History & Geography

History & Geography Christopher T. Begg, William J. Urbrock, John R. Spencer, and Randy C. Payne ________ 1075. Dur-Abi Ešuh and the Abandonment of Nippur during the Late OB Period Marine Béranger, "Dur-Abi-Ešuh and the Abandonment of Nippur during the Late Old Babylonian Period: A Historical Survey, " JCS 75 (2023) 27–47. My article provides an account of the history of the Dur-Abi-ešuh and presents a survey of the political and military situation of central Babylonia during the Late Old Babylonian period (ca. 1740–1600 b. c. e. ). Making use of a long-known but completely overlooked source, I also suggest a date for the complete abandonment of Nippur, the main cult center of the land in the years 1631 and 1629 b. c. e. Adapted from published abstract—C. T. B. 1076. The Rise of the Maccabees Andrea M. Berlin, "The Rise of the Maccabees, " BARev 49 (2, 2023) 32–39. B. 's historical overview highlights archaeological evidence (architecture, coinage, widespread destruction and abandonment of towns and cities and farms in the 140s b. c. e. ) of the deadly Seleucid-Ptolemaic rivalries that helped give rise to "the Hasmonean success story. " The article includes maps, photos, and a sidebar on "The Maccabees Take Jerusalem. "—W. J. U. 1077. 2 Kgs 14: 28 Yigal Bloch, "2 Kings 14: 28—A Proposal for Solution, " VT 73 (2, 2023) 316–21. Basing myself on the use of the Hebrew verb šwb in Isa 29: 17 and the parallel Akkadian verb târu in SAA 12 19, I suggest that 2 Kgs 14: 28 refers to a change in the political status of Damascus and Hamath, which Jeroboam II made similar to that of Judah vis-à-vis Israel. Adapted from published abstract—C. T. B. 1078. The Amorites in the Bible Aaron A. Burke, "The Amorites and the Bible, " BARev 49 (2, 2023) 52–57. B. discusses archaeological evidence of the landscape of ancient Canaan, including huge stone dolmens, remains of impressive fortifications and water systems, and stone monoliths, that provide background for the HB's depiction of the Amorites. Photos and a sidebar on "Legendary Amorites" accompany the article. —W. J. U. 1079. New Assyriological Studies on the Fall of Samaria Mordechai Cogan, "Binding up Samaria's Wounds: A Critical Assessment of New Assyriological Studies on the Fall of Samaria and Its Aftermath, " IEJ 72 (2, 2022) 169–86. In the last two decades, several studies have investigated the fall of Samaria, the roles of Shalmaneser V and Sargon II in this event, the extent of the destruction of the city, and the individuals deported. C. 's article reviews those various studies, their methodology, and their viability. Adapted from published abstract—J. R. S. 1080. Grain Tribute in Hittite Syria and the Fall of Ugarit Yoram Cohen and Eduardo Torrecilla, "Grain Tribute in Hittite Syria and the Fall of Ugarit, " BASOR 389 (2023) 65–73. This article examines the term mānaḫātu in the letters from Hittite officials found at the House of Urtenu at Ugarit and recently published in the Ras Shamra-Ougarit 23 volume. The authors propose that the meaning of mānaḫātu—in Ugaritic mnḥ (t) —depends on the context, since it refers both to vassal tribute due to the empire by the Ugarit palace (consisting of vast amounts of grain staples) and a form of taxation imposed by the Ugarit palace on merchants and citizens of the kingdom at the local level. In addition, the letters concerning mānaḫātu reveal that the Hittite pressure on its vassal to meet its requirements likely exacerbated the food shortage suffered by the kingdom of Ugarit not long before its fall in the early 12th cent. b. c. e. Adapted from published abstract—R. C. P. 1081. Malgum Rients de Boer, "'Malgum, A Synthesis, " JCS 75 (2023) 13–26. This article collects new information recently made available concerning the town of Malgum (Tell Yassir) and provides a synthesis of its political history, with a focus on the Old Babylonian period when it was the capital of. . .