God in Context: Selected Essays on Society and Religion in the Early Middle East

Description

In this work, Karel van der Toorn explores the social setting, the intellectual milieu, and the historical context of the beliefs and practices reflected in the Hebrew Bible. While fully recognizing the unique character of early Israelite religion, the author challenges the notion of its incomparability. Beliefs are anchored in culture. Rituals have societal significance. God has a history. By shifting the focus to the context, the essays gathered here yield a deeper understanding of Israelite religion and the origins of the Bible. Preface Table of Contents Abbreviations Part One: Religion and Society in Early Israel 1. Trends in the Study of Israelite Religion 2. David and the Ark 3. Did Jeremiah See Aaron’s Staff? 4. New Year with the Babylonians and the Israelites 5. Ordeal Procedures in the Psalms and the Passover Meal 6. Prostitution in Payment of Vows 7. Veiling and Unveiling 8. Samson at the Mill Part Two: Scribal Culture 9. The Iconic Book 10. Cuneiform in Syria-Palestine: Texts, Scribes, and Schools 11. From Oral Performance to Written Prophecy 12. In the Lions’ Den 13. Why Wisdom Became A Secret 14. Echoes of Gilgamesh in Qohelet? 15. The Early History of Psalm 20 16. The Art of Compilation Part Three: Deities and Demons 17. Speaking of Gods 18. The Theology of Demons 19. The Riddle of the Teraphim 20. The Domestic Cult at Emar 21. God or Ghost? The Mysterious Ilib 22. Ancestor Worship Reflected in Names 23. Worshipping Stones 24. Eshem-Bethel and Herem-Bethel References to the Original Publications Indices 1. Biblical Citations 2. Hebrew and *Aramaic Terms 3. Akkadian Terms 4. Divine Names 5. General Index