Divine substitution : : humanity as the manifestation of deity in the Hebrew Bible and the ancient Near East / / Stephen L. Herring.

• Superior document: Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments ; v. 247
• Author: Herring, Stephen L.
• Place / Publishing House: Göttingen : : Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht,, [2013]; ©2013
• Year of Publication: 2013
• Language: English
• Series: Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments ; 247. Heft.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (246 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

HauptbeschreibungDivine Substitution is an investigation of ancient conceptualizations of divine presence. Specifically, this thesis investigates the possibility that the ancient Mesopotamian conceptualization of cultic and royal statues, thought to actually manifest the presence of gods and kings, can likewise be found in ancient Israel. Despite the overly pessimistic view of the later biblical authors, material objects were almost certainly believed to extend and manifest the presence of God in pre-exilic Israel (e.g., standing stones). Likewise, the later polemics against such cultic concep

Table of Contents

Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Table of Contents; Body; Abstract; Acknowledgments; 1. Introduction: Representation and the Real; 1.1 Summary and Outline; 1.2 Cultic Images and Semiotics in Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies; 1.2.2 Methodological Notes; 2. Image and Presence in Mesopotamia; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Images and Presence in Mesopotamia; 2.2.1 Mīs pî/ pīt pî Ritual; 2.2.2 Divine Abandonment and Abduction; 2.2.3 Images of Humans; 2.3 Humans as the Image of God in Mesopotamia; 2.3.1 King as Image; 2.3.2 Priest as Image; 2.4 Conclusion

3. Iconic Israel: Divine Representation, Idol Polemics, and the Awareness of the Relationship between Image and Presence in the Hebrew Bible3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Representation in the Israelite Cult; 3.2.1 High Place Worship; 3.2.2 Standing Stones; 3.2.3 Asherah; 3.2.4 The Ark; 3.3 Iconoclasm; 3.3.1 Hosea and the Deuteronomistic Reform Movement; 3.3.2 Prophetic Parodies; 3.4 Conclusion; 4. The Image of God in the Hebrew Bible; 4.1 Genesis 1: Humanity as the Image of God; 4.1.1 Introduction; 4.1.2 History of Research; 4.1.2.1 History of Scholarship before 1960

4.1.2.2 History of Scholarship After 19604.1.3 ~yhla ~lcb; 4.1.3.1 Near Eastern Background of Genesis 1; 4.1.3.2 Genesis 1:26-27; 4.1.3.3 Genesis 5:3 and 9:6; 4.1.4 Conclusion; 4.2 Exodus 34:29-35: Moses as the Image of God; 4.2.1 Introduction; 4.2.1.1 The Priestly Redaction and Literary Arrangement of Exodus; 4.2.1.2 Exodus 34:29-35 and the Priestly Redaction of Exodus 32-34; 4.2.2 Divine Representation in Exodus 32-34; 4.2.2.1 Introduction; 4.2.2.2 The Calf as Image of God; 4.2.2.3 The Calf as Image of YHWH; 4.2.2.4 Moses as Image of God in Exodus 32-34

4.2.2.5 Moses as Image of God in the Book of Exodus4.2.3 Conclusion; 4.3 Ezekiel 36-37: Israel as the Image of God; 4.3.1 Introduction; 4.3.1.1 Composition; 4.3.1.2 Setting; 4.3.1.3 Mesopotamian Background and Influence; 4.3.2 Israel as YHWH's Image in Ezekiel; 4.3.2.1 Images of Idolatry in Ezekiel; 4.3.2.2 Images of Restoration in Ezekiel; 4.3.2.2.1 Spirit in Ezekiel; 4.3.5 Conclusion; 5. Conclusions; 5.1 Summaries and Conclusions; 5.2 The Concept in Later Judaism; Abbreviations; Bibliography; Back Cover