Tags
Genesis 10, Hamites, hatti, king josiah, Semites, Table of Nations
-Yes, I know some names are missing and at least a couple of my identifications (esp. Seba and Togarmah) are questionable. For questions about identifications of specific names in Genesis 10, search the blog archives. Notice that the nation-names are almost entirely clustered in a region from 24° E to 50° E. This is very much inconsistent with any Persian or Hellenistic-era date proposal for the composition of Genesis 10. I find it most plausible that Genesis 10 was composed between c. 550 and 750 BC, preferably in the days of King Josiah or early during the Exile. Notice Genesis 10’s inclusion of Canaan (and Hatti!) in the Hamitic group. Apparently, the author of Genesis 10 viewed ‘Semites’ as being cuneiform-using nations and some South Semites.
>Notice Genesis 10′s inclusion of Canaan (and Hatti!) in the Hamitic group.
Perhaps, in the time of biblical author Canaan was conquered by Egypt.
>Apparently, the author of Genesis 10 viewed ‘Semites’ as being cuneiform-using nations and some South Semites.
…or Aramaic speaking nations.
The Elamites did not speak Aramaic. Canaan was ruled by Egypt in the New Kingdom, the later days of Psamtik I and earlier days of Necho II, and in the 3rd century BC by the Ptolemys. I view the conditions in the days of Psamtik I as most likely to be those behind Genesis 10.
I think Ptolemaic period is more suitable because it lasted longer.
But why does the text not mention more Mediterranean or Iranian groups?
What do you think about the dating of the flood story?
6th century BC, probably either Exilic or Early Persian.
Author(s) of this story used solar calendar, but not lunar babilonian/persian calendar.
I presume the Judahite exiles would probably have still used the Judahite solar calendar while in Babylonia, at least, for some purposes.
What do you think about beginning of the calendar year in monarchic period?
Oh, that makes sense.