The Old Testament in the Light of the Historical Records and Legends of Assyria and BabyloniaPinches, Theophilus G. (Theophilus Goldridge)
Religion
The Old Testament in the Light of the Historical Records and Legends of Assyria and Babylonia
Pinches, Theophilus G. (Theophilus Goldridge)
Bible. Old Testament -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
As is well known, a large number of hieroglyphic inscriptions of a people
regarded as the Hittites exist, and many attempts have been made to
translate them. In addition to these, there are many sculptures, mostly on
rocks, and still _in situ_. The most remarkable of these are at Bogaz
Keui, Eyouk, Iasili-Kaia, Ghiaour-kalesi, Doganlu-deresi, Ibriz,
Eflatun-bunar, Karabeli, and elsewhere in Asia Minor, as well as at
Jerabis (anciently called Carchemish), Hamah (Hamath), and monuments of
the Hittites have even been found at Babylon. How they came to this last
place is not at present known, but they may have formed part of the spoils
brought from the west by any of the later conquerors (such a supposition
would probably be better than attributing to them a very early date), or
sent thither as presents or as specimens of Hittite work. It is noteworthy
that the inscriptions, with the exception of the bowl brought from
Babylon, are all in relief and boustrophedon. A large number of seals,
both of the ordinary kind and cylindrical, are known, and though there are
bilingual inscriptions (Hittite and Babylonian), none of them are of
sufficient length to make them really serviceable in translating other
texts in the same character.
Notwithstanding the great difficulty attending such a task as the
translation of these inscriptions, a certain amount of success has been
attained. Those who have advanced the study most are Prof. Sayce in
England, and Profs. Jensen and Hommel in Germany. It will be many years,
however (unless some unexpected help come to light), before renderings in
any real sense of the word useful can be made.
In the opinion of Prof. Sayce, Cappadocia was the earliest home of this
nationality, which spread thence in every direction (except, perhaps,
northwards), and made itself master of a part of Palestine, from which
circumstance the district came to have, in Assyrian literature, the name
of “the land of Ḫatti.” Though later than the Amorite invasion, it
nevertheless took place at a very early date, as is shown by the fact that
Abraham had dealings with Ephron, a Hittite or “son of Heth.”
Coming down to a later date, it is interesting to see what is said about
them by the kings of Assyria. Tiglath-pileser I. (about 1120 B.C.) says as
follows—
“... 4000 Kaškaians (and) Urumaians, people of the land of Ḫattê,
disobedient, who in their strength had taken the cities of
Subarte, subject unto the god Ašur, my lord, heard of my march to
Subarte; the brilliance of my power overwhelmed them, they feared
the conflict, my feet they embraced. With their goods and II.
_sos_ (120) of chariots of their system of yoking(79) I took from
them, and delivered to the people of my land.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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