CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 1Archaeology and Historical StudiesBiblical Studies and InterpretationHistorical and Linguistic Studies

Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

Open access
Isaac, Moise·2021·Journal of the American Oriental Society
DOI 10.7817/jameroriesoci.140.3.0593
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

The uncertainty concerning the genre of the Ḥorvatʿ'Uza ostracon 1 is problematized through the lens of linguistic anthropology. Although a denotative approach to the linguistic forms in this Hebrew ostracon is well attested, less attention has been paid to the indexical meaning of specific stylistic features and their semiotic register implications. Several linguistic-ideological concepts are drawn upon to examine how the act of inscription and specialized linguistic forms align the discursive genre of the ostracon with prophecy. I seek to determine what salient discourse forms in the ostracon index the employment of habitual utterance styles of prophecy that construct context, genre, and social identity.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.7817/jameroriesoci.140.3.0593

Cites

50 of 50 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 115 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    In line 7, the next words are bkyt and šbtk[h].

    “The next words are bkyt (cf.Gen. 50:4 from bkh “weep”) and šbtk[h].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gen. 50:4

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingcitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The reading bšl[m] is more convincing than šly or šlw.

    “A more convincing possibility is to render the final letter as a mem, with the reading bšl[m] (Lemaire 1995: 221).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lemaire 1995: 221

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingcitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    In line 7, ʾl is the preposition 'toward' followed by the maqtal noun mlz 'perverse, crookedness' from root lwz.

    “I take ʾl as the preposition “toward” (HALOT 1: 50) followed by the maqtal noun form of mlz “perverse, crookedness” from the root lwz “turning aside” (HALOT 2: 522).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites HALOT 1: 50

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites HALOT 2: 522

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingcitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    In line 11, the word reads ymḥṣ, from root mḥṣ 'to smash, strike, or wound.'

    “The word would therefore read ymḥṣ, from the root mḥṣ “to smash, strike, or wound” (HALOT 2: 571).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites HALOT 2: 571

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The last word in line 12 can be reconstructed as bṣ[r].

    “Finally, the last word in this line could be reconstructed as bṣ [r].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 42
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 36

  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingcitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    In line 7, the verb after mlz is wysʿ 'and he removed,' from root nsʿ, meaning 'to tear out, uproot.'

    “After mlz, we find the verb wysʿ “and he removed” (Cross 1993: 64; Cross 2000: 112; Dobbs-Allsopp et al. 2005: 525; contra rqʾ “to spread out, ” Davies 2005: 158).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Cross 1993: 64

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Cross 2000: 112

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Dobbs-Allsopp et al. 2005: 525

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The beginning of line 6 reads kṣr, meaning 'as an adversary.'

    “I read the beginning of the line as kṣr “as an adversary.””
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingreasoning
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The opening of the ostracon is vague without any clear addressee.

    “This may help to explain why the opening of the ostracon is vague without any clear addressee.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The inscription has thirteen lines written in a skilled epigraphic Hebrew script.

    “On it were written thirteen lines in a script exhibiting the penmanship of a very skilled writer of epigraphic Hebrew (fig.1).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The ostracon was found in the eastern chamber of the city gate of the eastern Negev fortress, in Stratum IV, dating to the second half of the seventh century BCE.

    “This ostracon was located in the eastern chamber of the city gate of the eastern Negev fortress, and found in Stratum IV, dating it to the second half of the seventh century bCe.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    Na'aman's reading ʿl pt ṣr[ ] is unconvincing because a letter between p and t is unaccounted for and ṣ is not visible.

    “Na'aman's (2013: 224) reading of ʿl pt ṣr[ ] is unconvincing, because there is a letter between the /p/ and /t/ that he does not account for and the /ṣ/ is not visible.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Na'aman 2013: 224 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The verb whtʿrʿrth is legible and uses the long second-person suffix -th.

    “The verb whtʿrʿrth is legible and the use of the long form of the second person pronominal suffix -th is certain.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    There are four nouns on the ostracon that are masculine but pluralized with a feminine ending.

