Mostly Philistine Spearheads Found at el-Khadr Near Bethlehem (940 BCE)

For translation methodology see: How to Translate Alphabetic Akkadian Texts

These bronze spearheads were discovered in 1953 when all 26 were put on sale in the Jordanian antiquities market. These were bought and investigated by archaeologists with the result that most ended up in the Amman Museum in Jordan (Milik and Cross 1954). This hoard was discovered to have come from the small village of el-Khadr located two miles west of Bethlehem. Image from Milik and Cross (1954). Letter assignments by Olmsted.

El-Khadr Philistine Spearheads 1, 3, and 4 Explicitly Mentions Yahu and Describes Emotional Energy as Magic (Levant Text 1.1, 1.3, 1.4)

(August 21, 2022) A cache of twenty-six bronze spearheads was hidden in ancient times in the land of Judah. Five of these had inscriptions with 4 of the inscriptions having Philistine lettering while the 5th had Phoenician lettering. What is unique with these spearheads is that two sentences on 3 and 4 are separated by letter orientation, that is, the spearhead is turned upside down to read the second sentence. The sentences which have magic affecting the life powers have the upside down letters.

Translation in Akkadian

(read right to left, shaft to point, upside down letters read left to right in the picture. Capital letters are on object, small letters are inferred inner vowels. Verb is in Italic bold))

Ḫu Ya'u Bu. D'u Bu A Tu (Levant Text 1.1)
--
Ḫu Ya'u. (letters upside down, read oppositely) Tu Bu ReDu Bu (Levant Text 1.3)
Ḫu Ya'u. (letters upside down, read oppositely) Tu A Bu ReDu Bu (Levant Text 1.4)

In English

Hu nourishes Yahu (I'). The divine is being nourished by those magical-powers
--
Hu Yahu (I'). Arousal (emotion magic) is driving the nourishments (fertility fluids)
Hu Yahu (I'). This magic is driving the nourishments

Lines 3 and 4 are claiming that energetic emotions (arousal and "magic's father") are pushing the fertility fluids through the network lines (channels) for Hu's Yahu.

References

Milik, J.T. and Cross, F.M (1954) Inscribed Javelin Heads from the Period of the Judges; A Recent Discovery in Palestine. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, No. 134 (Apr., 1954), pp. 5-15. Online at: URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1355623

Philistine Spearhead 2 from El-Khadr. From Cross 1980. Letter assignments by Olmsted.

Philistine Spearhead 2 from El-Khadr Explicitly Mentions Yahu (Levant Text 1.2)

(August 20, 2022) This text is simply pointing out that the ritual of the life priests open up the network (god Atu) and his healing aspect (Hu) activate the god Yahu (Yahweh = "power of Yahu").

Translation in Akkadian

(read left to right, Point to shaft. Capital letters are on object, small letters are inferred inner vowels. Verb is in Italic bold)

Ḫu I'u Bu. Du Pu A Tu

In English

Hu nourishes Yahu (I'u). Life-manifestations are being opened by those magical-powers.

References

Cross, F.M. (1980) Newly Found Inscriptions in Old Canaanite and Early Phoenician Scripts. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. No. 238, pages 1-20. Online at: URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1356511

Phoenician Spearhead 5 from el-Khadr. From Cross 1980. Letter assignments by Olmsted.

Philistine-Phoenician Spearhead 5 from el-Khadr Blames Drought on Magic

(Nov 27, 2022) This text uses Phoenician letters as shown in the letter chart.

Translation in Akkadian

(read left to right, Point to shaft. Capital letters are on object, small letters are inferred inner vowels. Verb in Italic Bold)

Ti Bā’u. Di Bā’u. (Levant 1.5.1
Tu Zā’u ZaBu (Levant 1.5.2)

In English

Magical-powers are nesting. Manifestations are nesting
Magic is drying-out the forced-flow (fertility fluids)

References

Cross, F.M. 1980 Newly Found Inscriptions in Old Canaanite and Early Phoenician Scripts. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. No. 238, pages 1-20. Online at: URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1356511

Israelite bronze spearhead. The text is Israelite according to the letter chart. This item was purchased by the British Museum from a collector in 1989 so its origin site is unknown. As usual the British Museum translation is completely wrong being just a name (which is not even a translation)

Israelite Spear Head at British Museum

(May 22, 2023)

Translation in Akkadian (Levant Text 47.1)

(read right to left, shaft to point. Capital letters are on object, small letters are inferred inner vowels. Verb in Italic Bold)

A Ṣe'u
Ba Du Ya
EZzu Du

In English

These are causing blockages
Nourishments are not being manifested
Lunar-energy is being manifested

References

Now at the British Museum. Number 140865. Online at: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1989-0409-1

Path of Pharaoh Sheshonq's invasion of the Levant as recorded in the Bubastite Portal in the Temple of Amun in Karnak. He either destroyed or received tribute and submission from these main cities of the time. Image from Levin (2012)

Spearheads Were Hidden During Pharaoh Sheshonq’s I Invasion

Egyptian Pharaoh Sheshonq (Egyptian ššnq) reigned from 945–922 BC). Soon after he came to power as the first pharaoh of the new 22nd dynasty he invaded the southern Levant to re-establish control. This is the most likely time when the spearheads were hidden. Based on the letter styles the spearhead texts were written near this time.

This invasion is also recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures:

“In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, King Shishak of Egypt marched against Jerusalem.” (1 Kings 14:25)

Confirmation of the portal record was provided when a cartouche of Seshonq on a victory stele was found at Megiddo in 1925 during an archaeological excavation by the University of Chicago.

References

Levin, Yigal (July/August 2012) Did Pharaoh Sheshonq Attack Jerusalem? Biblical Archaeology Review 38:4. Online at: https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/38/4/5