GALLIM TO GOMORRAH
INTRODUCTON:
The prophet Isaiah lamented the destruction that was going to happen to the cities north of Jerusalem during the invasion of the ASSYRIANS. (2 Ne. 20:30; Isaiah 10; 1 Sam. 123:44) Sennacherib, King of Assyria, who had invaded the region and organized an unsuccessful attack against Jerusalem under King Hezekiah, about 701 BC, was moving his armies south to lay siege to Jerusalem. (Grollenberg p. 82, Map 19) This is where and when the armies of the Assyrians were destroyed by the hand of God. A lot of little towns were in the way.
GALLIM
GALLIM is less than five miles north of Jerusalem in the hill country. It and nearby towns were over- run by the Assyrians. Earlier campaigns by the Assyrians had resulted in the loss of the ten tribes. Judah and Benjamin remained to the south in the city area of Jerusalem. Sennacherib was intent on adding this capital city and its surroundings to his conquests. The Lord intervened however, and the Assyrian king lost his army instead. The destroying angel killed them all. It would be another 100 years before Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, would make the conquest of the region, (Jer. 24:7) and set up the puppet King Zedekiah in Jerusalem. GALLIM was probably the home of PALTI, the man to whom Saul gave his daughter MICHAL to wife, after he annulled her marriage to David (l Sam. 25:44; Buttrick p. 350) after Saul had an argument with David. It is a Biblical town and may have been known to GAD the SEER. (see PART 18) MICHAL (the name means 'who is like God') was the youngest daughter of king Saul, she loved David, who eventually complied with Saul's many bizarre demands in order to get MICHAL for his wife. She is the only woman in the Bible that is said to have been in love with a man. Ten years later after David had become King, he got her back. But embarrassed by David's dancing exhibition, she scorned him, turning David from her, and she died unloved, childless and full of hate. (Mandel p. 360-361; Gardner p. 297) GALLIM would have been mentioned in the Brass Plates.
GAZELEM, GAZELAM: GUZAL(U)M, GUZALUM, KUZULLU
GAZELEM has the consonant element GZLM, even though it is a short name. It has a match in the Akkadian Dictionary GUZAL(U)M, with the element GZLM; a good match, though the vocalization has slightly different vowels and ancient mimation, common in Jaredite times. A meaning is given of 'throne bearer' and has reference to deity and comes from ancient Sumerian. (Black p. 97)
GAZELEM is the name or title given to a servant of GOD who would or could use a "stone," or the Urim and Thummim, which are two stones, plural, meaning 'lights and perfections,' in order to translate ancient records, such as the twenty-four plates of the Jaredites from which came the book of Ether. (Alma 37:21-24) Alma, in directing is son Helaman, stated that the Book of Ether will be brought to light by the Lord's servant GAZELEM, who will use a "stone" to translate. (McConkie p. 252) The name-title has been applied in our dispensation to Joseph Smith since he used both the Seer Stone and the URIM AND THUMMIM to translate the Book of Mormon, the Book of Ether, the Abrahamic records, and to receive revelation from time to time. In revelations recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants, pre-1981 editions, Joseph Smith is called "GAZELAM," which clearly is a variant that could be included in the list given above. (D&C 78:9; 82:11; 104:26; 43, 45, 46; McConkie p. 307-8; Smith 2:56-57; Largey p. 284)
MAHONRI MORIANCUMER, the revealed name of the prophet- brother of Jared, had a URIM AND THUMMIM. (Ether 3:21-28) It is the one Joseph Smith recovered from the stone box, (JSH 1:35) along with the breastplate which was too large for Joseph to use. The brother of Jared must have been a large man, Joseph was over six feet tall and 200 pounds. The URIM AND THUMMIM used by Joseph was expressly provided for the translation of the Jaredite and Nephite records. (D&C 10:l; 17:1) METHUSELAH, (Gen. 5:21), the son of Enoch, grandfather of Noah, (Mandel p. 354) possessed a URIUM AND THUMMIM with which he used to learn about Kolob: "Kolob in the first degree. It signifies the first great grand governing fixed star which is the fartherest that ever has been discovered by the fathers which was discovered by METHUSELA and also by ABRAHAM." (Smith , EGB, p.14). It seems this URIUM AND THUMMIM was the one Abraham had received in Ur. (Abraham 3:l-4) Or the Lord could have given Abraham another URIUM AND THUMMIM. Either way we do not know what happened to the one METHUSELAH had, or if Noah brought it with him in the Ark, and Shem had it later. Moses may have had one, Aaron his brother did, and Eleazar son of Aaron became High Priest when Aaron died, taking over the sacred instruments. (Mandel p. 133) "The priests in Israel had them from generation to generation," (Ex. 28:30; Lev. 8:8; Num. 27:21; Deut. 332:8, l Sam 28:6; Ezra 2:63) Mosiah had one prior to the discovery of the Book of Ether, and it was handed down from prophet to prophet. (Omni 20:21; Mosiah 8:13-19:10; 21:26- 28; 28:11-20; Alma 63:12; Ether 4:17) Mormon and Moroni, and others, would qualify to have the title GAZELEM among their other callings because they were the great translators of ancient documents, and were in charge of the ancient records and the sacred instruments.
