A Primer on Ugaritic: Language, Culture, and Literature - enenuru

Legal Texts 113
(Line on tablet marks break)
Lines 2–4 Founder of the feast identified.
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Lines 5–10 SÁamuœmaœnu’s responsibilities.
Lines 11–17 Member responsibilities to SÁamuœmaœnu.
Lines 18–21 Witnesses to the founding.
1. /marzihu/ A mrzh (Men’s Drinking Club)
This term may be related to a word in Amos 6:4–7 that also
describes unrestrained partying.
MDtwøcrAo_lAo MyIjürVs…w NEv twøÚfIm_lAo MyIbVkOÚvAh
qE;brAm
JKwø;tIm
MyIlÎgSoÅw Naø…xIm
MyîrD;k
MyIlVkOaw
ryIv_yElV;k
MRhDl …wbVvDj dyˆwdV;k
lRbÎ…nAh
yIÚp_lAo MyIfrOÚpAh
…wjDvVmˆy MyˆnDmVv tyIvaérw NˆyÅy yéqrzImV;b
MyItOÚvAh
PEswøy rRbEv_lAo …wlVj‰n aølw
MyIj…wrVs jÅzrIm rDsw MyIlO…g
vaørV;b
…wlgˆy hD;tAo
NEkDl
“They lie on ivory beds, lolling on their couches,
feasting on lambs from the flock and on calves from
the stalls. They hum snatches of song to the tune of
the lute—They account themselves musicians like
David. They drink straight from the wine bowls and
anoint themselves with the choicest oils—But they
are not concerned about the ruin of Joseph.
Assuredly, right soon they shall head the column of
exiles; they shall loll no more at festive meals.”
(NJPS)
2.–3. /duœ qanaya sûamuœmaœnu/ which SÁamuœmaœnu acquired
(created?)
For this G suff 3ms verb compare Akkadian qanû and Hebrew hÎnq.
There appears to be either two original roots, or a great deal of
conceptual overlap, since the definitions “acquire, buy, possess,
create” seem at various times appropriate.
SÁamuœmaœnu is known from syllabic texts, where it is written sûamu-ma-nu,
son of ta-la-a-bi, who held estates given by the king.
4. /bi-beœtˆäw/ in his house.