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Israelite ReligionIsraelite Religion
Cult of the Dead in the Cult of the Dead in the BibleBible
Cult of the Dead in the Cult of the Dead in the BibleBible
Dead as Dead as elohimelohim
Gen 28:22Gen 28:22
I Sam. 28I Sam. 28
Isaiah 8:19Isaiah 8:19
Cult of the Dead in the Cult of the Dead in the BibleBible
Food/ tithe sacrificeFood/ tithe sacrifice
Gen 28:17-18: food offered to dead at burial markerGen 28:17-18: food offered to dead at burial marker
Gen 31:53-54: food offered to dead on hilltopGen 31:53-54: food offered to dead on hilltop
Deut. 26:14: “I have not deposited any of it with the Deut. 26:14: “I have not deposited any of it with the dead.” dead.”
I Sam. 1:21, 2:19, 20:29: food offered to dead at I Sam. 1:21, 2:19, 20:29: food offered to dead at shrines shrines
I Chron. 16:14, 32:33: food offered to dead in I Chron. 16:14, 32:33: food offered to dead in tombs tombs
Isaiah 53:9: food offered to dead at Isaiah 53:9: food offered to dead at bamotbamot
Cult of the Dead in the Cult of the Dead in the BibleBible
Paqidum or “pqd” ritualPaqidum or “pqd” ritual
Mesopotamian ritual where one Mesopotamian ritual where one offered food and drink to a deceased offered food and drink to a deceased relation. relation.
2 Kings. 9:34: Jezebel’s remains were 2 Kings. 9:34: Jezebel’s remains were piqdupiqdu..
What Can the Dead Do?What Can the Dead Do?
Tell future eventsTell future events
Bring people to life Bring people to life
Benefit you or wreak vengeance on Benefit you or wreak vengeance on you. you.
The dead are also seen as a source The dead are also seen as a source of knowledge.of knowledge.
Biblical laws regulated the cult of Biblical laws regulated the cult of the dead, they did not abolish it. the dead, they did not abolish it.
David’s Rise to David’s Rise to KingshipKingship
An Eternal An Eternal Covenant?Covenant?
2 Samuel 72 Samuel 7
David Rises as David Rises as Saul FallsSaul Falls
. . . One last nail in Saul’s . . . One last nail in Saul’s coffincoffin
OnomastaconOnomastacon
Israelite ReligionIsraelite Religion
Israelite ReligionIsraelite Religion
God of the Fathers God of the Fathers Gen 46:3, 29:25Gen 46:3, 29:25
God of AbrahamGod of AbrahamGenesis 31:51-53 Genesis 31:51-53
God of Abraham and IsaacGod of Abraham and IsaacGenesis 32:10: Genesis 32:10:
God of Abraham Isaac and JacobGod of Abraham Isaac and JacobExodus 6:3Exodus 6:3
Origins of MonotheismOrigins of Monotheism
Baal: Baal: Storm GodStorm GodRider on the CloudsRider on the CloudsWarriorWarrior
I Sam. 7:3-4I Sam. 7:3-4I Kings 18I Kings 18
Names: Names: Jerubaal (Jud 6-7)Jerubaal (Jud 6-7)Ishboshet (2 Sam. 2)Ishboshet (2 Sam. 2)
Origins of MonotheismOrigins of Monotheism
The GoddessThe Goddess
AsheraAshera
(2 Kings 23)(2 Kings 23)
Queen of Heaven Queen of Heaven
(Jeremiah 44)(Jeremiah 44)
Origins of MonotheismOrigins of Monotheism
CentralizationCentralization1)1) national deitynational deity
2) Centralized cult: Jerusalem/ Dan and 2) Centralized cult: Jerusalem/ Dan and BethelBethel
3) Centralized Government 3) Centralized Government
4) Role of writing4) Role of writing
Origins of MonotheismOrigins of Monotheism
11stst Isaiah: Isaiah:
“ “ YHWH is the patron deity of the YHWH is the patron deity of the monarchy” monarchy” (Smith, (Smith, The Early History of God,The Early History of God, 187). 187).