    “It is noteworthy that there are four nouns on the ostracon that are masculine but are pluralized with a feminine ending (zrʿtykh; dnt).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    In line 9, the line begins with ʿl pn[kh] 'before you.'

    “This line begins with the words: ʿl pn[kh] “before you” (Cross 1993: 64).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cross 1993: 64

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    In line 8, the last letter appears to be a kap and the preferred reading is ʿllk.

    “The last letter appears to be a kap and the word ʿllk is the preferred reading.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The form šbt can be either an infinitive from yšb 'to sit' or a verbal noun from šbt 'place.'

    “could be either an infinitive from the verb yšb “to sit” (Becking 2010: 34), or a verbal noun from the root šbt “place” (HALOT 4: 1409).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Becking 2010: 34

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites HALOT 4: 1409

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    In line 13, the beginning letters read wqbrkh 'and your tomb,' with long suffix -kh.

    “The beginning letters are legible and read wqbrkh “and your tomb,” with the long 2nd person pronominal suffix form -kh (Dobbs-Allsopp et al. 2005: 537).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Dobbs-Allsopp et al. 2005: 537

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    In line 10, the final letter cannot be corroborated from photographs and appears to be strokes of a taw.

    “Neither the first nor the last suggestion can be corroborated from the photographs.The end of this word appears to be the bottom-left and right strokes of a taw.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    Line 10 is a one-word line.

    “Be that as it may, it is important to point out that l. 10 is a one-word line (Sasson 2005: 607).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sasson 2005: 607

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The ostracon's lines 12-13 state that although the individual will be buried in a rock-cut tomb (qbr), that tomb will be reduced to ruins (ḥrb).

    “The idea expressed is this: Even though this individual will be buried in a rock-cut tomb (qbr, l. 12), this tomb will be reduced to ruins (ḥrb, l. 13).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The particle hnh also points to a proposition in discourse and its ability to transform social relations.

    “The particle hnh also points to a proposition in the discourse and its ability to act upon and transform the social relations of the parties involved.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    HU-1 is generally regarded as a literary composition.

    “The ostracon, registered in 2007 as Ḥorvat ʿUza inscription 1 [henceforth HU-1], is generally understood to be a literary composition (Beit-Arieh 2007: 122-27;Cross 2000: 112;Dobbs-Allsopp et al. 2005: 521, 526).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Beit-Arieh 2007: 122-27

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Cross 2000: 112

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Dobbs-Allsopp et al. 2005: 521, 526

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The word ṣrr is attested in prophecy, wisdom, and Psalms with meanings of military attack and personal enemy.

    “The word ṣrr “to treat with hostility” is attested in a variety of broader social registers, such as prophecy, wisdom, and the Psalms, with the meaning of a military attack and personal enemy (HALOT 3: 1059).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites HALOT 3: 1059

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The root lwz is common in wisdom literature but appears once in prophecy (Isa.30:12).

    “This root is recycled often in the genre of wisdom literature (Prov.2:15; 3:21, 32; 4:21; 14:2), but reproduced once in prophecy (Isa.30:12).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Prov.2:15

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Isa.30:12

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    Comparing Iron Age II inscriptions and the Hebrew Bible is difficult because inscriptional sources are limited, the texts span a vast period, and biblical dating lacks consensus.

    “Second, there are numerous problems involved with relying on data from the Hebrew Bible: There are a limited number of inscriptional sources to compare with the Hebrew Bible; the texts cover a vast time period; and there is no scholarly consensus on dating various texts in the Hebrew Bible (Schniedewind 2004;Carr 2011).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Schniedewind 2004
    • cites Carr 2011 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    These discursive practices acquired pragmatic salience in royal courts and served as tools for indexing prophetic communication.

    “Clearly, the discursive practices in the Lachish ostracon and the Hebrew Bible acquired pragmatic salience in the royal courts of ancient Israel and Judah and served as a tool for indexing communication from a prophet.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The discovery of a prophetic Judean inscription at a military fortress at Ḥorvat Uza is not surprising given the relationship between prophecy and warfare.

