Proto-Sinaitic Proto-Sinaitic, also known as Proto-Canaanite, was the first consonantal alphabet. Even a quick glance at the signs reveals Egyptian origin. Originally it was thought that Sinai was conquered by Egypt around 1700 BC. The local West- Semitic population adopted a small number of hiero- glyphic signs (about 30) to write their own language. Recent discoveries along the Nile in the Wadi el-Hol are dated 1900-1800 BC. Nearby Egyptian texts speak of the presence of Semitic-speaking people living in Egypt.

Early Phoenician Phoenician script is a direct descendent of Proto-Sinaitic. It is the "trunk" of an alphabet tree whose branches include original Hebrew, Aramaic, South Arabian, Arabic, Latin, Greek and Russian. Early Phoenician is an "abjad", an alphabet that only contains consonants. “Pictographic" letter shapes grew to be more abstract over time.

Change from “Ivrit” to “Asshurit” All Hebrew inscriptions prior to the Babylonian exile are written in Phoenician-type letters. Jews returning from Babylon adopted the square script preferred by Aramaic speakers. Tradition credits Ezra the scribe with the change. All but a few of the Dead Sea scrolls are written in square Aramaic letters. The older form, however, was retained for writing the divine name in some Aramaic manuscripts, and for the inscriptions on most Jewish coins. Tel Zayit abecedary, 10th c. BC

Yavneh ostracon 630 -609 BC Tel Dan Inscription 870–750 BC Dead Sea Isaiah scroll 150-100 BC

Bar Kochba coin ca. 135 AD

Pre-exilic (7th c.) Ostracon from Lachish Aleppo Codex, 10th c. AD blessing amulet 590 BC