GAZELEM, "the word appears to have its roots in GAZ--'a stone,' and 'ALEIM,' a name of GOD as a revelator, or the interposer in the affairs of men. If this suggestion is correct, its roots admirably agree with its apparent meaning--a seer." (Ludlow p. 218)
In Jackson County Missouri, April 26, 1832, Section 82 was received. Verse 11 of that revelation gave unique names to a number of the group attending, to hide their identify because of manifest animosity of the community. In that Section ELAM was given for Edward Partridge (DHC l: 363). Joseph was called BAURAK ALE ... Hebrew...meaning "God Bless You." He was also called GAZELAM, being a person to whom the Lord had given the Urim and Thummim. He was also called ENOCH, Sidney Rigdon was called BANEEMY...New York was changed to CAINHANNOCH... Dollars were changed to TALENTS."(Sperry p. 381)
More recent research sheds additional light on this verse: "AHASHJAH [for] Newel K. Whitney, MAHALALEEL and PELAGORAM [for] Sidney Rigdon...HORAH and OLIHAH ...[for] Oliver Cowdery...SHALEMANASSEH and MAHEMSON [for] Martin Harris...LAND OF SHINEHAH [for] Kirtland." (Woodward Vol. 11, p. 1033) The JOSEPH SMITH PAPERS, with their separate emphasis on the revelations, have put it together in more detail. In the verse some of the names of persons that were being concealed have never been identified, so the substitute names were retained. In the verse GAZELAM is spelled with an AM ending. Elsewhere it is spelled EM, probably not intending to give two different names, just a variant of one. In the Journal of Discourses, XVI, 156, Orson Pratt of the Twelve identified some of the persons, but not all.
Alma explained to his son Helaman the divine purpose and means for revealing the history of past peoples that through the sacred interpreters the wickedness of past societies and nations would be exposed and provide a warning to future generations to live according to the principles of the gospel. (Pinegar pp, 55-56; Alma 37:23-35) Those the Lord employed to do so were called GAZELEM.
GEBA:
GEBA (also GABA) is a small fortified city near of GALLIM, in the hill country about six miles NNW of the Temple Terrace in Jerusalem. (Grollenberg p. Map 2) Geba is included in Isaiah 10 and incorporated in 2 Ne. 20:29, where the LORD summarizes his indignation of the Assyrian brutality that he will be taking care of. It was a much fought over area where Saul and David fought many battles. (Buttrick p. 359)
The name means "height." It is the location of some of the tribe of Benjamin (Jos 18:24) . GEBA was also a Levitical City. (Jos. 21:17, l Ch. 6:60, Heb.45) The Levites were given no land inheritance, but for servicing the tribes, they were given cities in most tribal areas. It is mentioned a number of times in l and 2 Samuel, l Chronicles, and l Kings. The expressions "'from Geba to Beer-sheba" (2 Kings 23:8), and "from Geba to Rimmon" in Zec. 14:10, provides an indication of the extent of the territory of JUDAH, what was left after the loss of the ten tribes. GEBA was repopulated by the tribe of Benjamin after the Exile, linking Benjamin, the city and Judah forever. (Buttrick p. 359) Today it is modern JEBA in the west bank.
GEBIM:
The name means 'trenches,' GEBIM is mentioned in 2 Ne. 20:31, as a city getting ready to flee from the Assyrian invasion and God's retribution, taken from Isaiah 10. It was known as the 'cisterns.' It is just north of Jerusalem, the ruins are just southwest of Shu'fat, but the exact site cannot be identified. (Gollenberg p. 150, MAP 19; Buttrick p. 361)
GIBEAH
There are two little cities of GIBEAH. Both within the territory of Judah. No. l is located WSW of Bethlehem. (Jos. 15:37) . No. 2 is a location for the tribe of Benjamin North of Jerusalem, (Isaiah 10:29) referenced in 2 Ne.20:29 as once the residence of Saul, (Gollenberg p.150, MAPS 13, 19), often confused with nearby GEBA.
GID: GIDDAGIDDU, GIDDE, GI(D)DIL, GIDLU, GIDIMDUHUM, GIDIMMU, GIDMU, GIDLU(M), GIDMU, GIDU(M), GIDRI
All of the above are names in the Akkadian Dictionary, some with linkage to ancient Sumerian. (Black p. 92) GID is a name of great antiquity. The name GIDDAGIDDU, (Black p. 92) has the unique characteristic of two elements (GIDD(A)GIDD(U) repeated twice. The element GID, is also repeated twice. Looking at the G's in the Book of Mormon list of names, under the letter G, there are three names that have this doubling of elements. Two of them, GIDGIDDONAH and GIDGIDDONI, double the same element GID, with a suffix variations that sometimes changes the meaning, and a third name GIMGIMNO has the name element, GIM, repeated twice. These three will be discussed below, in addition to what is included here.
The prefix GID is found in the name GIDRI, in the studies of Akkadian from UGARIT. (Huelnergard p. 277) The Akkadian dictionary also indicates that this strange name can be traced even farther back in antiquity to SUMERIAN, (Black p. 92) as can another name: GIDIMMU, with its archaic mimation ending. One cannot ignore the impact on Akkadian that ancient SUMERIAN had, and Joseph preserves these ancient connection beautifully. In ancient Sumerian, it appears that GIDGIDDONAH has something to do with the eye, and GIDIMMU a wrapped bundle. The equivalent of the names was retained by successor languages and culture, but the meaning changed depending on the suffix.
