Image Details

AVRAHAM HAI/TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY

KUNTILLET ‘AJRUD. In the barren land of northeastern Sinai, the fortress of Kuntillet ‘Ajrud (pictured) served as a military outpost and waystation. Inside the fortress, three storage jars were discovered with the inscription le-śar ‘ir, meaning “belonging to commander of fortress.” Dated to c. 800 B.C.E., the inscriptions lack the definite article (“the”). “Commander of fortress” refers to the unnamed commander in charge of the remote fortress.