Halévy's copy lacks the S¹ of S¹bʾ.

Line: 3

The formulaic expression introduced by b-ʾḫwt is found in some Nashshānite inscriptions of the Madhabaean period, testifying the alliance (literally "brotherhood") between the tribes of Nashshān and Sabaʾ. The exact chronology of this inscription - lacking the photograph - is discussed in Avanzini 1995: 40-42 and 61-62. The question remains about the exact dating of the text, on the basis of the mention of the Sabaean king Ydʿʾl. According to us, three arguments seem to support the thesis that the text dates back to the period before or after the alliance between Krbʾl and Lbʾn: firstly, the attestation of Yqhmlk (see here l. 1) in the final invocation before Lbʾn in the recently published text YM 23250; secondly, there seems to be no place for Yqhmlk and his son in the well established sequence of kings after Lbʾn; lastly, the mention of the god Rḥs³, which is found only in the archaic inscription YM 28489.

Topic: History

While the god ḏ-Qbḍ is attested in the Madhabaean phase of Nashshān, there is still no occurrence of ʿṯtr ḏ-Qbḍ. Accordingly, the generally accepted restoration "ʿṯtr ḏ-Qbḍ" in l. 2 has been changed.

Topic: Religion