GIDGIDDONAH was a Nephite General, about which we know little, except that he was a military leader killed with his ten thousand troops in the last battle between the Nephite and Lamanites. (Morm. 6:13 about 385 AD; Largey p. 293) Before the Akkadian information became available, Nibley was studying the sources of names in the Egyptian regions because of the established relationship mentioned in the Book of Mormon to "reformed Hebrew-Egyptian." He also reported on GIDGIDDONAH as a Nephite general suggesting an Egyptianparallel, DJED-DJHWTEI-IW-S, plus an ankh sign, which he interpreted to mean: "Thoth hath said we shall live." (Nibley Vol. 5, p. 26) Thoth is one of the main gods of Ancient Egyptians, pictured as a "man with the head of an ibis, holding pen and scribe's ink-palette... inventor of hieroglyphic writing, scribe of the gods; lord of wisdom and magic." (Shorter p. 142)
Check the name list and this doubling only occurs with names that begin with G. In the Akkadian dictionary, in the accumulation of names and words now available to evaluate, it seems that only the names beginning with G have this kind of doubling, and oddly enough, it is the name GID, that is doubled in GIDDAGIDDU, a remarkable parallel to the Book of Mormon names, which name may go back to ancient Sumerian. (Black p. 92) A specialist in Akkadian, and no doubt there are some, could perhaps explain this coincidence, but how could you explain its presence in the Book of Mormon, if it is a work of fiction rather than authentic ancient record? Joseph was translating a true record, he did not stop to meditate on the uniqueness of some of the names, nor does it seem, did any of his scribes recording what he was dictating to them. Keep in mind that suffix endings in ancient names, such as -EL, -ON, -AN, -AH, -MU, -UM, -DU, etc., generally indicate that a GOD is included in the meaning of the name, as most of the time these endings are abbreviations of a Diety.
GID: GID, GADDI'EL, GADIA, GIDIUS, GIDDINIS, GIDDENEMS, GID'ON, GIDERA, GIDDAN, GIDARA, GIDDAN, GIDDARA
But there is more on GID, whichis the place name for a city and a chief Military officer mentioned many times in Alma Chap. 51 to 58, and in Helaman 5:15. In the Book of Mormon, there are five other names with GID as a prefix, they are discussed below. In the Akkadian dictionary there are at least ten names that have the prefix GID-, including the name with the double repeat of the element GID (Black p. 92). Note also the unique doubling of the DD in the ancient names, also GIDDAN and GIDDARA should be considered.
GIDDAN is an ancient settlement on the west bank of the Euphrates River down from where the Habur River joins it. (Lipinski pp. 94, 436) The Habur River drainage is host to many sites from which clay tablets have been found with Book of Mormon names on them. See the entries in his web site for 2006 and 2007, they include Tell Beydar, Abu Salabikh, Chagar Bazar, and others. GIDARA was one of the main centers for the ancient ARAMAEANS in their conquests. The ancient occurrences of ARAM are attested by tablets from EBLA in the third millennium BC. (Lipinski pp. 26, 109, 115, 403) So, the name GID and the element GD, has a long and lustrous history, all in the Mesopotamian region from whence came the Jaredites.
GID, THE NEPHITE CITY
The Nephite City of GID was captured by Amalichiah and the Lamanites (Alma 51:26), fortified as a prisoner compound, and then cleverly retaken by Moroni without any bloodshed. Moroni was a great strategist, he used a descendant of Laman, one of the older Sons of Lehi, from among his ranks, whose name was also Laman, to take strong wine to the Lamanite guards in the city of GID. When the guards were drunken and asleep, Moroni's men, in the silence of the night, "cast" weapons in to the Nephite prisoners within the city and then surrounded the Lamanite army. In the morning, when the Lamanites saw their plight both within and without the city, they surrendered and pleaded for mercy. (Alma 55:4-24; Largey p. 292; Nibley p. 352)
GID a Nephite chief military officer about 63 BC, who, with his men, quelled a rebellion of prisoners of war, helped defend the city Cumeni (Alma 57:22-28; 35), and later helped Helaman and Teomner take the city of Manti by stratagem (Alma 58:13-23) without the shedding of blood. (Alma 58:38; Pinegar p. 56) GID was a man of faith who attributed their deliverance in battle to GOD. (Largey pp. 291-292) GID was involved in the same military action that involved the heroic fighting of the 2060 stripling warriors--depending totally on "the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith," (Alma 57:36), and the timing of GID in the action, a prime exhibit of the deliverance of GOD in the midst of multiple armies and actions through great faith and obedience to the gospel.
The name GID like GAD, has the consonant element GD, meaning 'to be or to become,' found on tablets from ancient MARI, (See web site entries for 29 June 2005 and 21 March 2008; Huffmon p. 179) and as discussed under GAD in this series, one of the ancient meanings is 'fortune.' As the GOD of fortune, GID/GAD, mean the same. GID/GAD appear in the tablets from EBLA, having the meanings of 'the good one, good, good fortune, or sanctuary.' (Pagan pp. 309-311) In West Semitic areas, the name is appellative, meaning a 'GOD,' by that name who was worshipped, especially by the Palmyrenians and Phoenicians, but included Carthage, Constantine and Spain, and Egypt as well; with variants of the name that include GADDI'EL, meaning 'the good fortune of ELOHIM,' and GADDENEMS, meaning 'the good fortune of the GOD N'M,' (Benz p. 362) with some variants in Punic, also Phoenician. The name reaches back into ancient times and continued down into the Punic times long after Lehi had left Jerusalem. Another variant, but significant meaning discussed under GAD was the consonant GD meaning "to cut, mutilate" with the mention of a later Hebrew name, GID'ON, 'the slasher,' (Benz pp. 294-292) , the latter to be discussed below. One of the oldest sources and uses of the name is found in ancient ELAM, and in the record of the Jaredites, the meaning in ELAMITE of GAD/GADA, is LOOTER-ROBBER, (Tavernier p.185), a unique and remarkable meaning and parallel found in the Book of Mormon, discussed under GADIANTON in PART 18 of this series.
