By Nissim Amzallag, A History of the Ancient Near East ca. The terminology of wealth and poverty is not a matter of relationship to the, This article investigates the biblical tradition of the Edomite intervention in the fall and destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 586 BCE. Copper metallurgy: a hidden fundament of the theology of ancient Israel? Amzallag writes: An essential link between Yahweh and copper is suggested in the Book of Zechariah where the dwelling of the God of Israel is symbolized by two mountains of copper (Zech. Although the invasion of Poland is commonly seen as the first act of war, Nazi Germanys annexation of Austria and its occupation of Czechoslovakia i, We strive to provide accurate information. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. War(fare) & Battles Cite This Work But the kinship described in the Bible between the Israelites and the Edomites, and the metallurgical attributes of Yahweh in the holy text, are compelling arguments supporting Amzallags theory that this god was worshipped by multiple peoples as a deity connected to metallurgy, Ben-Yosef concludes. It is concluded that this situation stems from the need to demonstrate the Qenites' identity as the former people of YHWH and to separate them as far as possible from the emergence of YHWH's new people, Israel.*. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 33,4 (2009) 387-404, Bible with Vocalization and Accents, Spain, 1341, The Jewish Expulsion From Spain and the Sephardic Diaspora, Gershom Scholem's Milon HaZohar Card Index, Isra and Miraj: The Night Journey and Ascension, Guided Tours at the National Library of Israel, Self-Guided Tour in the National Library of Israel. The Moabite Stone has also been reinterpreted in light of recent scholarship which demonstrates that the people of Moab also worshipped Yahweh and the reference to Mesha taking the vessels of Yahweh to Kemosh most likely means he repossessed what he felt belonged to the Moabites, not that he conquered Israel and its god in the name of his own. This new desert kingdom would leave its mark on the main building at Timna: the Egyptian temple of Hathor, protector of miners. The National Library of Israel website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience. Particularly compelling are his arguments from biblical passages and the archaeological evidence cited from the ruins of the mines of Timna. Even the final edited form of Genesis II Kings [in the Bible] presents diverse views on the matter. It is concluded that Israelite theology encompasses an important metallurgical component inherited from the pre-Israelite cult of YHWH. Launched Shavuot 5773 / 2013 | Copyright Project TABS, All Rights Reserved, script type="text/javascript"> By the 9th century B.C.E., copper production at Timna and the rest of the Levant had all but shut down and the process of smelting had lost much of its mystique. He creates animals and human beings, destroys all in a great flood except Noah, Noah's family, and the animals Noah saves, and elects Abram (later known as Abraham) to lead his people to the land of Canaan and settle there (Genesis 1-25). Hi , These data suggest that, before becoming publicly worshipped in Israel, Yahweh was formerly the god of the Canaanite guild of metallurgists. The Canaanite religion was the group of ancient Semitic religions practiced by the Canaanites living in the ancient Levant from at least the early Bronze Age through the first centuries AD. This study . Moses learns his true identity as an Israelite and, after killing an Egyptian, flees to the land of Midian where, in time he encounters Yahweh in the form of a burning bush (Exodus 3, 4:1-17). For more information, please see our, Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan Service, Viewing Items from the Library Collections, I understand that the National Library is committed to protecting my personal data and privacy,and I agree to the terms and conditions appearing. Metal became the raw material for the production of tools, utilitarian implements, jewels, items of prestige, objects of art, and ritual artifacts. Zipporah, Cosbi and Yael: Blessed of Women in Tents. The following observations corroborate, A comparison of Aegean and biblical sources reveals striking similarities between Dionysus and Yahweh: both are characterized by the same symbols, the same mode of action and the same theophany; both, Located in the arid margins southeast of the land of Israel both Midian and Edom rose to prominence as a result of their exploitation of the rich copper resources in and around the Wadi Arabah and, Abstract Examination of Exodus 2531 and 3540 shows that preciousness and aesthetic considerations