Origins of MonotheismOrigins of Monotheism
YHWH has a lady friendYHWH has a lady friend
"Blessed be Uriyahu by "Blessed be Uriyahu by YahwehYahweh and by his and by his Asherah; from his enemies he saved him!“Asherah; from his enemies he saved him!“
(Khirbet el-Kom near Hebron)(Khirbet el-Kom near Hebron)
בירכתי אתכם ליהוה שומרון ולאשרתובירכתי אתכם ליהוה שומרון ולאשרתו““Blessed are you by YHWH of Samaria Blessed are you by YHWH of Samaria
and his asherah”and his asherah”(Kuntillet Ajrud)(Kuntillet Ajrud)
Origins of MonotheismOrigins of MonotheismStage Two (Monolatry)Stage Two (Monolatry)
YHWH of Samaria YHWH of Samaria andand YHWH of Teman YHWH of TemanIs YHWH schizophrenic?Is YHWH schizophrenic?
brktk.lyhwh tmn wl’šrth. brktk.lyhwh tmn wl’šrth. I bless you to/by YHWH of Teman and his ashera. I bless you to/by YHWH of Teman and his ashera.
‘‘mr X ‘mr wlyw’sh w[l-z] brky ‘tkm lyhwh mr X ‘mr wlyw’sh w[l-z] brky ‘tkm lyhwh shmrn wlshrthshmrn wlshrth
X says: Say to Y and Yau’asah and [to Z]: I bless you to X says: Say to Y and Yau’asah and [to Z]: I bless you to YHWH of Samaia, and to his asherahYHWH of Samaia, and to his asherah
Origins of MonotheismOrigins of MonotheismStage Two (Monolatry)Stage Two (Monolatry)
YHWH is not alone . . . YHWH is not alone . . .
The Divine Council (Isaiah 6)The Divine Council (Isaiah 6)Hos 12:1, Zech 14:5, Hos 12:1, Zech 14:5,
Ps 29:1, 82:1, 89:7 Ps 29:1, 82:1, 89:7
Isa.14:13, Jer 23:18, 22, Isa.14:13, Jer 23:18, 22,
Zech 3, I Kg 22:19Zech 3, I Kg 22:19
Gen 1:26-28, Gen 3:22, 11:7Gen 1:26-28, Gen 3:22, 11:7
Origins of MonotheismOrigins of MonotheismStage Three MonotheismStage Three Monotheism
God and God AloneGod and God Alone
Deutro-IsaiahDeutro-Isaiah
Divine Warrior Divine Warrior and his marchand his march
The Baal CycleThe Baal Cycle
YHWH as the Divine YHWH as the Divine WarriorWarrior
Battle with Yam Battle with Yam
Exodus 15: waters manipulatedExodus 15: waters manipulated
Exodus 14:21-27, Josh 2:9, Neh 9:11, Exodus 14:21-27, Josh 2:9, Neh 9:11,
Ps 78:13, 136:14-15, 66:6, 106:9, 77, 114: Ps 78:13, 136:14-15, 66:6, 106:9, 77, 114:
the splitting of the sea highlighted.the splitting of the sea highlighted.
Ps: 77: trembling watersPs: 77: trembling waters
YHWH as the Divine YHWH as the Divine WarriorWarrior
Ps 24:7-10: Ps 24:7-10:
Yam is conqueredYam is conquered
The gates lift their headsThe gates lift their heads
YHWH as the Divine YHWH as the Divine WarriorWarrior
March to/from the holy mountain . . . March to/from the holy mountain . . .
But where is it?But where is it?
