Names of Biblical People in Inscriptions and Seals
4. Alexander son of Simon the Cyrenean (Mark 15:21). Alexander was one of two sons of Simon the Cyrenean who carried the crossbeam of Jesus of Nazareth (30/33 AD).
An ossuary inscription pre 70 AD (Heb. Univ. No. 1965) reads: 1. (Greek) Alexandrou, 2. (Hebrew) ‘lksndrws qrnyt/h “Alexander the Cyrenian,” 3. (Greek) SimwnAle Alexandrou Simwnos, 4. (Greek) Alexandros Simwn “Alexander (son of) Simon.”
Names of Biblical People in Inscriptions and Seals
2. Ahaz/Jehoahaz son of Jotham (2 Kings 16:1, etc). A son of Jotham and a king of Judah (732-716 BC).
The Cuneiform Annals of Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 BC), 47 (K03751), r11', read: ia-u-ha-zi ia-u-da-a-a “Jehoahaz of the land of Judah.”
A bulla reads: l’hz yhwtm mlk yhdh “Belonging to Ahaz, (son of) Yehotam, king of Judah.”
A seal reads: l’sn’ ‘bd ’hz “Belonging to Ushna, servant of Ahaz.”
Since posting the LXX, DSS, MT and reconstruction of Deuteronomy 32:43, I noticed something in the LXX manuscripts concerning line 4. In line 2 it mentions the heavens and therefore the reading of angels is more likely original. In line 4, not extant in DSS or MT, the LXX Mss read either “angels” or “sons.” Since this line is talking about the nations the reading of sons is more likely the original reading in context.
Translation: “Rejoice, O heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him. Rejoice, O nations, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him. For he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance to his enemies, and he will recompense them that hate him, and he atones for the land of his people.”
Daily evidence concerning the Bible from a forensic evidentiary approach, from cosmology, biology and archaeology.