    “Needless to say, the discovery of a prophetic Judean inscription at a military fortress at Ḥorvat Uza is not surprising given the relationship between prophecy and warfare.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    Inscriptional languages reflect the cultural present of the late Iron Age II, and shared forms between biblical writers and inscriptions reflect a reciprocal cultural milieu.

    “Nevertheless, because inscriptional languages reflect the cultural present (that is, they point back to a pre-seventh-century bCe period, not forward to the Hellenistic period), linguistic forms shared by select biblical writers and inscriptions reflect a reciprocal cultural milieu of the late Iron Age II period.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Silverstein 1985: 220 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    Words lack inherent meaning; their meaning is socially motivated and constructed.

    “Words do not have inherent meaning, nor do they do anything in and of themselves.Words are instruments of communication whose meaning is socially motivated and constructed, and not autonomous.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Silverstein 2004 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    Portions of the inscription are illegible or effaced.

    “Portions of the inscription are either illegible or effaced”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    Earlier studies of HU-1 focused on denotative meaning, which limits understanding of language as social practice.

    “Previous studies of HU-1 have examined the denotative value of its words and expressions, that is, the literal, dictionary-type definitions.However, this approach has real limitations; in particular, it does not allow for the ways that language is a social practice.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The particle hnh calls attention to a word or statement and points to a proposition in discourse.

    “The particle hnh calls attention to a word or statement (Waltke and O'Connor 1990: 300; cf.Arad 21:3; 24:18; 40:9; Lachish 6:5).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Waltke and O'Connor 1990: 300

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    Scholars have not reached a consensus on the genre, content, or purpose of HU-1.

    “so far there has been no consensus on its genre.”
    • Also stated in: § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza · plain
      “However, there is no agreement on the nature of its content, purpose, or genre.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Beit-Arieh 1993: 55-65 source
    • cites Cross 1993: 64-65

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    Linguistic anthropology considers both denotative and social meaning, helping to analyze semiotic register and ideologies.

    “The tools of linguistic anthropology take into account both denotative meaning and social meaning, which help us understand the semiotic register of HU-1's linguistic forms and the ideologies that they reference.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    Some linguistic features gain greater social salience over time.

    “This means that some vernacular features achieve greater social salience over time; for example, the choice to use honorifics (such as the use of usted versus tu in Spanish) communicates social meaning far more than any kind of referential or denotational meaning.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Silverstein 2004 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The kap in line 6 is the only letter outside the right margin, which suggests it was mistakenly omitted and later added as a correction.

    “This is the only letter found outside of the right margin, which suggests that the kap was mistakenly left out but later added as a correction.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The ostracon contains many illegible letters, preventing precise identification of words in lines 1-4.

    “Unfortunately, the Ḥorvat ʿUza ostracon contains many illegible letters, and we are not able to make out all the precise identifications of words in ll.1-4.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The transcription is based on direct inspection, photographs, and Yardeni's drawing.

    “My transcription is based upon my direct inspection of the ostracon, several photographs, and Yardeni's hand-copied drawing of the ostracon from infra-red illumination.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The presence of prophets in official circles and correlations between biblical and inscriptional prophetic identity are evident.

    “Nevertheless, the presence of prophets in official circles (hnbʾ Lachish 16:5) and certain correlations between biblical and inscriptional representations of prophetic identity are evident.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lachish 16:5

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The reconstruction qb[r]kh makes the most sense in context.

    “The reconstruction qb[r]kh, first suggested by Naveh (Beit-Arieh 1993: 62; 2007: 126), makes the most sense in this context, as it flows with what precedes this word in the beginning of l. 12 as well as what follows in l. 13.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Beit-Arieh 1993: 62 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    The configuration b + mšr is attested only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both in prophecy.

    “The configuration with the preposition (b + mšr) is attested only twice in the Hebrew Bible, and both occur in the genre of prophecy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premiseown data

    The singular noun mšr is used metaphorically four times, three referring to ruling with equity and divine justice.

    “The singular noun mšr is used metaphorically four times (Ps.45:6[7]; 67:5; Isa.11:4; Mal.2:6), and three of the four instances refer to ruling with equity and divine justice.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Ps.45:6[7]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Isa.11:4

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Mal.2:6

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premiseown data

    The phrase ʾḥr hymym in l. 12 resembles Jeremiah 31:33 and is not found elsewhere in any other genre.

