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Gerard Gertoux

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Gerard Gertoux
Born
Gérard Marcel Laurent Gertoux

(1955-03-19) March 19, 1955 (age 69)
7th arrondissement of Lyon
NationalityFrench
Occupation(s)Historian and Chronologist
Years active1995–present
EmployerFrench Ministry of National Education (1983–2014)
Academic background
EducationPhD student, Master in Archaeology and History of Ancient Worlds.
Alma materLumière University Lyon 2
ThesisLes conjonctions astronomiques dans l'antiquité comme les éclipses ou les levers sothiaques: approches d'une chronologie absolue. (2007)
Doctoral advisorPierre Villard, Daniel Bodi
Other advisorsYves Roman, Michel Debidour
Academic work
DisciplineOld Testament scholar, Ancient Near Eastern chronologist
Sub-disciplineHebrew, Cuneiform script
Main interestsAncient Middle East and Tetragrammaton.
Notable worksUn Historique du nom divin: Un Nom Encens (in French)
The Name of God Y.eH.oW.aH Which is Pronounced as it is Written I_Eh_oU_Ah. Its Story
Notable ideasPronunciation of the Tetragrammaton Jehovah, and timelines of the ancient world.

Gerard Gertoux (born on March 19, 1955 in Lyon) is a French chronologist,[1][2] historian and researcher in the field of Near Eastern archaeology[3] and Ancient History,[4] particularly Egyptian,[5] Assyrian,[6] Jewish, and research on the Tetragrammaton.[7]

Gertoux argued that one of the several ancient vocalizations of the Tetragrammaton was Yehowah,[8] just as Thomas Römer has proposed 'Yahô' or 'Yahû,[9] F. C. Burkitt for Yaho or Yeho,[10] Max Reisel for YeHūàH or YaHūàH,[11] etc. contra the mainstream consensus that it was only Yahweh.[12][13] Gertoux's astronomical synchronization into their chronologies of ancient history have offered new conclusions.[14][15]

Life

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Gérard Gertoux was born on March 19, 1955[4] in the 7th arrondissement of Lyon.[16]

In 1979, Gertoux graduated Engineering physics from the École nationale supérieure d'ingénieurs électriciens de Grenoble (I.N.P.G.),[17][18] and presented a thesis in physical nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy entitled Études expérimentales et théoriques par spectrométrie RMN de composés magnétiques de terres rares under the tutelage of Yves Ayant and Élie Belorizky at the Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Physique à Grenoble.[19] In 1982, Gertoux joined the Sacred Name Movement. [20][21] Gertoux continued his studies and obtained the Certificat d'aptitude au professorat de l'enseignement du second degré (CAPES) in Physics to become a certified professor. In 1983, he began teaching at the French Ministry of Education.[17]

As an independent scholar, Gertoux began his studies in the Tetragrammaton.[17][7] To facilitate access to biblical manuscripts preserved in ancient collections, Gertoux created the Association Biblique de Recherche d'Anciens Manuscrits in 1991.[22][23] In 1998, Henri Cazelles submitted a Gertoux's thesis entitled יהוה in Fame Only: A historical record of the divine name to the library of the Institut catholique de Paris (Bibliothèque oecuménique et scientifique d'études bibliques BOSEB), under the acronym T594GER.[24][25] Gertoux decided to publish his findings by Editions L'Harmattan in 1999, after receiving comments for his work,[26][27] in a book entitled: Un Historique du nom divin: Un Nom Encens.[28][29] Un Historique du nom divin: Un Nom Encens was translated into English as The Name of God Y.eH.oW.aH Which is pronounced as it is Written I_Eh_oU_Ah. Its Story and published in 2002 by the University Press of America, with minor updates and an expanded appendix.[30][31][32]

In 2004, Gertoux obtained a master's degree in Archaeology and History of Ancient Worlds from the Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée (MOM), Lumière University Lyon 2, with a dissertation entitled L'œil de l'histoire: la chronologie. Les éclipses dans l'antiquité: approche scientifique d'une chronologie absolue under the supervision of professors Yves Roman and Michel Debidour.[33] In 2005,[34] Gertoux continued his doctoral studies in archaeology and history of the ancient world at the Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée, Université Lumière-Lyon-II,[35][36] with his thesis Les conjonctions dans l'antiquité comme les éclipses: approche scientifique d'une chronologie absolue (HCL TM 104 at the MOM library) under the supervision of Pierre Villard,[37][38] and the defense of the dissertation with the six jurors was scheduled for December 2007.[39]

