As I had stated in the introduction I used to teach a men's study at the Norco Men's prison in Riverside California about an hour from where I live. When I elected to take up the task of teaching the book of Daniel it was something that I had already had an interest in since I was about 12 years old. The study of the prophet Daniel leads us to the pinnacle; the peak; the very thing as Christians which we all look forward to the coming of the Messiah in clouds of Glory.
When I enrolled in Dr. Radner's class I didn't have any preconceived ideas about the Assyrians; or their methods they used to rule their Empire(s) which spread over vast areas of the Middle East. I just wanted to learn if there was anything that I could glean from them that would help me understand the prophet Daniel; and, the rest of the Bible itself. Learn more about Dr. Radner Here, Here, and Here.
The Assyrians used a writing system called "Cuneiform" which utilized a triangular stylus to make impression in the soft clay forming words; or, ideas with the stylus. This writing system predates the Assyrians and goes back to Ugarit; and, the Sumerians. It is one of the earliest writing systems. The Assyrians particular variety of Cuneiform is called Akkadian. There were many languages which used the Cuneiform system throughout the history of the Middle East:
Sumerian, Akkadian; Ebalite, Elamite, Hattic, Hittite, Hurrian,
Luwian, Urartian, and Old Persian
Here are several photos of the method used by the Assyrians; and, copied by the Babylonians. You can see two scribes in each photo. look closely and you can see that one is writing on something rigid; and, the other scribe is using what isn't rigid (most likely papyrus).
Assyrian Scribes # 1: (Link)
Take note of how the two scribes (situated on the right) are taking down what
is being dictated. Notice the scribe farthest to the left (on the right side) is
holding something that seems to be rigid; and, the scribe to his right has
something that looks floppy like a piece of papyrus.
Assyrian Scribes # 2: (Link)
In this drawing of a stone lithograph notice the soldiers are bringing the
severed heads of their enemies. Also notice the (2) two scribes each with
a writing instrument; but, two different types of materials were used for
recording; one clay tablets; and, the other papyrus. Obviously the tablets
have given us excellent records; and, a better understanding of what cultures
in the past thought; or, believed.
Assyrian Scribes # 3: (Link)
Notice CLEARLY the two scribes using two different materials for recording.
AKKADIAN:
This particular language; and, writing system influenced the prophets of the
Bible who were of the House of Judah when they were deported to ancient
Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar.
If you carefully examine the Bible initially the months were just first month;
second month; third month etc. However we see in EXODUS 12 that
YAHAUH (יהוה) tells Moses:
"This month shall be the beginning of months; it shall be the first month
of the year to you.
Then YAHUAH (יהוה) tells Moses in Exodus 13:4:
"On this day you are going out in the month ABIB..."
YAHUAH (יהוה) is referring to a stage of development of the grain. However
later in Nehemiah 2:1 we find this:
"And it came to pass in the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of
King Artaxerxes[XERXES]....[a Persian King].
Nehemiah was using the vernacular of Persia for the Months name;
which is Akkadian in origin. We find a great deal of Akkadian; and,
Aramaic loan words in the Bible itself. Especially in the prophets like:
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Obadiah
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
If you want to learn MORE about this subject matter I strongly suggest the book
available by Brill:
"Akkadian Loan Words in Biblical Hebrew" by Paul Mankowski.
Paul's Doctorate Dissertation was about this material which I find fascinating!!!
It is part of the Journel from Harvard Semitic Studies.
Should you find yourself interested in Akkadian Literature you can go to
AKKADIAN MONTH NAMES:
| MONTHLY ORDER | AKKADIAN NAME | BABYLONIAN NAME | HEBREW NAME | ARAMAIC NAME | RULING DIETIES |
| (1). First | Nisannu | Nisanu | NISAN (נִיסָן) | Bel | |
| (2). Second | Ayyaru | Aru | IYAR (אִיָּיר) | Ea | |
| (3). Third | Simanu | Simanu | SIVAN (סִיוָן) | Sin | |
| (4). Fourth | Du'uzu | Dumuzu | TAMMUZ (תַּמּוּז) | Tammuz | |
| (5). Fifth | Abu | Abu | AB (אָב) | Gilgamesh | |
| (6). Sixth | Ululu | Alulu | ELUL (אֱלוּל) | Ishtar | |
| (7). Seventh | Tasritu | Tisritum | TISHRI (תִּשְׁרֵי) | Shamash | |
| (8). Eighth | Kislimu | Samnu | CHESVAN (מַרְחֶשְׁוָ) | Marduk | |
| (9). Ninth | Sabatu | Kislimu | KISLEV (כִּסְלֵו) | Nergal | |
| (10). Tenth | Addaru | Tebetum | TEBET (טֵבֵת) | Papsukkal | |
| (11). Eleventh | Sabatu | SHABAT (שְׁבָט) | Adad | ||
| (12). Twelfth | Adar | ADAR (אֲדָר) | Erra | ||
| (13). Intercalulary | ADAR II | Assur |
* Babylonian Calendar at Elephantine (Link)
* Babylonian Ritual Calendar: (Link)
* Mul.Apin Tablets: (Link)
* Babylonian Calendar Date converter (Link)
The Akkadian Language also has Sumerian loanwords!!!
In fact the Akkadian word "babalini" means: "The Gate of the gods"
CYRUS CYLINDER EXTRACT IN CUNEIFORM: (Link)
DARIUS I "THE GREAT" TRI-LINGUAL MONUMENT The Behistun Inscription:
(The Behistun Inscription) In Iran (Link)
Cuneiform Inscription in Old Persian, Akkadian; and, Elamite.
PALACE OF KING DARIUS IN PERSEPOLIS (Link)
FROM AKKADIAN SYLLABARY TO HEBREW SYMBOLISM I (Link)
FROM AKKADIAN SYLLABARY TO HEBREW SYMBOLISM II (Link)
(This Woman's Idea's about Language are intriguing which is why I have them posted.
UGARITIC: (Link)
SUMERIAN: (Link)
SUMERIAN CUNEIFORM STONE CONE: King Urukagina (Link)
SUMERIAN KING LIST: LARSA IRAQ 1800 BC (Link)
SUMERIAN KING LIST: Ashmolean Museum Oxford (Link)
SUMERIAN TEMPLE (Wall Plaque Libation Scene) from UR (Link)
SUMERIAN CUNEIFORM CLAY CONE (Archaic Period) SUMER (Link)
SUMERIAN ZIGGURAT (Link)
SUMERIAN QUEEN'S LYRE (Link)
4,000 YEAR OLD BABYLONIAN TABLET (Oldest Customer complaint) (Link)
BABYLONIAN CREATION MYTH "Enuma Elish" (Link)
BABYLONIAN "EPIC OF GILGAMESH" Flood Account (Link)
HEAR THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH READ IN ANCIENT AKKADIAN (Link)
GILGAMESH: THE ANCIENT HISTORY ENCYCLOPEDIA (Link)
THE CAPITAL OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE WAS NINEVEH - IRAQ (Link)
Do you remember the story of Jonah in the bible? He HATED the Ninevites
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