Hebrew tahaš and the West Semitic Tent Tradition.

The Hebrew lexeme tahaš, which designates one of the materials of the outer layer of the priestly tent sanctuary, has puzzled interpreters for hundreds of years. This article surveys the recent discussion of the term and provides evidence in favor of a parallel to the Akkadian duhšum/tuhšum. So far overlooked in this discussion is the functional parallel between the use of Hebrew tahaš for the covering of the tent sanctuary and the use of tuhšum at Mari for the covering of a large, royal tent structure (hurpatum). Buttressing the phonological and functional parallel between Hebrew tahaš and Mari duhšum/tuhšum are a series of other terminological connections between Mari's hurpatum, the tent-dwelling of Ugaritic 'Ilu, and the Israelite priestly tent sanctuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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