Names with the element GID in them found at EBLA include, GIDALU, 'like Daru,' GIDAMU, 'exultation of Damu,' GIDANAIM, 'NA"IM is good,' using the name of a GOD as a suffix, and GIDUM/GIDA, 'is good.' using mimation and invoking the name of deity. (Pagan p. 311).
GIDDONAH:
GIDDONAH was the father of AMULEK, the great companion of ALMA, beginning with their ministry among the people of AMMONIHAH, around 82 BC. Concerning GIDDONAH, AMULEK Said, "I am AMULEK, I am the son of GIDDONAH, who was the son of Ishmael" (Alma 10:2), therefore he would have also been a descendant of Lehi. GIDDONAH was also the son of AMINADI who like Daniel of Old interpreted writing on the wall of the temple, "which was written by the hand of God," (Alma 10:2). GIDDONAH "was also a man of considerable wealth and reputation among the people of Ammonihah (Alma 9:34-10-4; Sperry p. 335) Later GIDDONAH rejected his son for having accepted the word of God. As a result he died like all the other inhabitants of AMOMONIHAH when it was destroyed. In the early studies of this series AMULEK and GIDDONAH and the Phoenician connection were discussed, both are ancient Phoenician names, related to the MULEK COLONY. What book of history and geography did Joseph get all these connections from?
As noted, the name GIDDONAH is Phoenician, more importantly, it is the name the Phoenicians gave to their famous sea port SIDON. Nibley finds an Egyptian connection as well. The port of SIDON would have been important to the Egyptians as well as the merchant Lehi. "The name of Sidon enjoys great popularity in the Book of Mormon, in both its Egyptian (Giddonah) and Hebrew forms." (Nibley pp. 88-89) Two of the great sea ports on the eastern Mediterranean were Phoenician Ports, Tyre and Sidon. Nebuchadnezzar when he invaded the Levant or Palestinian region and captured Jerusalem, spent thirteen years in his siege of Tyre before he destroyed it. Sidon then enjoyed a brief revival of supremacy at about the time of Lehi. "He shared the position of Jeremiah (l Nephi 7:14), who opposed the policy of the Jewish court in supporting Egypt against Babylon, that meant that he was anti-Tyre and pro-Sidon." (Nibley p. 89)
SIDON is also the name of a prominent river in Nephite territory originating in the vicinity of the south wilderness and the land of MANTI (Alma 16:6). Sidon flows north to the sea, passing just east of the city of Zarahemla (Alma 3:3, 6:7; 44:22). "The historical source of the name could have been the Phoenician port of Sidon, given that it was likely a Phoenician ship that conveyed the Mulek party to Mesoamerican, and Sidon was Phoenicia's prime port." (Sorensen p. 597) Those who would propose eastern central North America as the Book of Mormon Lands have to find a main river that flows north, home to the sea! Most of the major North American rivers flow south.
GIDDONAH was also the name of a high priest in the land of Gideon, who questioned Korihor (ca. 74 BC) asking why he taught against Christ and "the prophecies of the holy prophets." When Korihor replied with a series of false and blasphemous accusation about the greed of the ministers of the Church and the error of the Christian message, GIDDONAH the chief judge refused to respond to them. They both saw that it was fruitless to contend with such a closed mind and hardened heart. Instead they sent Korihor bound to the high priest ALMA and to the chief judge Nephihah at Zarahemla. That is one accusation that has not been leveled at the Mormons because in no way are the leaders and ministers in a position to be greedy or exploitative of their positions. There is no paid ministers and no collections made. Alma silenced the anti-Christ. (Alma 30:21-29; Largey p. 192; Pinegar p. 58) This name is also an example of papponymy, a name used over and over again in a family. And as mentioned elsewhere, the suffix ending of -AH is a theophoric suffix denoting JEHOVAH.
GIDDONAHI
GIDDONAHI was the governor of the GADIANTON ROBBERS (15 AD) whose band emerged as a major threat to both Nephites and Lamanites after the birth of Christ. Because the Nephites had gathered their substance into one place and GIDDONAHI's followers could no longer subsist without robbing and looting, GIDDOANHI led his fearful armies in an assault against the Nephites. In this campaign he was eventually slain by the armies of GIDGIDDONI. (3 Ne. 4:5-14) Pinegar pp. 56-58) Everything discussed about GID, GADIANTON ROBBERS and GADIANTON above and in PART 18, applies here as well. GIDDONAH is discussed elsewhere, the suffix ending of ' I ' is found in EBLA, as a hypocoristicon, to mean 'is' or 'exists' (Pagan p. 320) or 'GOD or GOD IS.' (Pagan p. 327).
A knowledge of the character of GIDDONAHI, is clearly exhibited by his communications and his letter to chief judge Lachoneous reflecting clearly the character, strategy and designs of SATAN. Compare these elements with the infamous leaders of ISIS (IL) today.
