thus is an important addition to our
knowledge of ancient language and culture. An analysis and translation
of the inscription will be presented by Prof. Dennis Pardee of the
University of Chicago at the November 2008 meeting of the Society for
Biblical Literature in Boston and will be published soon thereafter.

Zincirli is the site of the ancient walled city of Sam'al, capital of
an Iron Age kingdom that inherited both West Semitic and Neo-Hittite
(Luwian) cultural traditions. The 40-hectare (100-acre) site was first
excavated more than a hundred years ago and produced a number of royal
inscriptions and other fascinating finds that are on display in
various museums. Since 2006, Zincirli has been excavated annually by a
team from the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago—the
Neubauer Expedition, a large-scale and long-term project of
archaeological research at this important site.

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֵ֥ן עוֹד֙ הַיּ֣וֹם גָּד֔וֹל לֹא־עֵ֖ת הֵאָסֵ֣ף הַמִּקְנֶ֑ה הַשְׁק֥וּ הַצֹּ֖אן וּלְכ֥וּ רְעֽוּ׃ 8  וַיֹּאמְרוּ֮ לֹ֣א נוּכַל֒ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔ים וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙ אֶת־הָאֶ֔בֶן מֵעַ֖ל פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֑ר וְהִשְׁקִ֖ינוּ הַצֹּֽאן׃ 9  עוֹדֶ֖נּוּ מְדַבֵּ֣ר עִמָּ֑ם וְרָחֵ֣ל׀ בָּ֗אָה עִם־הַצֹּאן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔יהָ כִּ֥י רֹעָ֖ה הִֽוא׃

Vocabulary

Verse 7

            מקנה noun: “cattle; livestock” (BDB, 889)

            שׁקה verb (Hiphil imperative 2mpl): “give drink” (BDB, 1052)

Verse 8

            יכל verb: “to be able”

            עדר noun: “flock, herd” (BDB, 727)

            גלל verb: “roll (away)” (BDB, 164)

            באר noun: “well; pit” (BDB, 91)

            שׁקה verb: “give drink” (BDB, 1052)

Verse 9

            רחל name: “Rachel”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 7

• Clause Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֵ֥ן עוֹד֙ הַיּ֣וֹם גָּד֔וֹל לֹא־עֵ֖ת הֵאָסֵ֣ף הַמִּקְנֶ֑ה הַשְׁק֥וּ הַצֹּ֖אן וּלְכ֥וּ רְעֽוּ): V-O
• Embedded Typology A (הֵ֥ן עוֹד֙ הַיּ֣וֹם גָּד֔וֹל): M-S-P
• The predicate is marked by the indefinite final noun (GKC 126i).
• Embedded Typology B (לֹא־עֵ֖ת הֵאָסֵ֣ף הַמִּקְנֶ֑ה): P
• The clause may be constructed as a negative existence clause (i.e. “There/It is not…”).
• The infinitive construct occurs in construct bound to the preceding noun (GKC 114b; J-M 124d; W-O 36.2.1b).
• Embedded Typology C (הַשְׁק֥וּ הַצֹּ֖אן): V-O
• Embedded Typology D (וּלְכ֥וּ): V
• The final two imperatives represent verbal hendiadys.
• Embedded Typology E (רְעֽוּ): V

Verse 8

• Clause Typology 1 (וַיֹּאמְרוּ֮ לֹ֣א נוּכַל֒ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔ים וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙ אֶת־הָאֶ֔בֶן מֵעַ֖ל פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֑ר וְהִשְׁקִ֖ינוּ הַצֹּֽאן): V-O
• Embedded Typology A (לֹ֣א נוּכַל֒ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔ים): V-M
• The verbal modifier is a temporal clause (GKC 107l).
• Embedded Typology i (יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔ים): V-S
• Embedded Typology B (וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙ אֶת־הָאֶ֔בֶן מֵעַ֖ל פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֑ר): V-O-M
• Embedded Typology C (וְהִשְׁקִ֖ינוּ הַצֹּֽאן): V-O

Verse 9

• Clause Typology 1 (עוֹדֶ֖נּוּ מְדַבֵּ֣ר עִמָּ֑ם): M-S-V-M
• The 3ms pronominal suffix expresses the subject of the participle functioning as a finite verb.
• Clause Typology 2 (וְרָחֵ֣ל׀ בָּ֗אָה עִם־הַצֹּאן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔יהָ): S-V-M
• The initial waw marks the apodosis of the previous clause—it is used here to connote contemporaneous action.
• The possessor of the sheep is the one to whom the sheep belong, marked by lamed in BH (BDB, 129h).
• Clause Typology 3 (כִּ֥י רֹעָ֖ה הִֽוא): P-S
• The 3fs pronoun, היא elsewhere in BH, is represented orthographically in the Pentateuch by הוא vocalized with an “i-class” vowel.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב אַחַ֖י מֵאַ֣יִן אַתֶּ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵחָרָ֖ן אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ 5  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם הַיְדַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־לָבָ֣ן בֶּן־נָח֑וֹר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יָדָֽעְנוּ׃ 6  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָהֶ֖ם הֲשָׁל֣וֹם לוֹ֑ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ שָׁל֔וֹם וְהִנֵּה֙ רָחֵ֣ל בִּתּוֹ֔ בָּאָ֖ה עִם־הַצֹּֽאן׃

