Chedorlaomer texts in the light of new discoveries. Part 1

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Abstract

This study sheds light on one of the mysteries of the Old Testament, namely the plot from Genesis 14, which describes the campaign of a coalition of kings of the East (Chedorlaomer, Amraphel, Tidal, Arioch) into Palestine. The article demonstrates the process of forming these royal names under the influence of a cuneiform source known as the “Chedorlaomer Texts” and reveals its uniqueness. Along with this, the historical context that underlies the plot is revealed. In the course of the work, many new readings were revealed, carefully hidden by the Babylonian scribe. The problem of reading the last sign in the cryptogram KU.KU.KU.KU.GA2 was solved, and a section of the cuneiform text was discovered in which, albeit somewhat unusually, a phonetically identical syllabic form corresponding to the biblical Amraphel is read. In addition to the analysis of proper names, a transliteration and a commented translation of the Chedorlaomer Texts into Russian are provided. The first part contains a translation of the text and an analysis of four names.

About the authors

Iakov A. Balashov

Author for correspondence.
Email: luhi111@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Syktyvkar

References

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