I. Using insincere flattery, or exceedingly great praise. (3 Ne. 3:2-10)
2. GIDDONAHI demanded the surrender of Nephite lands and possession on the threat of destruction. (3 Ne. 3:2)
3. Try to shake faith by challenging belief systems supported by God, Gods other than theirs are false and capricious. (3 Ne. 3:2)
4. Mock and intimidate, emphasize how foolish and vain as to suppose one can stand against so many brutal forces. (3 Ne. 3:3)
5. Be arrogant, assertive, I have more power and force, exhibit perverse hatred and views of right and wrong, they are the one supported by a false God. (3 Ne. 3:4)
6. Pretend great concern for welfare of others. (3 Ne. 3:5)
7. Unite and become one of the new force and not be destroyed. (3 Ne. 3:6-8)
8. Ridicule the idea of having the right to life and liberty. (3 Ne. 3:2)
Not long afterwards, GIDDONAHI'S successor, ZEMNARIHAH returned with the remainder of the robber army to besiege Zarahemla, but the gathered Nephites had sufficient provisions to outlast any siege, and they sent out forays against Zemnarihah's army, decimating the enemy forces and preventing their escape, those not slain were taken prisoner. (Pinegar p. 58)
What Satan does not reveal when he captures the hearts and minds of men is the ultimate consequence of such a course, ultimate eternal misery. (2 Ne. 2:27; 9:9; 28:21-22; Largey p. 292)
GIDDIANHI also has a theoretical long suffix, -IANHI, which may be a hypocoristicon of the longer theophoric name GIDDIANHIAH where the final suffix element of -IAH, represents JEHOVAH. As mentioned, the consonantal prefix, GID-, is found among Amorite personal names at Mari a thriving city state at the time of the departure of the Jaredites (giving the name great antiquity, it was contemporary with EBLA) , (Huffmon p. l79). Some Nephite mother, or father, or both , may have selected from Egyptian or Phoenician names (from the Mulekites or the Brass Plates) or had access to Mosiah's translation of the Jaredite records, the name GIDDIANHI and for their purposes and desiring to relate the name they were choosing for a son, to the Son of God, JEHOVAH, tacked on the suffix ending the abbreviation -IAH, standing for Jesus Christ or JEHOVAH. The name would then mean 'to be or to become good like Jehovah,' something GIDDIANHI certainly never became. He was personified evil. (3 Ne. 3:9)
GIDEON: GIDON, GIDIAND
As in the name GAD, GID, with the same consonantal element GD, has ancient meanings that attest to the usage in the Book of Mormon, and meanings associated with the history of the name in the Biblical writings. (Judges 6:11)
In ancient Hebrew and in the Jewish Tanakh , about 1200 BC., the name means 'warrior' (Mandel p. 173). But the meaning goes back to the name GIDON in older Semitic languages where the meaning is 'slasher,' (Gardner p. 121), also 'hewer, smiter' (Douglas p. 559) with implications associated with the names GADA, [ELAMATIC], (ca. 2300 BC) and GADIANTON, at the time of the Jaredites, where the meaning is murderer, "LOOTER, ROBBER,", as noted in previous discussions, (Tavernier p. 185), and in the name GADAMU where it means to "cut off" a part of the body (Black p. 87). In the TANAKH, GIDEON was known as the great warrior and 'slasher,' his exploits and brutality were legendary. He is written up in most Biblical sources, dictionaries and commentaries that are accessible and need not be repeated here. The name, as used in the Book of Mormon while emphasized, is in keeping with aspects of the onomastic history of the name confirming the Book of Mormon.
The name GIDEON is used in the Book of Mormon as that of a Nephite military leader and patriot about 145 to 91 BC. Also as a place name of a Land area, a city and a valley.
GIDEON THE PATRIOT:
GIDEON fought against the evils of king Noah (Mosiah 19:4). As a captain to King Limhi, he counseled with the king and helped avoid war with the Lamanites over their kidnapped daughters (Mosiah 20:17-22) . Later he devised an inspired escape plan to deliver the Nephites out of bonadage, (Mosiah 22:2-9; 25:16; Alma l:8). As an old man GIDEON was a teacher in the Church. He withstood the false teachings of Nehor with the "words of god," But Nehor slew him in anger (Alma l:7-9). GIDEON was unable, 7 being stricken with many years, to withstand the lethal blows inflicted upon him by NEHOR. The Nephites named a valley, a city, and a land after this faithful servant. (Largey pp. 292-293; 58) GIDEON gave his life defending the truth. NEHOR was found guilty by ALMA of the crimes of priestcraft and murder and was put to death. (Pinegar p. 59)
THE VALLEY OF GIDEON:
The VALLEY OF GIDEON is first mentioned as an encampment during the battle of Alma with the Amlicites (Alma 2:20) Later, after Alma had relinquished the judgment seat to Nephihah, he traveled to the VALLEY OF GIDEON.