Vocabulary

Verse 4

            חרן name: “Haran”

            אנחנו   pronoun: "we"

Verse 5

            לבן name: “Laban”

            נחור name: “Nahor”

Verse 6

            רחל name: “Rachel”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 4

• Clause Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב אַחַ֖י מֵאַ֣יִן אַתֶּ֑ם): V-M-S-O
• Embedded Typology A (אַחַ֖י מֵאַ֣יִן אַתֶּ֑ם): M-P-S
• The interrogative clause begins with a vocative whose referent is also the subject.
• The compound grapheme מאין is composed of the preposition מן plus the locative interrogative אין.
• Clause Typology 2 (וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵחָרָ֖ן אֲנָֽחְנוּ): V-O
• Embedded Typology A (מֵחָרָ֖ן אֲנָֽחְנוּ): P-S

Verse 5

• Clause Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם הַיְדַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־לָבָ֣ן בֶּן־נָח֑וֹר): V-M-O
• Embedded Typology A (הַיְדַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־לָבָ֣ן בֶּן־נָח֑וֹר): V-O
• The clause begins with the interrogative he.
• Clause Typology 2 (וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יָדָֽעְנוּ): V-O
• Embedded Typology A (יָדָֽעְנוּ): V
• There is no lexeme witnessed for “Yes;” however, to answer a question in the affirmative, a main component of the question is repeated, often the verb as in this case (J-M 161l).

Verse 6

• Clause Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָהֶ֖ם הֲשָׁל֣וֹם לוֹ֑): V-M-O
• Embedded Typology A (הֲשָׁל֣וֹם לוֹ֑): S-P
• The initial he is again the interrogative.
• Clause Typology 1 (וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ שָׁל֔וֹם): V-O
• Embedded Typology A (שָׁל֔וֹם): P
• As in verse 5, the affirmative answer is given by repeating a main component of the question (GKC 150n; J-M 161l).
• Clause Typology 1 (וְהִנֵּה֙ רָחֵ֣ל בִּתּוֹ֔ בָּאָ֖ה עִם־הַצֹּֽאן): S-V-M
• The phrase, בתו באה, is appositional to the proper noun.

וַיִּשָּׂ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב רַגְלָ֑יו וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אַ֥רְצָה בְנֵי־קֶֽדֶם׃ 2  וַיַּ֞רְא וְהִנֵּ֧ה בְאֵ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּה־שָׁ֞ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֤ה עֶדְרֵי־צֹאן֙ רֹבְצִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֚י מִן־הַבְּאֵ֣ר הַהִ֔וא יַשְׁק֖וּ הָעֲדָרִ֑ים וְהָאֶ֥בֶן גְּדֹלָ֖ה עַל־פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵֽר׃ 3  וְנֶאֶסְפוּ־שָׁ֣מָּה כָל־הָעֲדָרִ֗ים וְגָלֲל֤וּ אֶת־הָאֶ֨בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וְהִשְׁק֖וּ אֶת־הַצֹּ֑אן וְהֵשִׁ֧יבוּ אֶת־הָאֶ֛בֶן עַל־פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִמְקֹמָֽהּ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 1

          קדם noun: “east” (BDB, 869)

Verse 2

          באר “well; pit” (BDB, 91)

            עדר noun: “flock, herd” (BDB, 727)

            רבץ verb: “lie down” (BDB, 918)

            שׁקה verb (Hiphil imperfect 3mpl): “give to drink” (BDB, 1052)

Verse 3

            אסף verb: “gather”

עדר noun: “flock, herd” (BDB, 727)

            גלל verb: “roll (away)” (BDB,164)

          באר “well; pit” (BDB, 91)

            שׁקה verb (Hiphil perfect 3mpl): “give to drink” (BDB, 1052)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 1

• Clause Typology 1 (וַיִּשָּׂ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב רַגְלָ֑יו): V-S-M
• Clause Typology 2 (וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אַ֥רְצָה בְנֵי־קֶֽדֶם): V-M
• The adverbial he may break a construct chain (cf. W-O 10.5b).

