The Mari tablets (1796–1761 BC ) were written primarily in the Akkadian language (Semitic dialect) although a few were bilingual, also written in Hurrian and Sumerian. The tablets were primarily from the second millennium (1800–1750 BC) and contained treaty documents between Iasmah-Adad and Zimri-Lim as well as between Zimri-Lim and Hammurabi.1. While the text dealt largely with financial, administrative and business transactions, they mention personal and place names with striking parallels to the Patriarchal records in Genesis. The customs, practices and names reflected in the Mari texts also illustrate practices during Patriarchal times that are similar to those mentioned by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For example, treaties and covenants were ratified by the killing of an ass, as described in the pact between the Shechemites and Jacob (Gen 33:19; 34:1–3). Yahweh’s name appears in the tables but while not likely worshiped at Mari appears to be known among the Yawi names like the OT name Yawi-El (Joel). The practice of the ban or Hêrem placed on life and property of conquests, that was proclaimed at Jericho (Josh 6), is also described in the Mari tablets as the asakkum. Among the similarities both accounts describe severe penalties for violating the ban.2.
Footnotes
1. Jean-Marie Durand, “Mari (Texts),” ed. David Noel Freedman et al., trans. Jennifer L. Davis, Anchor Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1996), 4:533.
2. Abraham Malamat, “The Ban in Mari and in the Bible,” in Biblical Essays, Proceedings of the Ninth Meeting of Die Ou-Testamentiese Werkgemeenskap in Suid-Afrika (Potchefstroom, South Africa: Society for the Study of the Old Testament, 1967), 40–49.
David E. Graves, Key Themes of the Old Testament: A Survey of Major Theological Themes (Moncton, N.B.: Graves, 2013), 220-21.
The Mari letters are a poor proof for biblical accuracy. Documents that predate any sign of 'Israelites' by at least a thousand years - which make some references similar to passages in the Bible - would be more accurately portrayed as a source for Judaean plagiarism than accuracy of texts that have repeatedly been shown to be inaccurate in other respects. For example, various scientific disciplines have clearly demonstrated there was no six day creation 6000 years ago, no Noahic world flood, no Mosaic Exodus, no Joshuan Conquest, no Davidic Empire, etc. (David was a tribal chieftain, not a ruler of a mighty empire inherited by his son)
ReplyDeleteAgain, for example, When David Ben Gurion became the 1st Prime Minister of Israel he founded a State Dept. of Archeology. He told them to go out to the desert and "bring back the 'title deeds' to the land". Nearly 3/4 of a century later there has been absolutely no evidence found of the Exodus. In fact the evidence clearly shows that Egypt ruled Canaan (and had outposts thru-out the desert where millions of Jews supposedly wandered") for centuries before and after the supposed biblical event. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4795318,00.html#:~:text=Prof.%20Israel%20Finkelstein%20of%20Tel%20Aviv%20University%2C%20an,century%20BCE%2C%20Egypt%20dominated%20the%20Land%20of%20Israel.
Um, that is a sign of the Israelites. No yours is a poor acknowledgment of the facts that contradict your belifs.
DeleteUm, various scientific disciplines have clearly demonstrated that your scientific disciplines denial of a seven day creation 6,000 years ago and denial of a Noahic flood are false denials and your selective ly ignoring the evidence as shown by this article disproves your lie of no evidence found.
DeleteOh man. I´ll just respond that the OT is not the inerrant standard. Jesus´ living legacy of loving integrity in University-based, UN human rights-sustainability society is the standard lens. Denying science is not the way, although asserting scientific philosophy over scientific materialism, is.
DeleteI am appealing to all who have commented. You can not deny the process of induction and deduction when you enter into the study of the historical record of sacred scripture. In fact,since we all want to come to a place with an answer science calls us to keep searching UNTILL you do. This is " Science Proper". Please, please, please give careful study of the bible. I mean we are only concerned with our eternal soul and that of our loved ones. Do not deny the gift of intelligence you have been given by the one true infinite God.Do science justice and do it right!
DeleteReturning here, I´m sorry I didn´t clarify my appreciation of the Mari Tablets as demonstrating powerful evidence of Biblical historicity elements. Unknown Dec 22 materialism and anti-religious ideology is denialistic for its part. Redraider´s denialism of scientific views is what I was addressing, as I also raised concerns about the nature of "science" as being IN Jesus´ legacy through monastic schools and the post-monastic University context of the monk T Aquinas, and his pivotal work in empirical metaphysical philosophy grounding modern knowledge.
DeleteMoreover, scientific methodological naturalism has gone with a shift away from acknowledging "science´s" philosophical nature, leading to widespread ideological metaphysical naturalism. The social sciences and humanities also have been affected as they use psychosocial naturalism that has shown the same ideological metaphysical polarization. Instead, we need to acknowledge spiritual-religious phenomena, as in medically attested, medically impossible healings with spiritual-religious testimony as one example and its relatedness to psychosocial spiritual-religious experience, practices, and knowledge building that can refer to, but builds distinct from, church doctrinal viewpoints.
Do "science" justice, and the social sciences and humanities, and spiritual-religious phenomena and knowledge as well.
Exactly
ReplyDeleteBtw will you cite more why you think the mari tablets are poor evidence for the biblical narratives
ReplyDeleteWhy cite more evidence when they have clearly demonstrated that evidence that is valid is only evidence that supports their beliefs by ignoring this obvious evidence that contradicts their beliefs.
DeleteWhy ask for more when he is only calling it poor just because it contradicts his beliefs. Evidence that supports his beliefs is good evidence while evidence such as in this article that contradicts his beliefs is "poor evidence".
DeleteThis is excellent information about the historicity of key aspects of the OT, and the depths to which understanding Jesus´ legacy, and OT heritage, can be taken.
ReplyDeleteGod is the eternal First Cause, as philosophical logic helps clarify metaphysically, since Artistotle at least. Thomas of Aquinas made key advances in Jesus´ legacy. God has been perceived and aligned with by shamans as humans developed from their evolutionary arrival. Cyrus the Great of Persia showed another angle of how God´s good will gets expressed by the wise, and even powerful. Now, we have reached an era after FD Roosevelt´s Social Gospel vision and Eleanor´s facilitating set up the UN as a Christian initiative that was negotiated pluralistically with the world.
The more we can address the empirical questions, and create awareness about the philosophical layers of reality, the better. The Noah version of the Flood story being taken from the Epic of Gilgamesh series, for example. We see how efforts to sustain contact with God have been maintained.
Now in Jesus´ legacy, we have archeology to tell us that the flood happened in Ur around 3,000 BC. We know that the Jewish prophets appropriated the story in their own experience. We know the result led through Moses and numerous prophets all the way to Jesus. And then Jesus´ legacy, in which spiritual practice is necessary, leading to University-based philosophical knowledge, including empirical forms like "science."