    “For example, the phrase ʾḥr hymym in l. 12 of HU-1:12 resembles the phrase ʾaḥărê hay-yāmîm hā-hēm employed in the oracles of Jeremiah regarding a new covenant with Israel (Jer.31:33) and is not found elsewhere in any other genre.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Jer.31:33

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The verb ysʿ conveys removal of persons and may be a divine threat against the addressee's child.

    “The verb ysʿ “he (will) remove” conveys the idea of the removal of persons, and potentially this verb acquires particular significance as a divine threat against the addressee's child.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The -t affix on nominal plural + pronominal suffix is only attested with zrʿ 'arm,' so 'seed' is precluded.

    “Note that the -t affix on the nominal plural + pronominal suffix is only attested with zrʿ “arm” (Deut.33:27; 2 Sam.22:35; Psa.37:17; Hos.7:15, etc.; HALOT 1: 282); hence, the meaning “seed” is precluded here.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites HALOT 1: 282

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The term bkh is reserved for divine prohibitions against impending mourning and is strictly compartmentalized to prophecy.

    “More importantly, the term bkh is reserved for divine prohibitions against impending mourning for the deceased, and this type of discourse is strictly compartmentalized to the genre of prophecy (Jer.16:5; 22:10; Ezek.24:16, 23; cf.Jer.22:18; Job 27:15).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Jer.16:5

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Ezek.24:16

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given
    § An Unrecognized Prophetic Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza

    The one-word line may have semiotic value by emphasizing the word.

    “Perhaps it has semiotic value in that the choice of a one-word line emphasizes the word.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In the late eighth-seventh centuries BCE, many cave and rock-cut bench tombs were suddenly introduced, indexing social stratification and reserved for kings and wealthy groups.

    “During the late eighth-seventh centuries bce, there was a sudden introduction of numerous cave and rockcut bench tombs that indexed social stratification; they were reserved for kings and wealthy groups (Faust 2012: 32, 71-72).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Faust 2012 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The family tomb symbolized ancestral and generational continuity, permanence, and identity.

    “The family tomb was symbolic of ancestral and generational continuity, permanence, and identity (Faust 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Faust 2012 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Striking the arms is an expression meaning to cut off a person's power, and it appears prominently in several genres, especially prophetic oracles.

    “If, for example, the decisive factor for inclusion is confined to the theme of judgment, then this idea of striking the “arms” is an expression that means to cut off one's “power” and is a highlight in various genres (Deut.33:20; Job 22:9; Psa.10:15), but more so in prophetic oracles.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Deut.33:20

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Job 22:9

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Psa.10:15

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The word zrʿ 'arm' alone is an anatomical word of everyday life and its use is situated in many genres.

    “The word zrʿ “arm” alone means nothing of significance; it is an anatomical word that was part of everyday life.The use of the word is situated in so many literary genres and social registers-such as poetry, narrative, and prophecy (HALOT 1: 281-82)-that seeking to understand the rationale for its inclusion in the ostracon remains unproductive.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites HALOT 1: 281-82

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The verb ʿrr represents a distinct register of prophetic doom oracles used to gain shame and divine punishment.

    “The verb ʿrr represents, in my view, a distinct register and identity-level lexeme: the literary repertoire of prophetic doom oracles that are employed in performances to gain the expected outcome of shame and divine punishment.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    In Jeremiah's oracle, Edom's leaders dismiss the terror of death awaiting them after their defeat.

    “One particular discursive use is found in the oracle of Jeremiah in which the leaders of Edom play down the terror of death that awaits them after their defeat (Jer.49:16-17).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Jer.49:16-17

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The author laid claim to religious authority and used ancestral poetry to stabilize moral order.

    “The author laid claim to a religious authority index from authoritative figures in Israelite culture to confer power upon himself and employed animated ancestral poetry to stabilize the moral order of the present.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The verb ʿrr is strictly compartmentalized to doom oracles and refers to stripping bare and demolishing buildings.