Verse 2

• Clause Typology 1 (ַיַּ֞רְא): V
• Clause Typology 2 (וְהִנֵּ֧ה בְאֵ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה): P
• Clause Typology 3 (וְהִנֵּה־שָׁ֞ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֤ה עֶדְרֵי־צֹאן֙ רֹבְצִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יהָ): S-P
• Clause Typology 4 (כִּ֚י מִן־הַבְּאֵ֣ר הַהִ֔וא יַשְׁק֖וּ הָעֲדָרִ֑ים): M-V-O
• The מִן preposition is functioning as a partitive.
• The verb, שׁקה, is transitive; the subject is indefinite—“they,” that is “the people at the well” (GKC 144f; J-M 155b; W-O 4.4.2a).  The prefixed form may indicate frequentativity (J-M 113e).
• Clause Typology 5 (וְהָאֶ֥בֶן גְּדֹלָ֖ה עַל־פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵֽר): S-P
• The adjective, גדל, is predicative as it agrees with the subject in gender and number but not definiteness.

Verse 3

• Clause Typology 1 (וְנֶאֶסְפוּ־שָׁ֣מָּה כָל־הָעֲדָרִ֗ים): V-M-O
• The subject continues to be indefinite (cf. vs. 2).
• Clause Typology 2 (וְגָלֲל֤וּ אֶת־הָאֶ֨בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר): V-O-M
• Notice the shift from imperfective to perfective verbs.
• Clause Typology 3 (וְהִשְׁק֖וּ אֶת־הַצֹּ֑אן): V-O
• Clause Typology 4 (וְהֵשִׁ֧יבוּ אֶת־הָאֶ֛בֶן עַל־פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִמְקֹמָֽהּ): V-O-M
• The final prepositional phrase is made up of a lamed preposition with the noun, מקום, and 3fs suffix referring to the stone.

וַיִּדַּ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב נֶ֣דֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־יִהְיֶ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים עִמָּדִ֗י וּשְׁמָרַ֨נִי֙ בַּדֶּ֤רֶךְ הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָנֹכִ֣י הוֹלֵ֔ךְ וְנָֽתַן־לִ֥י לֶ֛חֶם לֶאֱכֹ֖ל וּבֶ֥גֶד לִלְבֹּֽשׁ׃ 21  וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י בְשָׁל֖וֹם אֶל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑י וְהָיָ֧ה יְהוָ֛ה לִ֖י לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ 22  וְהָאֶ֣בֶן הַזֹּ֗את אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֨מְתִּי֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה יִהְיֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתֶּן־לִ֔י עַשֵּׂ֖ר אֲעַשְּׂרֶ֥נּוּ לָֽךְ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 20

            נדר verb: “” (BDB, 623)

            נדר noun: “vow” (BDB, 623)

            לבשׁ verb: “put on, be dressed” (BDB, 527)

Verse 22

            מצבה “pillar” (BDB, 663)

            עשר verb (Piel imperfect 1cs w/ 3ms sf): “tithe” (BDB, )

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 20

• Clause Typology 1 (וַיִּדַּ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב נֶ֣דֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־יִהְיֶ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים עִמָּדִ֗י וּשְׁמָרַ֨נִי֙ בַּדֶּ֤רֶךְ הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָנֹכִ֣י הוֹלֵ֔ךְ וְנָֽתַן־לִ֥י לֶ֛חֶם לֶאֱכֹ֖ל וּבֶ֥גֶד לִלְבֹּֽשׁ): V-S-O-M
• Clause Typology A (אִם־יִהְיֶ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים עִמָּדִ֗י): V-S-M
• Clause Typology B (וּשְׁמָרַ֨נִי֙ בַּדֶּ֤רֶךְ הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָנֹכִ֣י הוֹלֵ֔ךְ): V-S-M
• Clause Typology i (אָנֹכִ֣י הוֹלֵ֔ךְ): S-V
• Clause Typology C (וְנָֽתַן־לִ֥י לֶ֛חֶם לֶאֱכֹ֖ל וּבֶ֥גֶד לִלְבֹּֽשׁ): V-M-O-M

Verse 21

• Clause Typology D (וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י בְשָׁל֖וֹם אֶל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑י): V-M
• Clause Typology E (וְהָיָ֧ה יְהוָ֛ה לִ֖י לֵאלֹהִֽים): V-S-M
• The apodosis of the conditional clause is marked by the initial vowel (W-O 32.2.1a).

Verse 22

• Clause Typology F (וְהָאֶ֣בֶן הַזֹּ֗את אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֨מְתִּי֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה יִהְיֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים): S-V-O
• Clause Typology i (שַׂ֨מְתִּי֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה): V-O
• Clause Typology G (וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתֶּן־לִ֔י עַשֵּׂ֖ר אֲעַשְּׂרֶ֥נּוּ לָֽךְ): O-V-O-M
• The infinitive absolute is used as cognate accusative (to strengthen the verbal idea, cf. GKC 113n, or to affirm it, J-M 123e).
• The Piel is frequentative (W-O 24.4h).
• Clause Typology i (תִּתֶּן־לִ֔י): V-M