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Human Rights Without Frontiers report that Gertoux is a victim of religious discrimination in France because for September 2007 the defense was canceled, when the university becomes aware of Gertoux's religious affiliation.[40][39] Pierre Villard tried to support him by personally recommending his thesis for transfer to another university.[41] The Coordination des Associations & Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience informed that Daniel Bodi of the Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (INALCO) agreed to supervise Gertoux's doctoral thesis in 2009,[42] but the INALCO refused to accept him as a transfer, even though he received the agreement of a research director and two of his original jurors.[43][41] Gertoux claims that he proposed to start a new and different doctoral dissertation in order to be accepted, but he was not accepted as a student either.[44] Human Rights Without Frontiers informed that "on 10 February 2011 the Administrative Court of Paris (Dossier n°: 0918003/7-3) refused to validate his complaint to religious discrimination".[39] The Coordination des Associations & Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience says that Gertoux is "an example of the influence of MIVILUDES and the black list" and adds that MIVILUDES "has indoctrinated everyone against minority movements" and to all government ministries including the ministry of education, which is responsible for the management of the universities.[45]

In 2011 Gertoux presented at the University of Edinburgh conference his proposal A New Achaemenid King: Darius B, owing to Synchronized Chronology.[46] In 2012, Gertoux retired from French national teaching and, in the same year, became a member of the International Association for Assyriology, where he presented his doctoral thesis.[47] At the University of Oxford, he presented his article Assyrian and biblical chronologies: are they reliable? in 2015.[48] In the same year, he gave a presentation at the University of Geneva in the 65th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale to present his Dating the Reigns of Xerxes and Artaxerxes, which was published in volume 40 of Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis. Archaeologica series.[49] In 2019, Dominique Charpin has invited Gertoux to the 65th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale at the Collège de France to present a summary of his doctoral thesis.[50] Also in 2019, Jonathan Rosenbaum has invited Gertoux to the 2019 annual meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) in the session: Archaeology and Biblical Studies to give a lecture of his thesis.[51]

From 2019 to 2021, Gertoux has published articles in the journal Nouvelles Assyriologiques Bréves et Utilitaires (NABU), published by the Société pour l'étude du Proche-Orient (SÉPOA).[52][53][54][55]

Research of the Tetragrammaton

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Gertoux claims that he did not owe the depth of his research to himself alone, but that frequented the specialists of the Sources Chrétiennes of Lyon and those of the Centre d'Analyse et de Traitement Automatique de la Bible à Villeurbanne (CATAB) to expand his research; He mentions some:[44]

Reception

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Studies on the Tetragrammaton

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Main article: Tetragrammaton

Gertoux's book The Name of God Y.eH.oW.aH Which is Pronounced as it is Written I_Eh_oU_Ah. It Story, has been cited in reference works such as The Encyclopedia of Christianity,[12] the Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity[56] and the Μεγάλη Ορθόδοξη Χριστιανική Εγυκλοπαίδεια (ΜΟΧΕ) [Great Orthodox Christian Encyclopedia].[57] Gertoux's research provoked reactions from various scholars, notably Robert J. Wilkinson,[58] George W. Buchanan,[59] Aviv Schoenfeld,[60] Bruce M. Metzger,[61] François Bœspflug,[62] Daniel Faivre,[63] Antonio Macaya Pascual,[64] Jean Vernette,[65] Pavlos D. Vasileiadis,[66] Roberto Guidotti,[67] Didier Fontaine,[68] Charles Perrot,[43] and Philippe Barbey.[69] On the other hand, John Gee[70] and Steven Orlepp[71] expressed their disagreement with Gertoux.