    “The verb is strictly compartmentalized to the genre of doom oracles and refers to stripping someone bare and demolishing buildings (Isa.23:13; 32:11; Jer.51:58).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Isa.23:13

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Jer.51:58

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The noun dn/dyn in l. 10 is recycled in many social registers and invokes pleas for divine adjudication.

    “The noun dn /dyn “judgment” in l. 10 is recycled in many social registers in the Hebrew Bible.Beyond a denotative use of this word, the discourse agency of dn is invoked in several genres pertaining to pleas and verbal disputes that involve the request for divine adjudica-tion and empowerment in situations of powerlessness (HALOT 1: 220).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites HALOT 1: 220

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    A curse spoken by an ordinary person differs greatly from one spoken by someone the community believes has supernatural power to enact it.

    “However, the invoking of a curse by a common person is very different from the same action performed by a person the community believes is invested with the supernatural power to enact it.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Prophets had the power of utterance to turn ordinary words into words of power, which the community believed made a curse socially effective.

    “Prophets had the power of utterance to transform common words into words of power, which the community believed made a curse socially effective.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Improper burial and a ruined ancestral tomb also disrupted a family's social cohesion and had consequences for the afterlife.

    “this act also disrupted a family's social cohesion and had implications for the afterlife.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Neh.2:3

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Isa.14:19

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Jer.36:30

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Convincing and therefore powerful poetic oracles of peace and consent could resolve territorial and other disputes and reduce tribal wars.

    “Poetic oracles of peace and consent that were convincing and therefore powerful could resolve territorial and other disputes and mitigate tribal wars.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The discovery of a prophetic ostracon at the military fortress of Ḥorvat ʿUza documents an attempt to mediate ongoing struggles within the monarchy over local sedentary tribes and semi-nomadic groups in the Negev.

    “It is tempting to postulate that the discovery of a prophetic ostracon at the military fortress of Ḥorvat ʿUza documents an attempt to mediate the ongoing struggles within the monarchy concerning local sedentary tribes and semi-nomadic groups in the Negev.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Linguistic anthropology cannot improve the decipherment of the physical inscription but can help decipher its social meaning and the power of a curse in an ancient Judean prophetic text.

    “While the tools of linguistic anthropology cannot help us better decipher the physical inscription, with its faded and illegible words, they can help us decipher its social meaning and the power of a curse in an epigraphic prophetic text in ancient Judah.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The literary ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza aligns with the genre of prophecy, linking a social order to a discursive formation within a dominant institution.

    “I have shown that the literary ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza aligns with the genre of prophecy by discovering a link between a social order and a discursive formation within a socially dominant institution.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The writer used salient elements of the prophetic sociolinguistic register, including iconic lexical and grammatical structures, creating indexical associations that let him act semiotically toward the addressee and audience.

    “The writer has employed salient elements of the prophetic sociolinguistic register, including iconic lexical and grammatical structures, which created a chain of indexical associations and gave the writer the facility to engage in semiotically meaningful action with the addressee and the audience.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    It was therefore in prophets' interest to build their power and persuasive ability, and language-especially the skillful use of semiotics and register-was a major part of that.

    “Hence, it was in the best interest of prophets to build up their power and ability to convince, and language-in particular, the skillful use of semiotics and register-was a major part of that.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Physical force was not the ideal tool of governance; verbal persuasion was considered the most favorable route to peace.

    “Physical force was not ideally a tool of governance; rather, recourse to the medium of power through verbal persuasion was certainly the most favorable path to peace (cf.Caton 1990).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Caton 1990

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Prophetic authority in texts is constituted by deploying semiotic forms: šlm + mšr with lšn for speaking truth; bkh for mourning the dead; ʿrr for shaming an enemy; zrʿ with a destruction verb for military defeat; and qbr + ḥrb for the tomb-desecration curse.

    “Prophetic authority in texts is constituted in the deployment of the semiotic forms: šlm + mšr in combination with lšn for the speaking of truth; bkh for mourning for the dead; ʿrr “to strip” for shaming one's enemy; zrʿ with a verb of destruction for military defeat; and qbr + ḥrb for the curse of the desecration of a rock-cut tomb.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The biblical prophetic texts cited reflect the actual discursive practices and beliefs of ancient Israel and Judah.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The city gate, a center of religious and legal power where officials, kings, elders, judges, and governors did business, shaped both the social roles performed and the kinds of persuasive discourse used before the assembled audience.

