Of Wings and Wheels: A Synthetic Study of the Biblical Cherubim (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift fur die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft): 385

268 Pages·2008·3.102 MB·English

by  Alice Wood

Alice Wood
Of Wings and Wheels
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die
alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
Herausgegeben von
John Barton · Reinhard G. Kratz
Choon-Leong Seow · Markus Witte
Band 385
≥
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
Alice Wood
Of Wings and Wheels
A Synthetic Study of the Biblical Cherubim
≥
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
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Forward
This monograph was originally submitted in accordance with the regu-
lations for the degree of PhD (Divinity) at the University of Edinburgh,
Scotland.
I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr David Reimer, for his advice
and guidance in preparing this thesis, and my parents for their encour-
agement and support. This work was funded by means of a postgradu-
ate scholarship from New College, Edinburgh, where I spent seven very
happy years.
Alice Wood
22nd April 2008

Contents
Forward ................................................................................................. V
Contents ................................................................................................ VII
Abbreviations ....................................................................................... IX
Introduction .......................................................................................... 1
Part I: The Biblical Texts ...................................................................... 5
§ 1.1 The Cherubim Formula (~ybiruK.h; bveyO) .................................... 9
§ 1.1.1 Semantic and Syntactical Problems .................................... 9
§ 1.1.2 The Cherubim Formula and “Yahweh of Hosts” ............. 14
§ 1.1.3 The Cherubim Formula and the Ark ................................. 18
§ 1.1.4 Summary ................................................................................ 22
§ 1.2 ~ybri Ku . as Cultic Images ............................................................ 22
§ 1.2.1 The Cherubim of the Tabernacle in Exodus ..................... 23
§ 1.2.1.1 The Golden Cherubim on the tr,PoK ; .......................... 23
§ 1.2.1.2 The Inspiration for the Golden Cherubim ................ 28
§ 1.2.1.3 Do the Cherubim Statues Form a Throne? ............... 30
§ 1.2.1.4 The Cherubim on the tk,roP' veil .................................. 32
§ 1.2.1.5 Summary ....................................................................... 33
§ 1.2.2 The Cherubim in the Solomonic Temple ........................... 33
§ 1.2.2.1 The Statues in the rybiD> ............................................... 34
§ 1.2.2.2 Cherubim relief (1 Kgs 6:29–35) ................................ 37
§ 1.2.2.3 The Wheeled Lavers (1 Kgs 7:27–39) ........................ 38
§ 1.2.2.4 The Source of the 1 Kings Account ........................... 41
§ 1.2.2.5 The Temple Cherubim in Chronicles ........................ 42
§ 1.2.2.6 Summary ....................................................................... 49
§ 1.2.3 The Cherubim Iconography in Ezekiel 41:18–25 .............. 50
§ 1.3 ~ybri Ku .. as Heavenly Beings ....................................................... 51
§ 1.3.1 Genesis 3:24 ........................................................................... 51
§ 1.3.2 Ezekiel 28:11-19 ..................................................................... 61
§ 1.3.2.1 Earlier Exegesis ............................................................ 63
§ 1.3.2.2 The Significance of the Masoretic Text ..................... 71
§ 1.3.2.3 A Holistic Approach ................................................... 73
VIII Contents
§ 1.3.2.4 Towards a New Interpretation of the Cherub ........ 75
§ 1.3.2.5 Summary ...................................................................... 84
§ 1.3.3 The Song of David ............................................................... 84
§ 1.3.3.1 Textual Issues .............................................................. 85
§ 1.3.3.2 Poetic Issues ................................................................ 88
§ 1.3.3.3 The Cherub in a Storm Theophany .......................... 91
§ 1.3.3.4 Theophany and Divine Attendants .......................... 92
§ 1.3.3.5 Summary ...................................................................... 94
§ 1.3.4 Ezekiel’s Visions .................................................................. 95