Brigitte Sion remarked on Un historique du nom divin : nom encens that Gertoux's study "invites you to think about it."[28] קרית ספר states that it is a proposal of the exact pronunciation of the Name according to the Hebrew text.[29]

On his review of The Name of God Y.eH.oW.aH Which is Pronounced as it is Written I_Eh_oU_Ah. It Story, Marlon Winedt commented that the book was translated from French and says that applying the "coincidentally correct" vowels of Yehuda from the Masoretic text results in the vocalization Yehua. He also directs to Gertoux's website divinename.net which has excerpts from the book.[32] John Gee is of the opinion that Egyptian and Akkadian evidence is ignored, that the Masoretic vowels have a later pronunciation and that the letter method is not applicable.[72][70] Gertoux responds, and says that Gee did not even read the book, and his unsubstantiated claims are not explained in his criticism.[73] Won W. Lee affirmed on Gertoux's studies, citing that his "detailed treatment of the Name" was "useful for those who are interested in the history of its translation of the centuries".[30]

Studies on ancient history

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Gertoux created Egyptian, Assyrian and biblical chronologies which, according to Hermann Hunger,[74] Gertoux "offers new conclusions or refutes chronologies proposed by other scholars". Gertoux have integrated astronomical synchronization into their chronologies.[15]

The Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology,[75][76] Albertus Pretorius,[2] Paul Finch,[1] Kenneth C. Griffith and Darrell K. White,[77] Claude Obsomer,[5] Nicholas P. Lunn,[78] David A. Fiensy[79] Giuseppe Veneziano,[80] and others have embraced some of Gertoux's ideas. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones disagrees: "Esther is not a history book and it does not contain history per se (in spite of the valiant effort by Gérard Gertoux (2015) to fix Esther's narrative precisely in time)."[81]

Works

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Theses
  • Gertoux, Gerard (1979). Études expérimentales et théoriques par spectrométrie RMN de composés magnétiques de terres rares (Diplôme d'Étude Approfondie en énergétique, at the Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Physique at Grenoble) (in French).
  • ——————— (1995). Un nom encens : un historique du nom divin de son origine à sa reconstitution (BOSEB ICP: Institut Catholique de Paris) (in French).
  • ——————— (1997). יהוה : an aim to incense : a historical record of the divine Name (BOSEB ICP: Institut Catholique de Paris) (in French).
  • ——————— (1998). יהוה : in fame only ? : a historical record of the divine name (Res T 594 GER. BOSEB ICP: Institut Catholique de Paris) (in French).
  • ——————— (2004-10-01). L'œil de l'histoire: la chronologie. Les éclipses dans l'antiquité: approche scientifique d'une chronologie absolue (Master thesis (HCL TM 104 at the MOM library), MOM - Bibliothèque de la Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée, University of Lyon II) (in French). Lyon.
  • ——————— (2007). Les conjonctions dans l'antiquité comme les éclipses: approche scientifique d'une chronologie absolue (PhD diss., MOM - Bibliothèque de la Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée University of Lyon II) (in French).
  • ——————— (2009). Approche scientifique d'une chronologie absolue grâce aux synchronismes datés par l'astronomie (PhD diss., INALCO) (in French).
Books
Articles
  • Gertoux, Gerard (2013-09-11). Dating the fall of Babylon and Ur thanks to Astronomical Events. arXiv:1309.2758.
  • ——————— (2019d). Ziegler, Nele (ed.). "Dating the Reigns of Xerxes and Artaxerxes". Nouvelles Assyriologiques Bréves et Utilitaires. 4: 179. ISSN 0989-5671.
  • ——————— (2020a). Ziegler, Nele (ed.). "Biography of Themistocles: 536–471 BCE or 524–459 BCE?". Nouvelles Assyriologiques Bréves et Utilitaires. 3. Société pour l'étude du Proche-Orient: 199–200. ISSN 0989-5671.
  • ——————— (2020b). Ziegler, Nele (ed.). "Intercalations during the co-regency of Xerxes with Darius I". Nouvelles Assyriologiques Bréves et Utilitaires. 4. Société pour l'étude du Proche-Orient: 273–279. ISSN 0989-5671.
  • ——————— (2021-10-15). Ziegler, Nele (ed.). "Mesopotamian chronology over the period 2340-539 BCE through astronomically dated synchronisms and comparison with carbon-14 dating". Nouvelles Assyriologiques Bréves et Utilitaires. 3: 171–172. ISSN 0989-5671.
Video documentaries
Conferences

References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b Finch 2023, p. 638: "Fortunately, thanks to one honest chronological researcher, Gérard Gertoux, his research completely dovetails with the conclusion of the present author had already determined. Indeed, he has persented an excellent testimony from other notable ancient historians that Carthage was indeed founded exactly where the Bible places it, right around the year of 870 BCE."
  2. ^ a b Pretorius 2022, p. 42: "Gertoux, who compiled a credible chronology of Jesus's life, also places his baptism in AD29, although he calculated that Jesus was baptized during August."
  3. ^ Tompsett 2023, p. 83: "Gertoux, a French academic and researcher concerned with Near Eastern archaeology."
  4. ^ a b O'Connell 2022: "Gérard Gertoux (1955–) is a French academic who is best known for his book The name of God Y.eH.oW.aH. However, most of his prodigious output is concerned with ancient chronology."
  5. ^ a b Obsomer 2020, p. 241.
  6. ^ Piper 2023, pp. 51.
  7. ^ a b Adams 2017: "Gerard Gertoux of the University of Lyon, has specialised on the Tetragrammaton. His works are recommended reading for a detailed study on the topic of the Tetragrammaton"
  8. ^ Schoenfeld 2020, pp. 80: "I adopt the (albeit minority) view that one of its ancient vocalizations was yəhōwɔ̄ (Gertoux 2015), contra the mainstream consensus that it was only yahwɛ."
  9. ^ Römer 2015, p. 30: "It does seem clear that the original pronunciation of Yhwh was 'Yahô' or 'Yahû
  10. ^ Burkitt 1925, p. 355.
  11. ^ Reisel 1957, p. 56.
  12. ^ a b Fahlbusch et al. 2008, p. 854
  13. ^ Kurian & Lamport 2016, p. 2003: "Against the consensus that God's name was ponounced 'Yahweh', Gérard Gertoux has defended 'Yehowah' (i.e., Jehovah)."
  14. ^ Hunger 2015: "I have read the manuscript "Basic astronomy for historians to get a chronology" of Gerard Gertoux and found it a well-informed and informative introduction to this complicated subject. It clearly explains what is required from a historian who wants to establish the chronology of historical events. The author shows by examples how different chronologies can be evaluated or refuted. He also explains the astronomical phenomena that can be used for dating events, and the pitfalls in using ancient calendars. For some cases, he offers new conclusions or refutes chronologies proposed by other scholars. The manuscript forces the reader to be very attentive, but this attention is well worth it".
  15. ^ a b Courgeau 2022: "He obtained by synchronization with astronomical data and events occurring among other peoples."
  16. ^ Net1901 2023: "Gertoux Gérard, né à Lyon 7e, le 19 mars 1955, de nationalité française"
  17. ^ a b c Thomas 2017: "Gerard Gertoux is the second expert. He is a physical engineer, teaching in the French secondary education system, whose interest in God's name led him to pursue academic research in the subject in which he is now an expert"
  18. ^ Gee 2004: "In the book under review, Gérard Gertoux, a French engineer, takes issue with the current consensus and contends that it is incorrect"
  19. ^ Gertoux 1979.
  20. ^ Walsh 2010, pp. 5–6.
  21. ^ Kurian & Lamport 2016, p. 2003.
  22. ^ JOAFE 2021.
  23. ^ Net1901 2023.
  24. ^ Gertoux 1999, p. 7 : Henri Cazelles (Directeur de l'Institut catholique de Paris) "Je vous remercie vivement de m'avoir envoyé votre 'ln Fame only?' d'une grande richesse de documentation. Je vais le déposer à la Bibliothèque Biblique pour le plus grand profit des chercheurs... Avec mes félicitations et remerciements".
  25. ^ Buchanan 2005, p. 12.
  26. ^ Gertoux 1999, p. 7–8.
  27. ^ Gertoux 2002, p. 7–8.
  28. ^ a b Sion 2000, p. 24.
  29. ^ a b קרית ספר 2001, p. 705.
  30. ^ a b Lee 2003, p. 285.
  31. ^ Gee 2004, pp. 1–4.
  32. ^ a b Winedt 2004, p. 8.
  33. ^ Frantiq. Fédération et Ressources sur L'antiquté.
  34. ^ Bernard 2018, p. 24: "Dans une étude de 2005 le doctorant en archéologie Gérard Gertoux de l'Université de Lyon 2"
  35. ^ Remacle.
  36. ^ Lombard 2010, p. 7, 124.
  37. ^ MOM 2007.
  38. ^ Gertoux 2007.
  39. ^ a b c Human Rights Without Frontiers 2015.
  40. ^ Walsh 2010.
  41. ^ a b CAP LC 2011.
  42. ^ ABES 2016.
  43. ^ a b CAP LC.
  44. ^ a b Gertoux 2015.
  45. ^ TMR 2012.
  46. ^ Gertoux 2011.
  47. ^ Boardmember XY 2014.
  48. ^ OPCA 2015.
  49. ^ Gertoux 2015c.
  50. ^ Gertoux 2019b.
  51. ^ Gertoux 2019c.
  52. ^ Gertoux 2019d.
  53. ^ Gertoux 2020a.
  54. ^ Gertoux 2020b.
  55. ^ Gertoux 2021.
  56. ^ Ramelli 2014, p. 686.
  57. ^ Βασιλειάδης 2011, p. 216.
  58. ^ Wilkinson 2015, pp. 38: Gertoux holds "strong views about its pronunciation and meaning"
  59. ^ Buchanan 2005, p. 12: The name could be either Yah-hoh-wah or Yeh-hoh-wah. There are arguments for both
  60. ^ Schoenfeld 2020, p. 80: "I adopt the (albeit minority) view that one of its ancient vocalizations was yəhōwɔ̄ (Gertoux 2015), contra the mainstream consensus that it was only yahwɛ".
  61. ^ Metzger 2003: "For further scholarly information on the origins of sacred names, please visit the pages of Gérard GERTOUX"
  62. ^ Boespflug 2007, p. 74: "Ringrazio vivamente Gérard Gertoux che con la sua disponibilita ha portato questo temma allá mia atenzione e mi ha fornito delle preziose indicazioni (che utilizaero di seguito)"
  63. ^ Faivre 2007, p. 13: "Pour un étude plus complete, voir Gérard Gertoux"
  64. ^ Macaya Pascual 2020, p. 370: "El autor argumenta con muchas citas que sí se pronunciaba el nombre de YHWH hasta el siglo II d. C."
  65. ^ Vernette 2002, p. 42.
  66. ^ Vasileiadis 2019, p. 36, 60–61.
  67. ^ Guidotti 2021.
  68. ^ Fontaine 2015.
  69. ^ Barbey 2003, p. 18-20.
  70. ^ a b Gee 2004.
  71. ^ Ortlepp, Steven (2010). Pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton: A Historico-Linguistic Approach. pp. 25–26. ISBN 9781445272207.
  72. ^ Pontificio Istituto biblico 2004.
  73. ^ Gertoux 2016, p. 93–94.
  74. ^ Hunger 2015: I have read the manuscript "Basic astronomy for historians to get a chronology" of Gerard Gertoux and found it a well-informed and informative introduction to this complicated subject. It clearly explains what is required from a historian who wants to establish the chronology of historical events. The author shows by examples how different chronologies can be evaluated or refuted. He also explains the astronomical phenomena that can be used for dating events, and the pitfalls in using ancient calendars. For some cases, he offers new conclusions or refutes chronologies proposed by other scholars. The manuscript forces the reader to be very attentive, but this attention is well worth it.
  75. ^ Eames 2022: "As for the overall historicity of the book—despite widespread dismissal from skeptics—there is likewise a remarkable body of evidence for it, including the historical identity of Queen Esther herself. For more on this, read a thorough investigation by Gerard Gertoux here."
  76. ^ Eames 2024: "It's true that there is a lot we do not and cannot know about the historicity of Esther. But it is surely an oversimplification to reject the work as 'fictional'."
  77. ^ Griffith & White 2024, p. 29: "Gertoux's chronology of the Kings of Aram to be the most accurate".
  78. ^ Lunn 2023, p. 272: "Dating the Two Censuses of P. Sulpicius Quirinius is convincing"
  79. ^ Fiensy 2017.
  80. ^ Veneziano 2015, p. 21: Dating Herod's death "and other anachronisms, widely discussed by Gertoux and by Steinmann in their writings (complete with schematics), would seem to demonstrate how the date of 1 BC it is more coherent than that which places Herod's death in 4 BC"
  81. ^ Llewellyn-Jones 2023, p. 4.
  82. ^ Wolf-Ekkehard Lönnig (2011). "Die Affäre Max Planck", die es nie gegeben hat: wiss. Sachbuch. MV-Verlag. p. 11. ISBN 978-3-86991-419-0.

Works cited

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