Feb 03 2006
Tel-Dan Stele Inscription
I have intended to post a series of transliterations (and translations) of important archeological finds that correspond to the Hebrew text; Dr. Cathey’s post inspired me to finish the Tel-Dan Inscription post that has been crowding my Desktop for some time now.
This inscription was found in Galilee dating from the eighth to nineth century BCE. It is from a stele erected for Ben-Hadad and is written in Aramaic.
See Dr. Cathey’s extensive research bibliography for more information on the inscription (here). The article on Wikipedia is also very helpful and includes a line drawing approximating the inscription.
The image from the Canadian Museum of Civilization (above right) is pictured below along with an enlarged negative image of lines 8-10.
Line 8
??? ??? ?? ????
“the king of Israel
Line 9
? ?????? ?????
“…of the House of David (DWD). And I put…”
??? ?? ?? ?
“their land…”
Other sites that discuss the Tel-Dan inscription include: Restoration Quarterly Article by John T. Willis, K.C. Hanson’s West Semitic Documents, and Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs