Endnote 2 – The Name Game

The name “son of Anath,” appears as a “patronym” (just like Shamgar) on two 11th century B.C. arrowheads, probably from south Lebanon. “Son of Anath” is also a name used by west Semitic individuals in Egypt during the time of Ramesses II and Ramesses IV. Anath is a goddess associated with war at Ugarit. The expression “son of X,” may be used to describe a group of people (as in “son[s] of Israel”). Because of these facts and its repeated occurrence, “Anath” may not be a patronym or a personal name, but a warrior class. See Hess, “Israelite Identity,” forthcoming.