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Title: Iron Age II Hebrew Personal Names in the Bible
Subtitle: Scope, Characteristics and Implications
Author(s): GOLUB, Mitka R.
Journal: Ancient Near Eastern Studies
Volume: 60    Date: 2023   
Pages: 329-343
DOI: 10.2143/ANES.60.0.3292575

Abstract :
What percentage of Hebrew personal names from excavated Iron Age II artefacts appears in the Bible? What percentage of these names appears in the context of the First Temple period? Are they similar in characteristics to Iron Age II names which are not mentioned in it? This work is one of several onomastic studies applying quantitative and statistical analyses in order to shed more light on the relationship between archaeological evidence and the Bible. The study reveals a high percentage of biblical occurrences of Iron Age II names, especially from Judean artefacts. Most of the occurrences appear in the context of the First Temple narratives, indicating that these narratives most likely reflect Iron Age II Judean onomastic reality. In addition, the study shows that in contrast to the group of names not mentioned in the Bible, the group of names mentioned includes a high percentage of Yahwistic names and a low percentage of non-theophoric, non-hypocoristic names. This may be attributed to the tendency of biblical authors/redactors to use Yahwistic names rather than other names.

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