KMA 5-7

This is an extremely weathered text, which challenges its interpretation. The use of the l- preposition alongside k-, however, suggests a difference of meaning between the two, which is not yet entirely clear. The name ʾls¹ would appear to be a theophoric name beginning with il. There are marks following the m of ḥym, which could suggest the presence of more letters. I would suggest reading it tentatively as ḥymd, from the productive root ḥmd. The y has been poorly excuted and almost seems as if the author hesistated between a y and w. The final line contains the odd name ʾʿ, which is attested a number of times in Safaitic. I propose to understand the final word, hs²s², as related to the Arabic hašša 'to be cheerful' (Hava, 820).