The following note has been received from the Rev. A. Löwy :— DEAR MR. RYLANDS, 160, PORTSDOWN ROAD, W., 12th January, 1881. Allow me to place in your care the following notes on the subject of Prof. Wm. Wright's reading of the Phoenician inscription discovered at Cyprus. 1. It appears to me that the reading of the 4th and 5th words would be improved if "Adoni" were joined by a hyphen with the name "Shardal," whatever this word may mean. This combination would be analogous to "Adoni-Bezek," "Adoni-Zedek," &c. 2. (Meliz), though rendered "interpreter," does not appear generally to bear this signification. The verb MLZ seems to imply the use of persuasive language, and thus produces the words The "Melez" in the inscription, if he was a court-officer at all, might have been an "orator" just as the Nabi of Jewish Kings. The office of "Melzar" at the Babylonian court shows that this word, apparently akin to Meliz, was used as the title of a certain employé, but not in that instance as the title of a philological or linguistical dignitary. 3. The gemination of seems questionable, because the noun also occurs, I believe, in the combination of. If this term related to "two thrones," or to "two courts," of a special and definite character, the definite article could not con veniently be omitted. The translation as in remains hypothetical. Just as the Hebrew reappears in the Phoenician, the מלץ The כרס may be identical with the Phoenician קרס Hebrew may have been an ecclesiastical dignitary who exhorted the prostrate worshippers according to the forms which the "prophets of Baal" had in common with the prophets of the Israelites. The position of the in this sense is noticed in Job xxxiii, 23, "If there be over him an Angel, a melis () to tell unto man (the duty or the way of) his uprightness.' If Dr. Wright has proofs that "meliz hakursaïm" represents an "interpreter of the two courts," it will be useful to publish them. If there are no convincing proofs extant, signs of interrogation, in brackets, should be placed after "interpreter" and after "courts." Thanks were returned for these communications. The next Meeting of the Society will be held at 9, Conduit Street, Hanover Square, W., on 1st March, 1881, at 8.30 p.m., when the following papers will be read :— I. REV. A. Löwy:-A Few Notices in Ancient Jewish Writings, on the Sagacity and the Habits of Ants. II. PROFESSOR EBERHARD SCHRADER : Book of Daniel. Abydenus and the FUND FOR ALTERATION AND EXTENSION OF THE SOCIETY'S LIBRARY. In consequence of the removal of the Offices of the Society to No. 11, HART STREET, BLOOMSBURY, W.C., a special fund has been formed for the alteration and extension of the Society's Library. The following subscriptions have already been received by the Secretary. Further amounts subscribed will be duly acknowledged in the Proceedings:£ s. d. James Backhouse Rev. Charles James Ball Hyde Clarke... ... 2 355 51 355 I I THE FOLLOWING BOOKS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE LIBRARY OF THE SOCIETY. LAYARD, Monuments of Nineveh, 2nd series, 1849, 1853. 2 vols., folio. Geographische Inschriften Altaegyptische Denkmaeler. Altaegyptische Kalender Inschriften, 1866. Tempel Inschriften, 1862. 2 vols., folio. GOLENISCHEFF, Die Metternichstele. Folio, 1877. 2 vols., 8vo. Königsbuch der Alten Aegypter. 4to., 1858. DE ROUGE, Études Égyptologiques. 13 vols., complete to 1880. WRIGHT, Arabic Grammar. Arabic Chrestomathy. I vol., texts, and complete glossary. DELITZSCH, Assyrische Lesestücke, 1878. Assyrische Studien. Heft I, 1874. SCHROEDER, Die Phönizische Sprache. HAUPT, Die Sumerischen Familiengesetze. SCHRADER, Die Keilinschriften und das Alte Testament, 1872. RAWLINSON, CANON, Five Great Monarchies. 3 vols. OSBURN, The Monumental History of Egypt. 2 vols., Svo. ROBINSON, Biblical Researches. 8vo., 1841-1852. PIERRET, Dictionnaire d'Archéologie Égyptienne. 8vo. Paris, 1875. RICH, Researches in Kurdistan. 2 vols., 8vo. -- Babylon and Persepolis. 8vo. BURKHARDT, Eastern Travels. SMITH, Assyrian Discoveries. 8vo., 1875. HARRISON AND SONS, PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJESTY, ST. MARTIN'S LANE. |