El-Kerak Inscription
The El-Kerak Inscription was discovered in 1958 in Jordan, near the El-Kerak wadi. It is a basalt inscription fragment measuring 12.5 centimeters (4.9 in) high by 14 centimeters (5.5 in) wide. The inscription has been dated to the late ninth century BC and contains 3 incomplete lines written in the Moabite language. The form of letters is very similar to those found on the Mesha Stele, but there is one special feature. Letter He has four horizontal strokes going to the left from the vertical stroke, while a typical He in tenth to fifth century BC northwest Semitic inscriptions contains only three strokes to the left. This letter is present in the inscription at least 3 times, and each time it appears with 4 horizontal strokes.
Transliteration and Translation
Provided below is transliteration and transcription of the inscription in Hebrew letters as well as its English translation.[1][2] Words in brackets are not preserved in the inscription, but reconstructed, partly by comparison with the Mesha Stele.
| Line | Inscription Transliteration | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
[אנכי משה בן כ]משית מלך מאב הד[יבני] |
[I am Mesha, son of K]emosh-yat, king of Moab the Dib[onite]... |
| 2 |
[בבת]י כמש למבער כי אה[בתי] |
[... in the te]mple of Kemosh as a sacrifice, because I lo[ve...] |
| 3 |
[...]נה והן עשתי את[...] |
... and behold, I have made ... |
References
- ^ El Kerak Inscription page
- ^ Drawing by Christopher A. Rollston and transcription, [1]
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