Before the God in this Place for Good Remembrance: A Comparative Analysis of the Aramaic Votive Inscriptions from Mount Gerizim (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift fr die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, 441)

This monograph is an investigation of Yahwistic votive practice during the Hellenistic period. The dedicatory inscriptions from the Yahweh temple on Mount Gerizim are analyzed in light of votive practice in Biblical literature and in general on the basis of a thorough terminological and theoretical discussion. A special focus is laid on remembrance formulae, which request the deity to remember the worshipper in return for a gift. These formulae cannot only be found at Gerizim, but also in other Semitic dedicatory inscriptions. Therefore these texts are interpreted in their broader cultural context, placed within a broad religious practice of dedicating gifts to the gods and leaving inscriptions in sanctuaries. Finally, the aspect of divine remembrance in the Hebrew Bible is explored and related to the materiality of the votive inscription. The research concludes that there is a perception of the divine behind this practice on Mount Gerizim that ties together the aspects of gift, remembrance and material presence. This ‘theology’ is echoed both in similar Semitic dedicatory inscriptions and in the Hebrew Bible. Before the God in this Place for Good Remembrance: A Comparative Analysis of the Aramaic Votive Inscriptions from Mount Gerizim......Page 4 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Contents......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 1 Votive Practice: A Methodological Framework......Page 18 1.1 Votive Practice......Page 19 1.1.1 Votive Objects......Page 25 1.1.2 Ritual Actions......Page 31 1.2 The Gift......Page 34 1.3 Gifts to the Gods......Page 43 2.1 Biblical Literature......Page 50 2.2 Non-durable Votive Objects: Sacrifices......Page 52 2.3 Vows......Page 54 2.4 Durable Votive Objects......Page 56 2.4.1 The qodāšīm......Page 57 2.4.2 Sacerdotal Giving......Page 60 2.5 Votive Practice in Biblical Literature: Ideology and Practice......Page 63 3.1 Mount Gerizim – An Introduction to the Site......Page 65 3.2 The Yahwists on Mount Gerizim......Page 69 3.3 The Sanctuary on Mount Gerizim......Page 77 3.4 The Votive Inscriptions from Mount Gerizim......Page 83 3.4.1 The Dedicatory Formula......Page 84 3.4.2 The Location of the Aramaic Inscriptions......Page 89 3.4.3 The Dating of the Aramaic inscriptions......Page 91 3.4.4 The Object of Dedication......Page 98 3.4.5 Before the God in this Place......Page 102 4 Votive Inscriptions with a Version of a Remembrance Formula......Page 104 4.1 Classifying Inscriptions......Page 107 4.2 Assur......Page 114 4.3 Hatra......Page 119 4.4 Jebel Ramm......Page 125 4.5 Palmyra......Page 127 4.6 Sumatar Harabesi......Page 138 4.7 Synagogue Inscriptions......Page 143 4.8 Out of Sight Out of Mind......Page 145 5.1 To be Remembered by Yahweh......Page 148 5.2 Memory and Materiality......Page 151 5.3 Mutual Remembrance......Page 154 5.4 Memory and Cult......Page 158 6 Conclusion......Page 161 Bibliography......Page 164 Index of Authors......Page 185 Index of Biblical References......Page 189 Index of Names and Subjects......Page 193 Before the God in this Place for Good Remembrance: A Comparative Analysis of the Aramaic Votive Inscriptions from Mount Gerizim 4 Acknowledgements 8 Contents 10 List of Abbreviations 12 Introduction 14 1 Votive Practice: A Methodological Framework 18 1.1 Votive Practice 19 1.1.1 Votive Objects 25 1.1.2 Ritual Actions 31 1.2 The Gift 34 1.3 Gifts to the Gods 43 2 Votive Practice in Biblical Literature 50 2.1 Biblical Literature 50 2.2 Non-durable Votive Objects: Sacrifices 52 2.3 Vows 54 2.4 Durable Votive Objects 56 2.4.1 The qodāšīm 57 2.4.2 Sacerdotal Giving 60 2.5 Votive Practice in Biblical Literature: Ideology and Practice 63 3 The Votive Inscriptions from Mount Gerizim 65 3.1 Mount Gerizim – An Introduction to the Site 65 3.2 The Yahwists on Mount Gerizim 69 3.3 The Sanctuary on Mount Gerizim 77 3.4 The Votive Inscriptions from Mount Gerizim 83 3.4.1 The Dedicatory Formula 84 3.4.2 The Location of the Aramaic Inscriptions 89 3.4.3 The Dating of the Aramaic inscriptions 91 3.4.4 The Object of Dedication 98 3.4.5 Before the God in this Place 102 4 Votive Inscriptions with a Version of a Remembrance Formula 104 4.1 Classifying Inscriptions 107 4.2 Assur 114 4.3 Hatra 119 4.4 Jebel Ramm 125 4.5 Palmyra 127 4.6 Sumatar Harabesi 138 4.7 Synagogue Inscriptions 143 4.8 Out of Sight Out of Mind 145 5 Ritual and Remembrance in Biblical Literature 148 5.1 To be Remembered by Yahweh 148 5.2 Memory and Materiality 151 5.3 Mutual Remembrance 154 5.4 Memory and Cult 158 6 Conclusion 161 Bibliography 164 Index of Authors 185 Index of Biblical References 189 Index of Names and Subjects 193 "This monograph explores Yahwistic votive practice in the Hellenistic period. The dedicatory inscriptions from the Yahweh temple on Mount Gerizim are the object of an investigation of Yahwistic votive practice, witnessed in and outside Biblical literature. The research begins the discussion by placing votive practice in a theoretical framework of gift-giving and fills a scholarly void by establishing this practice as an integral part of the sacrificial system in the Hebrew Bible. The Gerizim inscriptions are then analysed in their proper archaeological and religio-historical context."--Back cover. Explores Yahwistic votive practice in the Hellenistic period. This title features dedicatory inscriptions from the Yahweh temple on Mount Gerizim are the object of an investigation of Yahwistic votive practice, witnessed in and outside Biblical literature.