God in Context: Selected Essays on Society and Religion in the Early Middle East (Forschungen Zum Alten Testament)

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 6 Table of Contents 8 Abbreviations 10 Part One: Religion and Society in Early Israel 16 1. Trends in the Study of Israelite Religion 18 2. David and the Ark 36 3. Did Jeremiah See Aaron’s Staff? 60 4. New Year with the Babylonians and the Israelites 70 5. Ordeal Procedures in the Psalms and the Passover Meal 84 6. Prostitution in Payment of Vows 100 7. Veiling and Unveiling 114 8. Samson at the Mill 128 Part Two: Scribal Culture 134 9. The Iconic Book 136 10. Cuneiform in Syria-Palestine: Texts, Scribes, and Schools 154 11. From Oral Performance to Written Prophecy 172 12. In the Lions’ Den 186 13. Why Wisdom Became A Secret 200 14. Echoes of Gilgamesh in Qohelet? 210 15. The Early History of Psalm 20 224 16. The Art of Compilation 236 Part Three: Deities and Demons 250 17. Speaking of Gods 252 18. The Theology of Demons 266 19. The Riddle of the Teraphim 286 20. The Domestic Cult at Emar 304 21. God or Ghost? The Mysterious Ilib 326 22. Ancestor Worship Reflected in Names 338 23. Worshipping Stones 350 24. Eshem-Bethel and Herem-Bethel 362 References to the Original Publications 370 Indices 374 1. Biblical Citations 374 2. Hebrew and *Aramaic Terms 382 3. Akkadian Terms 385 4. Divine Names 389 5. General Index 391 "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"--Back cover