[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Nabonidus
Dear Gunner,
I am not particulary a Daniel expert, and my suggestions about Nabonidus
you have received already. There is only one point about which I might
illuminate the Mesopotamian background. In chapter 2-6 there are several
references to the courtiers who are called upon to interpret dreams. Of
these the ashapiya are obviously the ashipu (exorcists) know from
numerous MEsopotamian texts. The gazrayah may be diviners. I base this
on the fact that GZR has the basic meaning of "cut", but in Akkadian the
word parasu (to cut as well) designates as well determining of divine
decisions by means of divination. By the way, these two words are
probably related or the semantic equivalents of Hebrew qosem, also from a
rot with the primary meaning of cut. The Hartumim seem out of place in
the Babylonian court, but there are royal inscriptions which mention the
capture of hartumim in Egypt and their export to Mesopotamia. Did they
take up shop in their new land? The kashapayah are the Mesopotamia
kashshapu. INteresting about this list is the mixture of vocations. The
purpose of the gatehring of such e xperts is to interpret the king's
dreams, but apart from the gazrayah none of the others seem to have
anything to do with divination. The kasda'eh are probably diivners of
astral omens, so they are also related. The hartumim are a mixed bag. In
Exodus they are called upon to do miracles to counter those of Moses,
but in Genesis, in the Joseph stories, they are called upon to interpret
PHaraoh's dreams. So it is questionable either how distinct the
functions were or how familiar the biblical authors were with the
functionaries in other societies.
Hope these comments are of some avail.
Avigdor Hurowitz