Ex. 15:13, 17Ex. 15:13, 17
Deut 33:1-3Deut 33:1-3
Judges 5:4-5//Ps 68:8-9Judges 5:4-5//Ps 68:8-9
Habbakuk 3:-7Habbakuk 3:-7
YHWH as the Divine YHWH as the Divine WarriorWarriorTheophanyTheophany
Psalm 29Psalm 29
andand
Exodus 19Exodus 19
Fox’s ArticleFox’s Article
Images of Gods,Images of Gods, Goddesses, and Goddesses, and other cultic stuffother cultic stuff
Bull Site: Open ShrineBull Site: Open Shrine
Tel DanTel Dan
Symbol of the goddessSymbol of the goddess
ShapshuShapshu
AnatAnat
AsherahAsherah
Kuntillet AjrudKuntillet Ajrud
Kuntillet AjrudKuntillet Ajrud
lywhw w’šrthlywhw w’šrth
YHWH and (his?) AsherahYHWH and (his?) Asherah
YHWH and AsherahatYHWH and Asherahat
IshtarIshtar
IshtarIshtar
AstarteAstarte
Where did Where did Monotheism Monotheism Come From?Come From?
Let’s Start at the very Let’s Start at the very beginning, the very best beginning, the very best
place to start . . . place to start . . .
A. The Canaanite/ Ugaritic A. The Canaanite/ Ugaritic PatternPattern
1. Father/ Mother head of the 1. Father/ Mother head of the pantheonpantheon
2. Royal Children2. Royal Children
3. Servants of the royal house3. Servants of the royal house
4. Messengers4. Messengers
Moving towards Moving towards MonotheismMonotheism
In the bible we see a tri-In the bible we see a tri-part collapse part collapse
of the Ugaritic pantheonof the Ugaritic pantheon
A. PolytheismA. Polytheism
Tier One: ‘El/ Elyon Tier One: ‘El/ Elyon (god of the fathers (god of the fathers and the Exodus)and the Exodus)
Tier Two: his Tier Two: his sonssons, , including YHWH including YHWH (Psalm 82 and (Psalm 82 and Deut. 32:8-9) Deut. 32:8-9)
Tier Three: ?Tier Three: ?
Tier Four: AngelsTier Four: Angels
1. Father/ Mother 1. Father/ Mother head of the head of the pantheonpantheon
2. Royal Children2. Royal Children
3. Servants of the 3. Servants of the royal houseroyal house
4. Messengers4. Messengers
B. MonalatryB. MonalatryTier One: YWHW (ousts Tier One: YWHW (ousts
‘El the head of the ‘El the head of the council) and Asherah council) and Asherah as his consortas his consort
Tier Two: A heavenly Tier Two: A heavenly host surrounding him host surrounding him (I Kgs 22:19, Isa 6, (I Kgs 22:19, Isa 6, Dan 7, Ex. 15:11)Dan 7, Ex. 15:11)
Tier Three: Reshep/ Tier Three: Reshep/ Deber/ other gods?Deber/ other gods?
Tier Four: AngelsTier Four: Angels
1. Father/ Mother head 1. Father/ Mother head of the pantheonof the pantheon
2. Royal Children2. Royal Children
3. Servants of the royal 3. Servants of the royal househouse
4. Messengers4. Messengers
C. Move to Monotheism. C. Move to Monotheism. Everything is Everything is
demythologizeddemythologizedTier One: YWHW stands Tier One: YWHW stands
alone. (“edited” version alone. (“edited” version of Deut. 32 and of Deut. 32 and Deuteronomy and Deuteronomy and Deutro-Isaiah)Deutro-Isaiah)
Tier Four: angels would Tier Four: angels would not be seen as divine, not be seen as divine, but as celestial beings but as celestial beings of an “ungodly” of an “ungodly”
nature. nature.
1. Father/ Mother head 1. Father/ Mother head of the pantheonof the pantheon
2. Royal Children2. Royal Children3. Servants of the royal 3. Servants of the royal
househouse
4. Messengers4. Messengers
Stage Three: Stage Three: MonotheismMonotheism
God and God ALONEGod and God ALONE