The Three Biblical Altar Laws: Developments in the Sacrificial Cult in Practice and Theology; Political and Economic Background

478 Pages·1999·17.19 MB·English

by  Paul Heger

Paul Heger
The Three Biblical Altar Laws
1749
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die
alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
Herausgegeben von
Otto Kaiser
Band 279
W
DE
G
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
1999
Paul Heger
The Three Biblical Altar Laws
Developments in the Sacrificial Cult
in Practice and Theology
Political and Economic Background
w
DE
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
1999
© Printed on acid-free paper which falls within the guidelines of the ANSI
to ensure permanence and durability.
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[Zeitschrift fur die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft / Beihefte]
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft. —
Berlin ; New York : de Gruyter
Früher Schriftenreihe
Reihe Beihefte zu: Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
Bd. 279. Heger, Paul: The three biblical altar laws. - 1999
Heger, Paul:
The three biblical altar laws : developments in the sacrificial cult in
practice and theology ; political and economic background / Paul
Heger. - Berlin ; New York : de Gruyter, 1999
(Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft; Bd.
279)
ISBN 3-11-016474-4
ISSN 0934-2575
© Copyright 1999 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, D-10785 Berlin.
All rights reserved, including those of translation into foreign languages. No part of this book
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
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sion in writing from the publisher.
Printed in Germany
Printing: Werner Hildebrand, Berlin
Binding: Lüderitz & Bauer-GmbH, Berlin
Acknowledgements
It is my pleasant duty to acknowledge the encouragement and counsel I
received during the research and preparation of this book. I am deeply
indebted to my mentor, Professor Harry Fox, of the Department of Near and
Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, who has graciously read
the entire manuscript and extended advice and valuable suggestions. My
profiise thanks are also due to Professor John Revell, who read the entire
manuscript and made valuable comments, which I have incorporated in the
final edition of the book. I have also had the good fortune to discuss a great
number of issues with Professor John W. Wevers, and am grateful for his
helpful recommendations. My deep appreciation is also due to Professor Otto
Kaiser, for the most pleasant and beneficial conversation that took place last
year about the topic of the book, and for his reassuring perspective. I am most
thankful to Ms. Diane Kriger, for her extremely conscientious work in the
important phase of editing and correction of the text. Last but not least I
express my gratitude to all the Professors of the Department of Near and
Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto, from whose
teachings I have benefited during my studies.
Toronto, Ontario, December, 1998

Contents
Introduction ι
1. The Relationship between the Altar Laws in
Exod.20 and Deut. 27 14
1.1 Biblical Passages Concerning the Construction of Altars. . . 14
1.1.1 Is There a Correlation between Exod. 20 and Deut . 27? . . . 14
1.2 Critical Analysis of the Biblical Passages 17
1.2.1 Methodology 17
1.2.2 Exod. 20:21-23 21
1.2.2.1 Literary and Structural Analysis 21
1.2.2.2 Exod. 20:21 22
1.2.2.3 Exod. 20:22 32
1.2.2.4 Exod. 20:23 38
1.2.3 Deut. 27:1-8 38
1.2.3.1 Literary and Structural Analysis: Scholarly Opinion . . .. 38
1.2.3.2 The Interpretation of JlTO^ttJ D^K 50
1.2.3.3 Discussion of S. M. Olyan's Theory 54
1.3 Comparison and Contrast Between Exod. 20: 21-23 and
Deut. 27: 5 - 6 58
1.3.1 Analysis of the Two Pericopes According to the Sitz im Leben
Principle 77
2. Comparison and Contrast between the Two
Pericopes with respect to their Mythological
Vision and Historical Setting 88
2.1 The Significance of Stone in the Israelite Cult 88
2.1.1 Early Stone Pillars 88
2.1.2 Stone Tablets 95
2.1.3 Stoning as an Execution Method 97
2.1.4 The Significance of the Term my 106
2.1.4.1 The Association of Ί1Ϊ with Deity 106
2.1.4.2 The Association of "ny with Circumcision . 110
2.1.5 Stone and the Sacrificial Cult 115
VIII Contents
2.2 The Historical Setting 121
2.2.1 The Use of Iron 121
2.2.2 Effects of Cultural Change 127
2.2.3 Simplicity - A Common Feature of Both Pericopes . . .. 131
2.2.4 Initiation of Elegant Altars 134
2.2.5 Van Seters'Postulate 138
3. The Correlation between Deut. 27: 5 - 6 and
I Kings 5: 31-32,6: 7 and7: 9-11 142
3.1 The Use of Stone in Solomon's Temple 142
3.2 A Rabbinic Solution 144
3 .3 Scholarly Opinions 147
3.4 Conclusion 149
4. Archeological Evidence 153
4.1 Excavations of Israelite Stone Altars 153
4.2. Beer Sheba: Yadin versus Aharoni 154
4.3 The Interpretation of mtu ΊΚη TV V3A73 156
4.4 Further Archeological Dissension 165
4.5 Conclusion 170
5. The Bronze Altar: Exod. 27: 1-8 171
5.1 Exod. 27:1 171
5.2 Exod. 27: 2 175
5.3 Exod. 27:3 177
5.4 Exod. 27: 4 186
5.4.1 The LXX Text 187
5.5 Exod. 27:5 188
5.5.1 Examination of M. D. Cassuto's Solution 191
5.5.2 Proposed Solution Based on the LXX Text 195
5.6 Exod. 27: 6 198
5.7 Exod. 27: 7 201
5.8 Exod. 27: 8 202
5.9 Conclusion 204
Contents IX
6. Excursus: Exod. 27: 2: smi< "jy vnnp nwv\
lVtfö "Make Its Horns at Each of the Four Corners.
[Exod. 27: 2]." 207
6.1 "Horns" in the Israelite Cult 207
6.2 Semantic Range of pp 208
6.2.1 Distinction Between Dmp and Dtnp 211
6.2.2 Metaphorical Interpretation of mnp vntK 213
6.2.3 Horn Symbolism in Israelite Mythology 214
6.3 The Structure of the Altar "Horns" 215
6.3.1 The "Horns" on the Altar of Ahaz 218
6.4 Analysis of Biblical Citations of πητηπ ritnp 219
6.4.1 The "Horns" of the Altar in Connection with Asylum . .. 220
6.4.2 Blood Rituals 223
6.4.3 Four Corners as a Symbol of Totality 226
6.5 Archeological Evidence 228
6.6 Conclusion 230
7. The Bronze Altar - Real or Fictional ? . . .. 233
7.1 Evidence Against the Existence of a Bronze Altar 233
7.1.1 What Was the Function of the Bronze Altar? 234
7.1.2 The Bronze Altar in Chronicles 235
7.1.3 Is the Bronze Altar in Chronicles Identical with that in Exodus? 239
7.1.4 The Poles on the Altar and on the Ark 243
7.1.5 Additional Inconsistencies 246
7.1.6 Absence of Bronze Altar in Various Biblical Narratives. . . 250
7.1.7 Summary of the Evidence 256
7.2 The Bronze Altar of Ahaz 256
7.2.1 The New Altar of Ahaz 260
7.2.2 Altars for Burning Versus Benches for Exposing 262
7.2.3 The Connection Between ]Γ\bv and I"QTtt 267
7.2.4 Ahaz' Reform and its Political Background 271
7.2.5 What Altar did Ahaz Move? 279
7.3 Conclusion 281
8. Josiah's Reform 282
8.1 The Relationship Between II Kings 12: 5 - 17
and II Kings 22: 3 - 7 282