    “The city gate, a center of religious and legal power (where city officials, kings, elders, judges, and governors conducted business), shaped not only the social roles to be performed but also the type of discourse forms used to persuade the assembled audience.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Verbal art and curses were semiotic resources available to a prophet, and these features occur in the HU-1 ostracon.

    “Based upon the analysis above, it is evident that verbal art and curses were a semiotic resource at a prophet's disposal and that these features are found in the HU-1 ostracon.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
64 of 64

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The legible portions of HU-1 are sufficient to determine its genre despite many illegible or effaced letters.

    “Portions of the inscription are either illegible or effaced”
    “Unfortunately, the Ḥorvat ʿUza ostracon contains many illegible letters, and we are not able to make out all the precise identifications of words in ll.1-4.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Some biblical texts date to the same time and place as HU-1, allowing comparison.

    “parts of the Bible date to the same time and place, so they can be used to give insights into these inscriptions”
    “there is no scholarly consensus on dating various texts in the Hebrew Bible”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The intended publics of the ostracon were familiar with the register of prophecy and would recognize its use as persuasion.

    “as a form of persuasion that was familiar to the intended publics.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The distribution of words and constructions across genres in the Hebrew Bible reflects the sociolinguistic registers available to the writer of the ostracon.

    “When a number of attestations are found in a particular register that is aligned with a social context, event, status, and identity, then genre compartmentalization has taken place (Kroskrity 1998: 109).”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The ostracon is a unified text with a single author whose choices can be analyzed for social function.

    “the writer of the ostracon used the register of prophecy”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The addressee is a political leader who can enter a peace agreement.

    “It is used in response to political leaders who accept the bad counsel of forging an alliance with another party and rejecting the advice of the prophet.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The writer/performer of the ostracon wanted to bring about the act of cursing and, by speaking, to make it happen.

    “Moreover, the assumption here is that the writer/performer is anxious to achieve this act and, by speaking, to bring it about.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The text-artifact was inscribed at the place where it was discovered.

    “If we assume that the text-artifact was inscribed where it was discovered, then the linguistic forms of the Ḥorvat ʿUza ostracon index the social role of prophets within the social space of the city gate.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The ancient Judean urban bourgeoisie was acutely aware of this type of discourse and of the seriousness of this curse.

    “The ancient Judean urban bourgeoisie was acutely aware of this type of discourse and the seriousness of this curse.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most scholars working on the ostracon's genre have examined only referential terminology and have overlooked lexical and grammatical style and its indexical meanings.

    “Most scholars working to determine the genre of the ostracon have evaluated referential terminology only, while particular lexical and grammatical styles and their indexical meanings have been overlooked.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The biblical prophetic texts cited reflect the actual discursive practices and beliefs of ancient Israel and Judah.

    “Based upon these texts from the Judean community, there was a tacit ideology that the curse of tomb desecration was not to be employed outside of the ritual register of prophetic oracles.”
11 of 11

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Table 1 changes the transcribed word in line 4

    Minor

    The transcription and the line-by-line notes read yrʾ in line 4, whereas Table 1 lists yrʿ, a different transliteration.

  • Retribution term assigned to three different lines

    Minor

    The transcription places mšlm in line 4, but the discussion assigns it to line 3 and Table 1 assigns it to line 6.

  • Discussion places gdly[m] on the wrong line

    Minor

    The discussion locates gdly[m] in line 1, while the transcription and Table 1 place it in line 2.

