New Light on Six Inscriptions from Arad

On the basis of new multispectral images, I re-examine six of the inscriptions found by Yohanan Aharoni at Arad. These are Arad 76, an early ration list; Arad 49, an inscribed ritual bowl dated to the late 8th century; three letters that form part of Eliashib's archive (Arad 3, 5 and 12); and a unique school text dated to the late 7th–early 6th centuries that records blessings and expressions of human emotions (Arad 28). Only certain portions of the three letters are discussed in detail whereas the three other inscriptions are rendered in Hebrew transcription, translation, commentary and detailed discussion.