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Bar Kockba Letter

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Description:
This letter written in the second century CE (AD) shows that the Hebrew language was still in common use even to this time. Shimeon Ben Kosiba (Simon Bar Kockba) was the leader of the second Jewish revolt of 135 CE. Contained within this letter is the coloquiol "tashmiym" (last word, third line) for "et hashamayim".

Era:
Late Semitic Script

Image Credit:
Israel Museum, Jersalem

Date of Inscription:
135 CE

Location of Discovery:
Wadi Murabb'at, near the Dead Sea, Israel

Date of Discovery:
?

Current Location:
Israel Museum, Jerusalem Israel

Language:
Hebrew

Writing Surface:
Papyrus

Transliteration:
TBD

Translation:
From Shimeon Ben Kosiba to Yeshua Ben Galgoula and to the men of the fort, peace. I take heaven as my witness against me that unless you destroy the Galileans who are with you, every man, I will put fetters on your feet as I did to Ben Aflul.

Comments:
This letter written in the second century CE (AD) shows that the Hebrew language was still in common use even to this time. Shimeon Ben Kosiba (Simon Bar Kockba) was the leader of the second Jewish revolt of 135 CE. Contained within this letter is the coloquiol "tashmiym" (last word, third line) for "et hashamayim".