3 of 3

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

1 of the 51 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 15

  1. Becking, B. 2010. Does Wisdom Come from Edom? Remarks on an Ostracon from Ḥorvat ʿUza. In Weisheit und Schöpfung: Festschrift für James Alfred Loader zum 65. Geburtstag, ed. S. Fischer and M. Grohmann. Pp. 29-42. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
  2. ---. 2007. Epigraphic Finds. In Ḥorvat ʿUza and Ḥorvat Radum: Two Fortresses in the Biblical Negev, ed. I. Beit-Arieh. Pp. 122-87. Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv Univ.
  3. ---. 2000. An Ostracon in Literary Hebrew from Ḥorvat ʿUza. In The Archaeology of Jordan and Beyond: Essays in Honor of James A. Sauer, ed. L. E. Stager, J. A. Greene, and M. D. Coogan. Pp. 111-13. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns.
  4. ---. 2004. Ancient Hebrew Inscriptions: Corpus and Concordance. Part 2. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press.
  5. ---. 2005. Some Uses of Writing in Ancient Israel in the Light of Recently Published Inscriptions. In Writing and Ancient Near Eastern Society, Papers in Honour of Alan R. Millard, ed. Piotr Bien- kowski, Christopher Mee, and Elizabeth Slater. Pp. 155-74. London: T and T Clark. Dobbs-Allsopp, F. W., J. J. M. Roberts, C. L. Seow, and R. E. Whitaker. 2005. Hebrew Inscriptions: Texts from the Biblical Period of the Monarchy with Concordance. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press.
  6. Elgavish, D. 2008. Inquiring of God before Ratifying a Treaty. In Thinking Towards New Horizons: Collected Communications to the XlXth Congress of the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament, Ljubljana 2007, ed. Matthias Augustin and Hermann Michael Niemann. Pp. 73-84. Bern: Peter Lang.
  7. ---. 1995. Jeremiah and the Wise. In Wisdom in Ancient Israel: Essays in Honour of J. A. Emerton, ed. J. Day, R. P. Gordon, and H. G. M. Williamson. Pp. 142-52. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press.
  8. Parker, S. B. 1994. The Lachish Letters and Official Reactions to Prophecies. In Uncovering Ancient Stones: Essays in Memory of H. Neil Richardson, ed. Lewis M. Hopfe. Pp. 68-78. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns.
  9. David Mangelbaum. Berkeley, CA: Univ. of California Press.
  10. Schieffelin, B. B., K. A. Woolard, and P. V. Kroskrity, eds. 1998. Language Ideologies: Practice and Theory. New York: Oxford Univ. Press.
  11. Silverstein, M. 1979. Language Structure and Linguistic Ideology. In The Elements: A Parasession on Linguistic Units and Levels, ed. P. Clyne, W. Hanks, and C. Hofbauer. Pp. 193-247. Chicago: Chicago Linguistic Society.
  12. ---. 2006. Writing at the Chronotopic Margins of Empires. In Margins of Writing, Origins of Cultures: New Approaches to Writing and Reading in the Ancient Near East, ed. Seth Sanders. Pp. 149-55. Chicago: Oriental Institute Press.
  13. Thareani, Y. 2014. The Judean Desert Frontier in the Seventh Century BCE: A View from 'Aroer. In Unearthing the Wilderness: Studies on the History and Archaeology of the Negev and Edom in the Iron Age, ed. J. Manuel. Pp. 227-66. Leuven: Peeters.
  14. Van Leeuwen, R. C. 1990. The Sage in the Prophetic Literature. In The Sage in Israel and the Ancient Near East, ed. J. G. Gammie and L. G. Perdue. Pp. 295-306. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns.
  15. L. G. Perdue, B. B. Scott, and W. J. Wiseman. Pp. 31-49. Louisville: Westminster.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Isaac, M.
Affiliations
University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
Isaac, Moise
Venue
Journal of the American Oriental Society
Publisher
American Oriental Society
Published
2021-09-19
Volume
140
Issue
3
ISSN
  • 0003-0279 (ISSN-L)
  • 2169-2289
DOI
10.7817/jameroriesoci.140.3.0593
OpenAlex
W3216446387
Cited by
0
References
51
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Journal of the American Oriental Society (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeology and Historical Studies
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Biblical Studies and Interpretation
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Historical and Linguistic Studies
Keywords
Hebrew inscriptions, prophetic discourse, linguistic anthropology, discursive genres, social identity, Habakkuk

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-04.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-04.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review