THE CITY OF GIDEON:
When Alma went to the VALLEY OF GIDEON his destination was the CITY OF GIDEON which had been established there, and commended the people for their righteousness and preached the coming of Jesus Christ (Alma 6:7-8, 10 about 83 BC). The VALLEY, LAND and CITY OF GIDEON were all located on the eastern side of the River SIDON. (Largey p. 293)
THE LAND OF GIDEON:
Nine years after Alma visited the CITY OF GIDEON, THE ANTI-CHRIST KORIHOR attempted to preach in the LAND OF GIDEON but with little success. He was bound and brought before GIDEON'S chief judge, and also the high priest GIDDONAH (Alma 30:21, 23). More than ten years later the king-men took over Zarahemla and the chief judge Pahoran fled to Gideon. There he awaited the assistance of Captain Moroni in regaining Zarahelma from the dissenters. (Alma 61:5, 15, 62:3-7) Many years later Samuel the Lamanite specifically named GIDEON as a city of wickedness, ripe for destruction (Hel, 13-15, about 6 BC). (Largey p. 293)
GIDGIDDONAH:
This name along with the discussion of GIDDAGIDDU found in the Akkadian dictionary, confirming its JAREDITE linkage and antiquity, is an unusual but important confirmation Joseph Smith was translating an authentic record. No one has come up with an explanation of this startling onomasticon parallel. The name most likely was noticed in the Jaredite records and utilized in a Nephite family late in the history of the Book of Mormon. The ancient name had the suffix ending of -U, common for Akkadian and Sumerian names, while the Book of Mormon elected the suffix of -AH, the abbreviation for JEHOVAH. These are not blunders by Joseph or made up names, they follow the rules of onomastic science and reflect the theologies of the people who are adopting the names.
GIDGIDDONAH was the name of a Nephite Military leader killed with his ten thousand troops in the last battle between the Nephites and Lamanites. (Mormon 6:13; 385 AD) Being a General, he would have been a confidant and part of the military circle around Mormon. It would have been nice if Mormon or Moroni had said something more about the high ranked military leaders who gave their lives and lost their families in that last great destructive struggle of the Nephites. The brief reference is so sad. Much of the foregoing applies to this name.
GIDGIDDONI:
All of the above that has been discussed about GID and the GD element names applies as well to GIDGIDDONI. Like the similar name in the Akkadian Dictionary GIDDAGIDDU, it has the double or repeating core element. The DU suffix ending is OLD Akkadian, appearing to mean "to, into, enfold," "belonging," (Black p. 61). The Akkadian source indicates that behind the name is a Sumerian link, (Black p. 92), which may account for the suffix ending of DU or U. The ancient name seems to indicate some impairment with vision, the ancient Sumerian meaning may have been close to 'not seeing God clearly' or 'try to see God clearly.' Variants of the double usage is found in other Akkadian names such as GIDGIDDANU, GIDGIDANUM GIDGIDAANI, GIDGIDDANI, GIDGIDDAANU, GIDGIDA, GIDGIDAA, and in sources other than the Akkadian Dictionary; such as EBLA, (Pagan p. 311) where it means "good," the names and double elements were carried down through several generations of languages such as Assyrian and Neo-Assyrian, (Radner p. 422) In Akkadian there is no O in their alphabet, none of those names have an O, but a lot of A's and I's. The Adamic language apparently had O's. In every particular, Joseph got it right, he could have made some serious errors and mistakes in this area of names in the Book of Mormon.
The suffix -NI is a Hebrew element frequently found in WEST SEMITIC names, such as Akkadian. It represents the first person singular verbal suffix and is present in eight Book of Mormon names. (Coogan p. 109)
As languages changed the frequency of doubling of elements decreased; the name GIDGIDONI became just GIDONI or GIDEONI (which is just GIDEON with an ancient suffix ONI likely representing one of the gods. Centuries later after the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites, the tribe of Benjamin had a member whose name was GIDEONI, the name meaning 'warlike,' (Numbers l:11; Mandel p. 175), retaining some aspect of the violence originally associated with the name in antiquity.
GILEAD:
GILEAD was a Jaredite military commander (Ether 15:3) who fought Coriantumr two years after Coriantumr had defeated and killed his brother Shared. GILEAD was beaten by Coriantumr and driven into the wilderness of AKISH , after which an intense and costly battle took place. CORIANTUMR's siege in the wilderness failed when GILEAD and his men escaped in the night and "slew" part of CORIANTUMR'S drunken army. GILEAD went to Moron and placed his man upon the throne of Coriantumr, but was later murdered by his high priest. (Ether 14:3-9)
GILEAD, in the Bible, was the son of Machir, son of Manasseh and progenitor of the Gileadite clan a major part of the tribe of Manasseh. (Nu. 26:29-30; 27:l; 36:l; Jos. 17:1, 3; l Ch. 3.21, 23: 7:14-17) GILEAD was also a descendant of Gad and ancestor of the Gadites (l Ch. 5:14) . The name was also the name of Maphthah's father (Jdg. 11:1-2)
The name GILEAD also applies to the whole of Transjordanian lands occupied by Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh. It was the beautiful wooded country north of a line from Heshbon West to the north end of the Dead Sea, extending south to the Arnon river with its rolling plateau for grain and cattle; all of Israelite Transjordan. (Dt. 2:36, 34:1) It included the River Jabbok where Jacob got the name Israel. The region from where the "Balm of Gilead" mentioned in favorite songs, was obtained. (Douglas pp. 561-562)
GILGAH:
A name from the first generation of the Jaredites. JARED had four sons identified in his posterity as, JACOM, GILGAH, MAHAH and ORIHAH. (Largey p. 431) GILGAH refused the offer to be crowned the first Jaredite King (Ether 6:14, 27; Largey p. 430)
The prefix GIL- in GILGAH, is of ancient origin, reaching into the dim past of ancient Sumer in the Archives of Garsana. The name is theophoric containing the suffix -AH, which denotes Jehovah. Another name of Jaredite papponymy.
