Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Ratel · 05-13-2006, 09:06 AM

In the thread about the failed Tyre prophecy, I noticed the names of one of the Tyrian princes was Iahimilki- I was wondering, for those of you familiar with Semitic languages if the first part of his name might be related to the Hebrew yhwh/yahweh, something like "King Yahweh" or "Yahweh the King" or something.

Quote:

4) Ashurbainpal's (668 - 633 BC) third campaign is against Tyre: “In my third campaign I marched against Ba'lu, king of Tyre, who lives amidst the sea, because he did not heed my royal order, did not listen to my personal commands. I surrounded him with redoubts, seized his communications, on sea and land. I intercepted and made scarce their food supply and forced them to submit to my yoke (DonG's note: this is how Nebuchadnezzar got submission from Tyre during his siege, but he, like his predecessor, failed to sack the city because the island was so heavily fortified). He brought his own daughter and daughters of his brothers before me to do menial services, at the same time, he brought his son Iahimilki who had not crossed the sea to greet me as slave. I received from him his daughter and the daughters of his brothers with their great dowries. I had mercy upon him and returned to him the son, the offspring of his loins

dongiovanni1976x · 05-13-2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratel

In the thread about the failed Tyre prophecy, I noticed the names of one of the Tyrian princes was Iahimilki- I was wondering, for those of you familiar with Semitic languages if the first part of his name might be related to the Hebrew yhwh/yahweh, something like "King Yahweh" or "Yahweh the King" or something.

I think you are right to assume this, most Semitic names are made up of a combination of some deity and some other adjective or descriptor etc. E.g. Jehoiachin (Yeho-Yachin “Yahweh will make firm”) or Shalmanesser (Shulmun is the greatest/foremost) or even the common name Michael (mich- Elohim) etc. In this case it looks as if Iahimilki fits into this group but I am unsure what “milki” may refer to in reference to the deity. :huh:

Magdlyn · 05-13-2006, 10:50 AM

You will see the words for god and lord recur in many names in the Tanakh.

Yah

El

Baal

Anat · 05-13-2006, 12:51 PM

It might be a cognate of Elimelekh, like the name of Naomi's husband in Ruth.

spin · 05-13-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratel

In the thread about the failed Tyre prophecy, I noticed the names of one of the Tyrian princes was Iahimilki- I was wondering, for those of you familiar with Semitic languages if the first part of his name might be related to the Hebrew yhwh/yahweh, something like "King Yahweh" or "Yahweh the King" or something.

The name is YXMLK, "may the king live"?, and therefore has nothing to do with YHWH.

spin

Ratel · 05-13-2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spin

The name is YXMLK, "may the king live"?, and therefore has nothing to do with YHWH.

spin

Ahh- well at least I got the MLK part right. BTW what does the X represent? Aleph or something like that?

spin · 05-13-2006, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratel

Ahh- well at least I got the MLK part right. BTW what does the X represent? Aleph or something like that?

X is the common transliteration for a chet.

Other strange letters in transliteration are

) = alef (Abraham's name starts with this)
( = ayin (Ezra's name starts with this)
Q = kof (further down the throat from a /k/)
C = tsade ("ts")
+ = tet (a hard "t")
$ = shin (a "s" or a "sh" -- often transliterated as "#")

)BGDHWZX+YKLMNS(PCQR$T

(Nazirite is spelt with a zayin = /z/, but Nazareth is spelt with a tsade = /ts/.)

Sounds that seem similar to us were obviously perceived differently in Hebrew. I don't know of a case for example where alef and ayin were ever confused, nor do I know of one in Hebrew for H "heh" and X "chet".

spin

Ratel · 05-14-2006, 09:18 AM

okay, that makes sense. thanx

rob117 · 05-14-2006, 05:57 PM

What about the 5th-centry BC King of Byblos Yehawmilk? This king is later, in the Persian period.

spin · 05-14-2006, 10:30 PM

Sorry, I can't find a transliteration on the net, but two points:

1) his father's name was Yeharbaal; and

2) -mlk is the theophoric element in the name (eg Milk = Molok).

Regarding the name Yehawmilk I would assume

1) that it was a similar structure to the others in the Phoenician chronology;

2) that -milk was the theophoric element; and

3) that yehaw- was probably a variation on YX.

But the conclusion is only an assumption. I'd need either a decent picture of the inscription or a transliteration.

spin

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05-13-2006, 10:50 AM	#3
Magdlyn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,230	You will see the words for god and lord recur in many names in the Tanakh. Yah El Baal

05-13-2006, 12:51 PM	#4
Anat Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: home Posts: 3,715	It might be a cognate of Elimelekh, like the name of Naomi's husband in Ruth.

05-14-2006, 09:18 AM	#8
Ratel Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SD, USA Posts: 268	okay, that makes sense. thanx

05-14-2006, 05:57 PM	#9
rob117 Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New York State Posts: 440	What about the 5th-centry BC King of Byblos Yehawmilk? This king is later, in the Persian period.

05-14-2006, 10:30 PM	#10
spin Contributor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: nowhere Posts: 15,747	Sorry, I can't find a transliteration on the net, but two points: 1) his father's name was Yeharbaal; and 2) -mlk is the theophoric element in the name (eg Milk = Molok). Regarding the name Yehawmilk I would assume 1) that it was a similar structure to the others in the Phoenician chronology; 2) that -milk was the theophoric element; and 3) that yehaw- was probably a variation on YX. But the conclusion is only an assumption. I'd need either a decent picture of the inscription or a transliteration. spin

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