Friday, August 18, 2006

Neat Link: The Gezer Calendar

Under the category of neat web-links, the http://www.dailyhebrew.com/ blog has a nice presentation of the Gezer Calendar. [update 7/23/08: this section of that blog is now missing; here is another presentation on the Gezer calendar.] One of my posts yesterday had some paleo-Hebrew script, so why not look at a bit more?



[update 7/23/08: I am substituting a new active link (click here) for the broken link previously given at this spot]

The tablet is a well-known archaeological find, which outlines the yearly agricultural cycle. It was found at Tel-Gezer, and dates from the 9th century BCE.

The Gezer Calendar witnesses to how attentive ancient Israel would have to have been to the proper cycle of plowing, planting, and harvesting a whole variety of crops in order to survive (see Proverbs 20:4). You can see the cycle at issue in the Gezer Calendar in action in the agricultural references at Ruth 1:22 and 2:23.

UPDATE: Check out this WebSite (HT: Tyler Williams) that supplies the reconstructed paleo-Hebrew characters for each verse of the Bible.

4 Comments:

Blogger Dr. Joseph Ray Cathey said...

I was an area director at Gezer this summer. We had lectures on the Gezer Calendar. Indeed, a lady at nearby Karmine Yoseph made made us a couple of Gezer Calendars. I love the paleo-Hebrew script.

Best Wishes
Joe

Fri Aug 18, 09:05:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger S and C said...

Fascinating, Joe! Say, I heard you might be presenting a paper this fall on your squares at Gezer, perhaps at the ETS meeting. Is that still on? Any preview of what you'll say? Any photos of Gezer that you can post or share?? Thanks for commenting on my blog! ---Steve

Fri Aug 18, 09:50:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger Dr. Joseph Ray Cathey said...

Steve,

Yes, I am considering doing a paper at ETS. Right now it is a bit up in the air. My son is due on 5 September 2006. We will have to see how mom and sister are doing with baby brother. I am going to be at ASOR, ETS, and SBL. I hope to see you there. Are you giving a paper at any of the confrences?

Fri Aug 18, 01:35:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger S and C said...

Jo, September 5th is just around the corner! You must be getting excited... Congratulations.

Fri Aug 18, 08:41:00 PM GMT-5  

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