Israel in the Biblical Period Institutions,

Though firmly based on biblical and Near Eastern texts and artifacts, the book wears its learning lightly; there are no footnotes, but a bibliography of books for further reading. Its clarity and straightforward approach make it an ideal introduction to the subject for students.

Preface

xi

The Traditional Version of the Origins of Israel and Monotheism

1

(12)

The traditional version

1

(7)

An `ideological' reconstruction

8

(5)

The Context: Syria and Canaan at the End of the Second Millennium BCE

13

(4)

Political and religious characteristics

13

(2)

Ethnic origins

15

(2)

The Deuteronomistic History

17

(8)

The Deuteronomic history in the Hebrew Bible

17

(2)

Origins of the Deuteronomistic history

19

(1)

Historiographical criteria

20

(2)

Regaining Perspective

22

(3)

The State of the Question

25

(4)

Traditional lines of historical reconstruction

25

(1)

The lack of reliable sources before the late pre-exilic period

26

(3)

Polytheism in Ancient Israel?

29

(6)

Deuteronomy 32.8--9

29

(1)

Other references in the Hebrew Bible

30

(2)

A non-'exclusive' monotheism

32

(1)

Non-biblical references

32

(2)

Canaanite influence

34

(1)

The Sanctuaries: The Jerusalem Temple

35

(14)

The sanctuaries of Israel

35

(4)

The Jerusalem Temple

39

(6)

The temple of Leontopolis

45

(1)

The temple on Mount Gerizim

46

(3)

Monotheism

49

(6)

Monotheism and agricultural cycles

49

(1)

Absolute monotheism and the creator God

50

(3)

The mission among the pagans

53

(1)

The monotheistic confession of Israel

53

(1)

Persian influence

54

(1)

Other Relevant Elements: The Covenant

55

(20)

The concept of the `covenant'

55

(2)

Characteristics of the covenant

57

(2)

The bilateral nature of the covenant

59

(2)

Jeremiah

61

(2)

Ezekiel

63

(2)

Deutero-and Trito-Isaiah

65

(3)

The Pentateuch

68

(2)

Chronicles

70

(2)

Circumcision

72

(3)

Other Relevant Elements: The Cult and Sacrifices

75

(12)

The cult

75

(3)

Cult and ethics

78

(2)

The conservative function of the cult

80

(1)

Cult and centralization

81

(3)

The sacrifices

84

(3)

Festivals and Holy Days: Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread

87

(14)

Passover

87

(5)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

92

(3)

The Calendar

95

(2)

Historicization

97

(2)

A God who frees

99

(2)

Festivals and Holy Days: The Feast of Weeks

101

(10)

The origin of the feast

101

(3)

Characteristics of the feast

104

(4)

Pentecost

108

(3)

Festivals and Holy Days: The Great Autumn Festival

111

(18)

A composite festival

111

(1)

Characteristics of the festival

111

(4)

The Feast of 'Booths'

115

(4)

The New Year Festival

119

(2)

The Day of Atonement

121

(2)

Functions of the king

123

(2)

The feast of the `enthronement of Yahweh'

125

(4)

Festivals and Holy Days: Purim and Hanukkah

129

(6)

The Feast of Purim

129

(2)

The Feast of Hanukkah

131

(4)

Festivals and Holy Days: The Sabbath and the New Moon

135

(12)

The Sabbath

135

(3)

The origin of the sabbath

138

(3)

The Sabbath in Middle Judaism

141

(6)

Festivals and Holy Days: The Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee

147

(10)

The sabbatical year

147

(1)

The origin of the sabbatical year

148

(2)

Yhwh the sole owner of the earth

150

(1)

The emancipation of the slave for debt

151

(1)

Not put into practice

152

(1)

References from the Hellenistic era

152

(1)

Attestations of the sabbatical year

153

(2)

The year of jubilee

155

(1)

Difficulties connected with the practice of the year of jubilee

156

(1)

Festivals and Holy Days: The Calendar

157

(8)

Problems relating to the calendar

157

(2)

Influences on the Jewish calendar

159

(2)

Babylonian influences

161

(1)

The calendar in 'sectarian' Judaism

162

(3)

Middle Judaism between the First Millennium BCE and the First Millennium CE

165

(16)

Centralization of the cult

165

(1)

Religious groups

166

(8)

The Samaritans

174

(2)

Apocalyptic

176

(1)

The end of apocalyptic

177

(1)

The vitality of Middle Judaism

178

(3)

Judaism after the Catastrophe

181

(4)

The diaspora

181

(2)

The continuity of Judaism

183

(2)

Abbreviations

185

(2)

Essential Bibliography

187

(6)

Index of Names

193

(4)

Index of Places

197

(2)

Index of Texts Cited

199

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Israel in the Biblical Period Institutions, Festivals, Ceremonies, Rituals

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Table of Contents

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Israel in the Biblical Period Institutions, Festivals, Ceremonies, Rituals

Summary

Table of Contents

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