Of wood and stone : the significance of Israelite cultic items in the Bible and its early interpreters / Elizabeth C. LaRocca-Pitts.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

LaRocca-Pitts, Elizabeth C., 1959- author.

Series:

Harvard Semitic monographs ; 61.

Harvard Semitic Museum Publications E-Book Collection, ISBN ; 9789004365230.

Harvard Semitic Museum publications

Harvard Semitic monographs ; no. 61

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Old Testament--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Bible. Old Testament.

Worship in the Bible.

High places (Shrines).

Asherahs (Jewish liturgical objects).

Stele (Archaeology).

Altars in the Bible.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 385 pages).

Place of Publication:

Winona Lake, Ind. : Eisenbrauns, 2001.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

The Hebrew Bible contains varying opinions concerning which cultic items or objects used in worship were appropriate for use within YHWHism and which were not. By analyzing every passage which mentions \'high places\' (bamot), sacred trees or poles (asherim), standing stones, altars, and cultic statuary, this study reveals that a remarkable diversity of cultic practices fell within the bounds of acceptability in ancient Israel. Also included are three chapters exploring the particular understandings of these items in the LXX, Vulgate, Targumim, and other early Jewish sources. Opposing the long-held generalization that use of these items was unanimously viewed by biblical authors as syncretistic, this study shows that, with the exception of cultic statuary, all of these items were, at one time or another, legitimate components of Israelite worship. Thus they provide witness to a diversity of theologies and ritual practices within YHWHism previously unappreciated.

Contents:

Preliminary Material

Introduction and Review of Scholarship

Source-critical Analysis of Texts Related to Cultic Items

The Tetrateuchal Sources

Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomistic Historian

The Chronicler: Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah

The Prophets and Remaining Writings

Synthesis of Biblical Data on Individual Items

Synthesis of the Data Regarding bāmôt

Synthesis of the Data Regarding maṣṣēbôt

Synthesis of the Data Regarding mizbəḥôt

Analysis of Material from the Ancient Translations

The LXX and Other Greek Witnesses

The Vulgate and Other Latin Witnesses

The Targumim and Other Early Jewish Interpretation

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index of Ancient Sources

Subject Index

Index of Scholars.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 355-376) and indexes.

Other Format:

Online version: LaRocca-Pitts, Elizabeth C., 1959- Of wood and stone.

ISBN:

9789004369924

OCLC:

47838380

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004369924 DOI

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.