GILGAL:
GILGAL is the name of a valley where two fierce Jaredite battles took place. The battles between the armies of CORIANTUMR and SHARED were fought there. The first battle, which lasted three days, CORIANTUMR was victorious and continued to pursue SHARED to the plains of HESHLON. There SHARED prevailed, forcing CORIANTUMR back to the valley of GILGAL, so the two valleys may have been contiguous to each other separated by mountain range of some sort. But the tide turned again, and CORIANTUMR killed SHARED in battle. (Ether 13:28-31; Largey p. 295)
GILGAL means a 'circle of stones,' or 'rolling' as used later in Hebrew where galal , 'means to roll,' as a reminder to Israel of their deliverance from Egypt when they were circumcised there "This day I have rolled away (galloti) the reproach of Egypt from you. (Jos. 5:9)
GILGAL is an uncertain site between where the Camp of Israel crossed the Jordan and Jericho, when they entered the promised land. It was the base of operations for the conquests after crossing Jordan. (Jos. 4:19) Here the first Passover was held. (Jos. 5:9-10), and where the tribal inheritances of land began to be allocated. (Jos. 9:6) Many events and a rich history transpired at GILGAL. Samuel the prophet visited it frequently. Here Saul and Samuel parted forever. David was welcomed here, and Elijah, with Elisha, on his way to be translated passed here. GILGAL, host to pristine glory until it became a center of formal and unspiritual worship, drawing the condemnation of prophets like Amos. (Douglas pp. 562-563)
In the suffix -GAL, in GILGAL, GAL is of ancient origin, reaching into the dim past of ancient Sumer. In the Archives of Garsana, GAL is used as an adjective "(to be) big, great, large" (Klienerman p. 215). GAL can also mean "to be (there, at hand, available); to exist; to put, place, lay down, to have," going back to Sumerian. (Ibid p. 216) The element, or prefix, GIL, is found in more than twelve names in the Akkadian Dictionary. (Black p. 93) often with the meaning "exultation, mourning, a kind," some in Old Akkadian names going back to Sumerian. The suffix element GAL, is included in those sources in more than 45 names, varying in meaning depending on suffixes appended to the element. (Black p. 98) From EBLA, the GIL element appears in more than twenty names, the meaning often also meaning "exultation, my," (Pagan p. 312) with the GAL element as a prefix listed in more than ten names, often with the meaning "my, is, like." (Ibid p. 309-310) The elements in the name are old, again, linking back to Sumerian. The meanings are preserved fairly well down through time. So. while Biblical, it has ancient Sumerian roots.
GIMGIMNO: GIMALIK, GIMLIADU
GIMGIMO is only mentioned in connection with its destruction at the time of Jesus's Death. The Lord caused the city and its inhabitants to be buried "in the depths of the earth," and He "made hills and valleys in the places thereof" (3 Ne. 9:8) It must have been a fairly large city that its area should require hills (plural) and valleys (Plural) in the places thereof.
The prefix element GIM, repeated twice in this name, and as noted before, this doubling is found in Akkadian and ancient Sumerian abundantly in the G's. In the Akkadian Dictionary it is a prefix to more than twelve names, with meanings including, 'requital, totality, favour, spare [as keep in reserve].' (Black p. 91) From EBLA we also get the element GIM- in two names, meaning 'exultation, like, MALIK,' and 'spare me.- father.'(Pagan p. 312). This is another example of the doubling in the letter G area of the Alphabet. Nibley does draw attention and a comparison of GIMGIMNO to KIPKIP (also KIBKIB) a city in Egypt where the Jews fled after escaping the conquests of the Assyrians. (Nibley Vol. 5, p. 23) The grandson of Jared and a king, was a man called KIB. (Largey p. 431) Joseph was not conjuring up names out of thin air, they were genuine names complicated as they may seem to be and parallels are found in ancient areas.
GOMORRAH:
The reference to GOMORRAH is taken from Isaiah 11 quoted in 2 Ne. 23:19, where mention is made that "God overthrew Sodom and GOMORRAH," (Genesis 19:24-25; Deut 29:23; Jer. 49:18; 2 Ne. 13:9) during the days of Abraham.
In 1964 an Italian professor of Archaeology, Paulo Matthiae, felt attracted to Syria. While scholars elbowed one another among the ruins of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Palestine, Syria was neglected. The landscape was blistered with tells-ruin mounds of ancient cities- covering the ruins of ancient settlements, crying out for a spade. He had made a tour of the Syrian countryside in 1964 and had alighted on Tell Mardikh 20 miles south of Aleppo. It had massive proportions, the potsherds scattered about the surface, he thought, held out the richest prospects, but he had no idea he was standing on top of ancient EBLA, one among the greatest cities of the upper Euphrates River. That year he started digging. It took four years to establish the mount was ancient EBLA and then, it was not until 1974 before he achieved this breakthrough discovery, a vast archive of ancient clay tablets. Today it is impossible to open an archaeological publication without encountering a reference to EBLA. There is nothing more important to an archaeologist than the written word. Early on he found tablets, and when he later returned to the spot where had found the first one and dug into the walls he found thousands of tablets, a virtual palace archive. The tablets of baked clay varied in size. The smallest are roundish and under two inches across, the largest are about thirteen inches square and look like corn bread covered with little notches, the notches were cuneiform, the mode of writing current in that area and the Near East for three thousand years. The City of Ebla had been burned by fire by a grandson of Sargon, Emperor of the Akkadian Empire, and then rebuilt after 2250 BC, so it was a prime place to look for parallels that might be related to Book of Mormon names, because the area was in the vicinity of origins of the ancient Jaredites. Then a trained and observing epigrapher, who knew cunieform, Govanni Pettinato, became involved, and the rest, as they say, is History. Ebla did change history, and Book of Mormon studies.
