The Origin Myths and Holy Places in the Old Testament: A Study of Aetiological Narratives

Description

'Origin Myths and Holy Places in the Old Testament' examines the biblical narratives which describe the origins of holy places. It argues for the Hellenistic origin or redaction of most of these narratives. Three central questions are addressed: are there common features in biblical accounts about the foundation of places of worship; are there elements in the aetiological stories that reveal the 'real' mythology/rituals of the sanctuary; what were the circumstances of the creation of such narratives? Cover Half Title Title Copyright Contents Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1. Introduction Myth Myth in the Bible Aetiological Myth Holy Places The Bible as a Historical Source Research Paradigms: Religion and Biblical Historiography Limits Aims of this Work Sources 2. Beer-sheba Archaeological Data Biblical Information Aetiology 3. Bethel Archaeological Data Biblical Information Aetiologies 4. Dan Archaeological Data and Extra-Biblical Sources Biblical Information Aetiology 5. Hebron, Mamre Archaeological Data and Information from Extra-Biblical Sources Biblical Information Aetiologies 6. Ophrah Aetiology 7. Shechem and Gilgal Shechem Archaeological Data and Extra-Biblical Sources Biblical Information Aetiologies Gilgal Archaeological Data and Extra-Biblical Sources Aetiology 8. Holy Places in Transjordan: Galeed—Mahanaim—Penuel Gilead / Galeed / Mizpah Aetiology Biblical Information Mahanaim Aetiology Biblical Information Penuel Aetiology Biblical Information 9. Conclusions and Summary Appendix Bibliography Index of References Index of Authors