§ 1.3.4.1 Earlier Exegesis ........................................................... 97
§ 1.3.4.2 Critique ........................................................................ 102
§ 1.3.4.3 The Cherubim in Ezekiel 9–11 .................................. 105
§ 1.3.4.4 Summary ...................................................................... 138
§ 1.4 Conclusions Emerging from Biblical Exegesis ................... 139
Part II: The Root k-r-b and Comparative Semitic Material ............ 141
Part III: The Archaeological Evidence .............................................. 157
§ 3.1 Delimiting the Evidence 1 ..................................................... 161
§ 3.2 Delimiting the Evidence 2 ..................................................... 163
§ 3.3 The Megiddo Ivories .............................................................. 165
§ 3.4 Archaeological Survey ........................................................... 173
§ 3.4.1 Larger objects, Ivories and a Cave Drawing .................... 174
§ 3.4.2 The Glyptic ........................................................................... 183
§ 3.5 Evaluation ................................................................................ 200
§ 3.6 Summary ................................................................................. 203
Conclusion ........................................................................................... 205
Bibliography ........................................................................................ 209
Pictures ................................................................................................. 231
Indexof BiblicalReferences ............................................................... 245
Indexof Namesand Subjects ............................................................ 251
Abbreviations
AB Anchor Bible
ABD Anchor Bible Dictionary
AJSL The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures
ASOR American Schools of Oriental Research
ANEP J. B. Pritchard, The Ancient Near East in Pictures Relating
to the Old Testament (2nd Edition with Supplement;
Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969)
ANET J. B. Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the
Old Testament (3rd Edition; Princeton: Princeton Uni-
versity Press, 1969)
ASTI Annual of the Swedish Theological Institute
AuOr Aula Orientalis
BA Biblical Archaeologist
BAR Biblical Archaeology Review
BASOR Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research
BDB F. Brown, S. R. Driver and C. A. Briggs, Hebrew and
English Lexicon of the Old Testament
BETL Bibliotheca Ephemeridum theologicarum Lovaniensi-
um
BKAT Biblischer Kommentar: Altes Testament
BN Biblische Notizen
BWANT Beiträge zur Wissenschaft vom Alten und Neuen Testa-
ment
BZAW Beihefte zur ZAW
CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly
DJD Discoveries in the Judaean Desert (of Jordan) (Oxford:
Clarendon Press,1955- )
FRLANT Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und
Neuen Testaments
GKC Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar, E. Kautzsch (ed.), translated
by A. E. Cowley
X Abbreviations
HAT Handbuch zum Alten Testament
HSM Harvard Semitic Monographs
HSS Harvard Semitic Studies
HUCA Hebrew Union College Annual
ICC The International Critical Commentary
IEJ Israel Exploration Journal
JAOS Journal of the American Oriental Society
JBL Journal of Biblical Literature
JM A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew, by P. Jou(cid:1952)on, translated
and revised by T. Muraoka (Roma: Editrice Pontificio
Istituto Biblico, 1993)
JNES Journal of Near Eastern Studies
JSS Journal of Semitic Studies
JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
JSOTSup. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement
Series
JTS Journal of Theological Studies
KJV King James Version
KTU Die Keilalphabetischen Texte aus Ugarit by M. Dietrich, O.
Loretz and J. Sanmartín (Alter Orient und Altes
Testament 24; Kevelaer: Butzon und Bercker and Neu-
kirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener, 1976)
NCB New Century Bible
NICOT New International Commentary on the Old Testament
NKJV New King James Version
NIV New International Version
NKJV New King James Version
NRSV New Revised Standard Version
OBO Orbis biblicus et orientalis
OTL Old Testament Library
OTS Oudtestamentische studiën
PEQ Palestine Exploration Quarterly
REB Revised English Bible
REJ Revue des Études Juifs
RSV Revised Standard Version
SBL Society of Biblical Literature
SBS Stuttgarter Bibelstudien