Talk:Chaldea
From Academic Kids
I removed this, which was in quotes, because it doesn't explain who is being quoted (presumably something Biblical).
- In former days the vast plains of Babylon were nourished by a complicated system of canals and water-courses, which spread over the surface of the country like a network. The wants of a teeming population were supplied by a rich soil, not less bountiful than that on the banks of the Egyptian Nile. Like islands rising from a golden sea of waving grain stood frequent groves of palm-trees and pleasant gardens, affording to the idler or traveller their grateful and highly-valued shade. Crowds of passengers hurried along the dusty roads to and from the busy city. The land was rich in grain and wine.
Wait a minute http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/msr/Ethno/gendate3.html stated without a doubt that the Chaldeans were Urartians. Also Urfa is identified as Ur of the Khaldees (aka Urfakasid whence derives the enonymous patriach Arphaksad). Were there two chaldee populations?
Ambiguous English
- Since the discovery of Ur, very few scholars would argue that Abraham (if he existed at all) was from Ur, and therefore probably a Sumerian.
The English phrase "very few... would argue" is ambiguous. It could mean "very few would attempt to make the argument" or "very few would argue against", which are exactly opposite connotations. Could someone revise this? I would do it myself, but I don't know which is the correct meaning here. -- Jeff Q 19:45, 2 Jun 2004 (UTC)
Is There A Difference?
I quote the following from the wikipedia entry on Chaldean
"Chaldean is the name given to the ancient language Urartian also known as Vannic. It was the official language of Urartu spoken in northeastern Anatolia in the 9th–6th centuries BCE. It along with Hurrian are thought to be descended from the same language. Surviving Chaldean texts are written in Neo-Assyrian script. According to Josephus, Chaldeans were known in Hebrew as "Kasidim" meaning "sorcerers"."
Is there a difference between this and the Chaldeans? who migrated from the Arabian peninsula and were centered in lower mesopotamia?
omerlivesOmerlives 07:17, 2 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Wrong connotation
Consider this qoute,
The Biblical ancestor of the Hebrew people, Abraham, was born at "Ur of the Chaldees," since the Chaldean people (Chaldees) ruled Babylonia during the Babylonian captivity, when many minimalist scholars believe the Hebrews wrote the Torah. Nevertheless, in the Hebrew text, the word translated Chaldees is rendered Kasidim, which could also legitimiately refer to the Kassites, who did inhabit Ur during time period which the Exodus is written to have occurred.
The wording of this needs to be revised, I'm sure the writer meant well, but if read literally this means "Abraham was born at Ur of the Chaldees because the Torah was written during the Babylonian captivity, as is believed by many minimalist scholars"
I can't think of how to correct this with minimal adjustment but I'll just throw this out there. Neil Haskins 20:53, 26 Apr 2005 (UTC)
