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 940 BCE

(August 21, 2022, Updated January 2, 2024) 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 style lettering while the 5th had Phoenician style lettering. 

All spears are stating that the life power aspect of Yahu has to be activated by one of 3 possible motion powers sources: emotional arousal of emotion magic, emotional arousal of astrology magic, and direct arousal from the divine motion power realm. The 2 spears (numbered 3 and 4) having Yahu activated by magic have their deity names reversed from the rest of the sentence, that is, the spearhead has to be turned upside down to read the names. The life power aspect of Yahu is indicated by having him called Hu's Yahu. In the Hebrew scriptures the god Alu replaces Hu giving the phrase 'elohim Yahweh mistranslated as "Lord God" when is should read "life-empowered Yahweh."

Translation in Akkadian

(read right to left, shaft to point, upside down letters read left to right in the picture)
  1. Ḫu  Ya'u  Bu  D'u  Bu  A  Tu (Lev Text 1.1)

  3. Ḫu  Ya'u. (letters upside down so reads oppositely)  TaBu   ReDu  Bu (Lev Text 1.3)
  4. Ḫu  Ya'u.  (letters upside down so reads oppositely) Tu Abu  ReDu  Bu (Lev Text 1.4)

In English

  1. Hu's Yahu (I'u) nourishments from the divine-motion-realm can be nourished by its astrology-magic

  3. Hu's Yahu (I'u)  emotional-arousal can drive the nourishment 
  4. Hu's Yahu (I'u)  astrology magic from the priest-parents can drive the nourishments

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.
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)

(November, 2023) 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)
  1. Ḫu  I'u.  Bu  Du  Pu  A  Tu

In English

  1. Hu Yahu (I'u). Nourishments for life-manifestations can be opened by these astrology-magic-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
Phoenician Spearhead 5 from el-Khadr. From Cross 1980. Letter assignments by Olmsted.

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

(November 10, 2023) 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)
  1. Tu  Bā’u.  Di  Bā’u. (Levant 1.5.1
  2. Tu  Zā’u  ZaBu (Levant 1.5.2)

In English

  1. Astrology-Magic is nesting. Manifestations are nesting
  2. Astrology-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 copper spearhead
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)
  1. A  Ṣe'u 
  2. Ba  Du  Ya  
  3. EZzu  Du 

In English

  1. These are causing blockages
  2. Nourishments are not being manifested
  3. Frustration 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