Inscriptions from Israel and Palestine
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Location

JERI0012

Judaea. Jericho. 5 CE to 70 CE. Soft limestone ossuary with chip-carved ornamentation. Funerary.
Transcription

אזביא יהועזר אזביא יהועזר אזביא יהועזר אזביא יהועזר אזביא

Translation

the Ezobite. Yeho'ezer the Ezobite. Yeho'ezer the Ezobite. Yeho'ezer the Ezobite. Yeho'ezer the Ezobite

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
Ossuary has red wash and low feet. Height describes that of chest plus that of vaulted lid with fingergrips. Ornamentation on the chest's front side consists of two metopes in frames notched to indicate zigzags, each containing a six-petalled rosette within a similarly notched circle, with petals clumsily carved. Ornamentation on the chest's right side is similar; a notched frame contains a six-petalled rosette within a notched circle. The first word appears between two petals on the chest's right side; the full name of the deceased is inscribed twice on the chest's left side and once each on the lid's right and left edges. יהועזר is the plene spelling of the name. This and another Yeho'ezer in the tomb are identified as Ezobites presumably to distinguish them from other family members with the name; the second Yeho'ezer the Ezobite is further distinguished with a nickname, "cinnamon" (see inscription "jeri0017"). Bet Ezob is located in eastern Transjordan. Josephus mentions that the village Bethezuba, "The House of Hyssop," was inhabited during this period by Jews, some wealthy. Repetition of the name of the deceased may express grief of the mourner(s) or improve upon an unsatisfactory first inscription.

Languages

Hebrew, Aramaic

Dimensions

H: 21.5+3 cm; W: 37.5 cm; D: 19.5 cm

Date

5 CE to 70 CE

Current location

No provenance provided.

Figures

  • circles notched to indicate zigzags encircling rosettes

  • metopes within frames on front of chest

  • frames notched to indicate zigzags front and right sides of chest

  • encircled six-petalled rosettes in metopes and on right side of chest

Bibliography

Source of diplomatic

No bibliography available for diplomatic transcription.

Source of transcription

No bibliography available for transcription.

Source of translation

No bibliography available for translation.

Other sources

  • Hachlili, Rachel. “The Goliath Family in Jericho: Funerary Inscriptions from a First-Century A.D. Jewish Monumental Tomb.” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 235, no. Summer (1979): 31–66.
    Zotero
  • Rahmani, L.Y. A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries in the Collections of the State of Israel. Edited by Ayala Sussmann. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1994.
    Zotero
  • Rahmani, L.Y. A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries in the Collections of the State of Israel. Edited by Ayala Sussmann. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1994.
    Zotero
  • Rahmani, L.Y. A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries in the Collections of the State of Israel. Edited by Ayala Sussmann. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1994.
    Zotero
  • Rahmani, L.Y. A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries in the Collections of the State of Israel. Edited by Ayala Sussmann. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1994.
    Zotero
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The project can be cited as:

Satlow, Michael L., ed. 2002 - . “Inscriptions of Israel/Palestine.” Brown University. https://doi.org/10.26300/PZ1D-ST89

This inscription can be cited as:

"Inscriptions of Israel/Palestine," JERI0012, 12 June 2026. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89