KAI 214

Line 1: Later in the inscription, we find that the pillar stands at the “place of PNMW,” likely a reference to his grave. However, the expression bʕlmy in line 1 is ambiguous. It could refer to the place of PNMW’s perpetual rest (i.e., it is synonmyous with the later expression), or it might refer to to the fact that the inscription is meant to serve as a reminder of PNMW to future generations. In this light, the b preposition would function closer to bʕbwr, the Hebrew/Phonecian expression “for the sake of.” Line 3: On “scepter,” see Aramaic ḥṭr/ḥwṭr meaning “staff.” On “dominion” see the Dictionary of NW Semitic Inscriptions, 373. Possibly it is a grammaticalized form of ḫlp and by. The letters fmz correspond to the conjunction f-, the interrogative/relative mah, and the demonstrative/relative zu. Line 4: I read the final m of šnm as the masculine plural ending. Line 5: The final y of these phrases is retained as a relic of the genitive case (Donner & Röllig 1964). Line 6: Šm “garlic” is possibly cognate with Arabic ṯūm. Line 9: “warfare and the issuing of commands” translates literally to “sword and tongue.” Line 10: To read bny as "to build," an infinitive construct, is problematic. Although this reading is better for that word, the reading of kpyr likely parallels its reading in KAI 215, where it more likely means "villages" (Neh. 6:2). There are no good options, but this one at least is the best fit for the morphology. Line 13: I read this line with Donner & Röllig 1964, even though it requires a form of the infinitive that is foreign to Hebrew. Line 15: Reduplication of the indefinite pronoun to add the sense of "-ever." I read abrw following Donner & Röllig 1964, who see this as a reduced form of the Aramaic nominal suffix -ūt. Line 16: The aleph of the word ʔsm “name” suggests a parallel with Arabic ism (اسم). Line 18: The verb yrqy “to be pleased with” appears in an unbroken context later line 22, which justifies its reconstruction here. It provides evidence of the sound change (or scribal practice) of representing Proto-Semitic ejective lateral fricative with q. I read šy with Donner & Röllig 1964 (cf. Is. 18:7, Ps 68:30, 76:12 for Hebrew cognate). Line 20: Ḥbʔ is obscure. The only cognate is an old Canaanite verb (C-stem) meaning "to conceal." If the root does relate to concealment, then perhaps the author is expressing both the reality of the fact that the gods have given him offspring, along with the fact that one of them (and he knows not which) will take control after him. (DNWSI 1:343). Line 24: On the reading "my friend," see DNWSI 2.602. Line 26: Reading the verb "to kill" as passive here is a departure from other translations, but it seems to make better sense of what follows. Line 27: I take the imperfect as referring to imperfective aspect in past tense. Line 28: I read wth as the nota accusativi with Donner & Röllig 1964. Line 31: See DNWSI 1.549 for ktš. Line 32: Asherah is the only good option, since it is very unlikely that a relative would take a pronominal suffix. Line 34: On the root hqq, see DNWSI 1.401.