Before the discovery little was known of EBLA, afterwards, EBLA was almost a household name. Especially since believers were provided with confirmation of many biblical themes. Those who challenged biblical events and people as not being real or actual got a shock. The revisionists were hammering away at the bible, so they did not appreciate it when translation of an unknown language was found to be related to Hebrew and other Semitic languages, now called EBLAITE, and that names such as David, Abraham and Ishmael, Hazor, Meggido, Ashdod, Gaza, were well known, and Jerusalem, some five centuries before it was mentioned elsewhere, and even of cities of the Vale of Sidim as they were listed in Genesis 14:2: Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, Zeoim and Zoar, even the order in which they occur, cannot be coincidences. (Bermant p. 3) All on a single tablet! There and elsewhere, the cities were named as destinations of various consignments from EBLA. (Ibid p. 187) The whole of chapter 14 of Genesis is up for review and reinterpretation. In 2008 and 2009 a series of studies on the discoveries of EBLA were made available on this web site. Mormon detractors who neglect the study of Book of Mormon names, especially the discoveries at EBLA and in the Akkadian Dictionary do so at that their own peril! Have I said that before?
GOMORRAH
The name means "small drinking cup," it was one of the cities of the Pentapolis. (Grollengerg p. 151) Since it was part of a vast trading net work, in fact an important lane, the Jaredites would have been familiar with it. The cities, including GOMORRAH, listed in Gen. 14:2, were situated in what is now the shallow southern extension of the Dead Sea. Bitumen and asphalt, are found in the coastal area of the Dead Sea. (Gen.14:10) There is also a salt mass known as Gebel [Hill] Usdum on the SW shore of the Dead Sea, the site Bab ed-Dra is a few miles E. of the plain cities, a place of destination and pilgrimage. (Guthrie p. 98) A vast source of a premium commodity: Salt. While salt, bitumen and asphalt, are rare, they would have not been the only trade article of interest from this region. If the Jaredites were merchants and traders, and the evidence is growing that they were, then their trade consignments may have included articles of interest from this region.
PART 20 will start in the H's with the name HAGOTH.
BIOGRAPHY
BENZ, Frank L., Personal Names in the Phoenician And Punic Inscriptions, Biblical Institute Press, Rome, 1972
DOUGLAS, J. D., The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Tyndale House Publishers, Sydney, 1980
GARDNER, Joseph I., Ed., Reader's Digest, Who's Who in the Bible, The Reader's DigestAssociation Inc., Pleasantville, New York, 1994
GROLLENBERG, L. H., O.P. , Atlas of the Bible, Thomas Nelson and Sons., London, 1956
GUTHRIE, D., Ed., The New Bible Commentary, Revised, WM R. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1970
HUEHNERGARD, John, The Akkadian of Ugarit, Harvard Semitic Studies 34, Scholars Press,Atlanta, Georgia, 1989
KLIENERMAN, Alexandra & David I. Owen, Analytical Concordance to the GarsanaArchives, Cornell University Studies in Assyriology and Sumerology, Vol. 4CDL Press, Bethesda, Maryland, 2009
LARGEY, Dennis L., Book of Mormon Reference Companion, Deseret Book Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, 2003
LIPINSKI, Edward, The Aramaeans, Their Ancient History, Culture, Religion, Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta No. 100, Utigeverij Peeters, Leuven 2000
LUDLOW, Daniel, A Companion to your study of the Book of Mormon, Deseret Book Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, 1976
MANDEL, David. Who's Who in Tanakh, Ariel Books, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2004
McCONKIE, Bruce R., Mormon Doctrine, Bookcraft, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, 1958
NIBLEY, Hugh, Since Cumorah, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1967
............Lehi in the Deseret, The world of the Jaredites, There Were Jaredites, FARMSVol. 5, BYU, Provo, Utah & Deseret Book Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, 1988
PAGAN, Joseph M., A Morphological and Lexical Study of Personal Names in the Ebla Texts, Missione Archaeologica Italiana in Siria, University Degli Studi Di Roma, La Sapienza, 1998
PINEGAR, Ed J., & Richard J. Allen, Book of Mormon Who's Who, Covenant Communications,Inc., American Fork, Utah 2007
RADNER, Karen, The prosopography of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, Vol. l/11, B-G, University ofHelsinki, Finland, 1999
SMITH, Joseph, EAG, Joseph Smith's Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar, Modern Microfilm Co. Salt Lake City, Utah, 1966
SORENSON, John L., Mormon's Codex, Neal Maxwell Institute, BYU, Deseret Book Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, 2013
SHORTER, Alan W., The Egyptian Gods, Routledge & Kegan Paul, London, 1978
SPERRY, Sidney B., Doctrine and Covenants Compendium, Bookcraft Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah 1960
TAVERNIER, J., Iranica in the Achaemenid Period, Uitgevereu Peeters, Department of Oosterse Studies, Leuvan, 2007
WOODFORD, Robert J., A Historical Development of the Doctrine Covenants Vol.11, Brigham Young University, Unpublished, a copy was a gift to me from Robert's brother, 1974