| Tell Dan Inscription
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Description:
Known as the "Tel Dan" inscription, this stone tablet contains the phrases "King of Israel" and "House of David" and is one of two non-Biblical source confirming the existence of King David from the Bible.
Era:
Middle Semitic Script
Image Credit:
K. C. Hanson
Date of Inscription:
c. 850 BCE
Location of Discovery:
Tell Dan, Israel
Date of Discovery:
?
Current Location:
?
Language:
Aramaic
Writing Surface:
Stone
Transliteration:
Fragment #1 (right)
1. ...] D . [...
2. ...] ABY . YS [...
3. WYShKB . ABY . YHK . A [...
4. RAL . QDM . BAR . Q [...
5. ANH . WYHK . HDD . QDM [...
6. Y . MLKY . WAQT [...
7. KB . WALPY . PRSh [...
8. MLK . YShRAL . W ... H? . B [...
9. K . BYT DWD . NA [...
10. YT . ADQ . HM . L [...
11. AHhRN . WLH [...
12. L? . AhL . Y? [...
13. M?R . AhL [...
Fragment #2 (left)
1. ...] WGZ [...
2. ...] HhMH . BA [...
3. ...] WYAhL . MLK [...
4. ...] HMLK . HDD [...
5. ...] APQ . M? ?B [...
6. ...] SRY . A [...
7. ...] RM . BR [...
8. ...] HW . BR [...
Translation:
Fragment #1 (right)
1. ...] [...
2. ...] my father [...
3. and my father layed down [...
4. ? east/ancient well [...
5. he answered and he ? hadad east/ancient [...
6. ? my kings and I [...
7. star and oxen of [...
8. king israel and [...
9. ? house of david and [...
10. ? pour? they [...
11. after and [...
12. go on [...
13. ? on [...
Fragment #2 (left)
1. ...] and geze(r?) [...
2. ...] [...
3. ...] ? and king went up [...
4. ...] the king hadad [...
5. ...] fortress [...
6. ...] ? my prince [...
7. ...] ram son of [...
8. ...] yahu son of [...
(Translation by Jeff A. Benner)
Comments:
The ninth line reads "House of David", and is most likely a reference to King David of the Bible as line eight mentions the "King of Israel".
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