Difference between revisions of "Tidal"

<p> <strong> [[Tidal]] </strong> . A king of Goiim, or ‘the nations,’ who accompanied [[Amraphel]] of [[Shinar]] and [[Arioch]] of [[Ellasar]] in the expedition made by [[Chedorlaomer]] of [[Elam]] against [[Sodom]] and the cities of the plain (&nbsp; [[Genesis]] 14:1 ). This name is probably the <em> Tudhul </em> or <em> Tudhula </em> of a British Museum tablet of late date, which mentions also Kudur-lahmal (?) (Chedorlaomer?) and Durmah-îlâni son of Eri-Eaku (Arioch?). Tudbul is stated to have been son of Gazza[ni?]. Whether it was he who smote (shattered) his father’s head ‘with the weapon of his hands,’ the mutilation of the text leaves uncertain. </p> <p> T. G. Pinches. </p>

<p> '''Ti'dal.''' ''(Great Son).'' Tidal is mentioned only in &nbsp;Genesis 14:1; &nbsp;Genesis 14:9. (B.C. about 1900). He is called "king of nations," from which we may conclude that he was a chief over various nomadic tribes, who inhabited different portions of Mesopotamia, at different seasons of the year, as do the Arabs at the present day. </p>

<p> One called 'king of nations' who confederated with Chedorlaomer. &nbsp;Genesis 14:1,9 . He was probably chief over several clans here called 'nations.' The R.V. translates 'king of Goiim.' </p>

<p> ''''' tı̄´dal ''''' ( תּדעל , <i> ''''' tidh‛āl ''''' </i> ; Θαλγά , <i> ''''' Thalgá ''''' </i> , Θαλγάλ , <i> ''''' Thalgál ''''' </i> , Codex E, Θαργάλ , <i> ''''' Thargál ''''' </i> ): </p> 1. The Name and Its Forms: <p> Tidal is mentioned in &nbsp;Genesis 14:1 , &nbsp;Genesis 14:9 in the account of the expedition of Chedorlaomer of Elam, with his allies, Amraphel of Shinar (Babylonia), Arioch of Ellasar, and Tidal, who is called "king of nations" (the King James Version) ( <i> ''''' gōyim ''''' </i> , [[Targum]] <i> ''''' ‛ammı̄n ''''' </i> ). Whether the last-named took part in this expedition as one of Chedorlaomer's vassals or not is unknown. The Greek form possibly prints to an earlier pronunciation <i> ''''' Tadgal ''''' </i> . </p> 2. Its [[Babylonian]] Equivalent: <p> The only name in the cuneiform inscriptions resembling Tidal is <i> ''''' Tudh̬ula ''''' </i> , or, as it was probably later pronounced, <i> ''''' Tudh̬ul ''''' </i> . This, from its form, might be Sumerian, meaning "evil progeny," or the like. In addition to the improbability of a name with such a signification, however, his title "king of <i> ''''' gōyim ''''' </i> ," or "nations," in &nbsp; Genesis 14:1 , presupposes a ruler of another race. </p> 3. The Babylonian Tudhula and His Time: <p> The inscription in which the name <i> ''''' Tudh̬ula ''''' </i> occurs is one of three of late date (4th to 3century BC), all referring, apparently, to the same historical period. The text in question ( <i> Sp </i> . iii. 2) is of unbaked clay, and is broken and defaced. After referring to a ruler who did not maintain the temples, Durmah-ilani son of Eri-Aku (Arioch) is referred to, appatently as one who ravaged the country, and "waters (came) over [[Babylon]] and <i> ''''' Ê ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' sagila ''''' </i> ," its great temple. The words which follow suggest that <i> ''''' Durmah̬ ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' ı̂lāni ''''' </i> was slain by his son, after which a new invader appeared, who would seem to have been Tudhula, son of <i> ''''' Gazzā ''''' </i> ( <i> ''''' ni ''''' ? </i> ). He likewise ravaged the land, and floods again invaded Babylon <i> ''''' Ê ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' sagila ''''' </i> . To all appearance he met with the fate which overtook <i> ''''' Durmah̬ ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' ı̂lāni ''''' </i> - death at the hands of his son, who "smote his head." Then came the Elamite, apparently Chedorlaomer, who was likewise slain. This inscription, therefore, gave historical quotations of the fate which overtook those who were regarded as enemas of the gods. </p> 4. [[Doubts]] as to His Identity: <p> Though we have here the long-sought name of Tidal, it may legitimately be doubted whether this personage was the ruler of that name mentioned in &nbsp;Genesis 14 . The "nations" ( <i> ''''' gōyim ''''' </i> ) which he ruled are regarded by Sayce as having been wandering hordes ( <i> ''''' umman ''''' </i> <i> ''''' manda ''''' </i> ), probably Medes. On the other hand, the occurrence of the name <i> ''''' Dudh̬alia ''''' </i> , son of <i> ''''' H̬attušil ''''' </i> ( <i> ''''' Khetasir ''''' </i> ), contemporary of [[Rameses]] II, in the inscriptions found at <i> ''''' H̬attu ''''' </i> , the capital of the Hittites, suggests that that extensive confederation may have been the "nations" referred to. In other words, Tidal or <i> ''''' Tudh̬ula ''''' </i> (for <i> ''''' Dudh̬alia ''''' </i> ) was an earlier ruler bearing the same name as Hattusil's son. </p> 5. Probably a Hittite: <p> If he be, as is possible, the same personage as is mentioned in &nbsp;Genesis 14 , he must have fought against Arioch's son, conquered his domains and been killed, in his turn, by either the Biblical Chedorlaomer or another [[Elamite]] ruler beaming the same or a similar name. See Amraphel; Arioch; Chedorlaomer; [[Eri-Aku]]; [[Nations]] . </p>

<p> (Heb. Tidal', '''''תּדְעָל''''' , if Shemitic=fear [Gesenius] or [[Renown]] [F '''''Ü''''' rst]; but, according to Lenormant, ''Accadian'' ( ''Greatson'' ; Sept. '''''Θαργάλ''''' v.r. '''''Θαλγά''''' ; Josephus, '''''Θάδαλος''''' , ''Ant.'' 1, 9, 1; Vulg. ''Thadal'' ) '','' the last named (&nbsp;Genesis 14:1; &nbsp;Genesis 14:9) of the three subordinate "kings" who, in confederation with Chedorlaomer, attacked and defeated the rebellious princes of the Sodomitic pentarchy in the days of Abraham, B.C. cir. 2070. He is called "king of nations" ( '''''גּוֹיַם''''' , ''Goyim'' ) '','Which'' [[Symmachus]] interprets ''Scythians,'' and others ''Galilee,'' both on very slender, if not inaccurate, grounds. Rawlinson suggests, for equally precarious reasons ( ''Ancient Monarchies,'' 1, 55, note),that the name is probably Turanian; but he justly remarks that, from the title given to Tidal, "it is reasonable to understand that he was a chief over various nomadic tribes to whom no special tract of country could be assigned, since at different times of the year they inhabited different portions of Lower Mesopotamia. This is the case with the Arabs of these parts at the present day." (See Chedorlaomer). </p>