128 



THEOPHILUS G. PINCHES^ LL.D., M.R.A.S., ON 



Notes. 



This tablet apparently has more Biblical interest than that 

 from Tyre. As already stated, it is dated six days earlier. The 

 place where is was drawn up, dl mat Suba\ must be the capital 

 of the tract known as Aram Zobah. As this form of the name 

 is practically exactly that of the Hebrew n|.'i!^ it is doubtful 

 whether the Sabiti of the Assyrian tribute-lists be the same 

 place or not. Most scholars, however, think that there were 

 two districts of the same or similar names. This, of course, is 

 possible, but farther than that we can hardly go. The position 

 required for the Assyrian Subiti is between Hamath and 

 Damascus, though Assur-bani-apli's great historical cylinder 

 indicates that there was a place of the same name in the 

 Hauran. The Hebrew Zobah was a place of great mineral 

 wealth, and rich in vineyards and fruitful fields. 



Among the names in this contract is that of Subabu-sara' son 

 of Karmisaya, or " the Karmisite." The first element of Subabu- 

 sara' reminds us of the Old Testament Shobab : (1) the name of 

 one of David's sons, and (2) a son of Caleb. The first character 

 of Karmisaya is doubtful, but if, by chance, the reading be 

 correct, the name may be a shortening of Carchemishite 

 (Karkamisaya). Otherwise we ought, perhaps, to read te instead 

 of har, making Temisaya, " the Temisite." The true reading 

 will, perhaps, be revealed by again consulting the original, but 

 this can only be when the British Museum is again opened to 

 the public. 



If sara have any connection with the Hebrew "ID, Suhahu- 

 sara' may mean " Shobab the prince," or the like. It is also 

 worthy of note that ma may be read instead of ha {Sumalnt-sara), 

 but that adopted in the translation is more probable. 



In line 12 -gy^ is written for "^iif^. It is noteworthy that, 

 in line 13, there is no determinative before Irani, The day of 

 the month, line 16, is slightly doubtful. 



3. The Tablet dated at Tyre, 564 b.c. 

 British Museum, 81-4-28, 88. 

 Obverse. 



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