were not the main precipitants of the use of gold in the tabernacle. Liberators decpited as smiths. By using our site, you agree to our collection of information through the use of cookies. Philosophy & Religion The emissary of YHWH is such an enigmatic figure that even his 'theological reality' has been questioned. Copper mining at Timna and at other remote sites like Faynan, today in southern Jordan, was central to the regions economy, employing not just miners and smelters, but blacksmiths, traders and other workers in every town and village of Canaan. According to scholar Nissim Amzallag, Yahweh originated during the Bronze Age, in Canaanite religion, as the patron god of metallurgy, considering metals were an important hallmark of that time period. Scholar Nissim Amzallag, of Ben-Gurion University, disagrees with the claim that Yahweh's origins are obscure and argues that the deity was originally a god of the forge and patron of metallurgists during the Bronze Age (c. 3500-1200 BCE). Found a mistake? Yahweh, the Canaanite God of Metallurgy? | Semantic Scholar El was the chief deity of the Canaanite pantheon and the god who, according to the Bible, gave Yahweh authority over the Israelites: When the Most High [El] gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of men, he fixed the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the Sons of God. Yahweh, according to Amzallag, was transformed from one god among many to the supreme deity by the Israelites in the Iron Age (c.1200-930 BCE) when iron replaced bronze and the copper smelters, whose craft was seen as a kind of transformative magic, lost their unique status. The dark stones that cover most of the site are slag left over from the smelting process, Get email notification for articles from Ariel David, Tough fabric found at Timna, that may have come from a tent, Credit: Clara Amit, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority. r/badhistory - Biblical studies researcher identifies YHWH as This study explores whether Yahweh was formerly the Canaanite god of metallurgy. A freelance writer and former part-time Professor of Philosophy at Marist College, New York, Joshua J. They depended on the success of these operations and they definitely would have felt they needed the help of a god in the complex smelting process and in organizing these mining expeditions to distant, arid areas.. Although some biblical writings suggest a south Canaanite origin of Yahweh, no details are provided concerning his worship prior to him becoming the god of Israel. Une continuit apparat ainsi entre une forme primordiale, cana-nenne, du yahwisme et son extension isralite. Mesha Stele - Moabite StoneHenri Sivonen (CC BY). A passage like this reflects the early beliefs of the Canaanites and Israelites in polytheism or, more accurately, henotheism (the belief in many gods with a focus on a single supreme deity). After the Babylonian Exile (6th century bce), and especially from the 3rd century bce on, Jews ceased to use the name Yahweh for . Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. The name YHWH, consisting of the sequence of consonants Yod, Heh, Waw, and Heh, is known as the tetragrammaton. YHWH: The Kenite God of Metallurgy - TheTorah.com The staff of the National Library is at your service. The Shasu (also given as Shashu) were a Semitic, nomadic people described as outlaws or bandits by the Egyptians and, in fact, they are named on the column of the temple at Soleb among Egypt's other enemies and appear later, in an inscription from the reign of Ramesses II (r. 1279-1213 BCE), as among the pharaoh's enemies at the Battle of Kadesh. However, Romer disagrees with Amzallags interpretation of the supposed volcanic phenomena described in the Bible. See Nissim Amzallag, The Copper Revolution. privacy policy, Welcome! This study explores whether Yahweh was formerly the Canaanite god of metallurgy. keywords = "Cain, Copper smelting, Edom, Kenite, Origin of monotheism., Yahweh". timelineTypesChecked.push(this.value); 3000 - 323 BC, 2nd Edition, Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization. Who were the first people to worship him? We care about our planet! A. Clines, The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995), 2.503. It is concluded that the emissary of YHWH is an independent divine figure of the Israelite theology, who was not officially worshipped though he intervened frequently towards the Israelites. According to Amzallag, long before becoming the deity of the Israelites, Yahweh was a god of metallurgy in the ancient Canaanite pantheon, worshipped by smelters and metalworkers throughout the Levant, not just by the Hebrews. Mark, J. J. [37] See Nissim Amzallag, The Metallurgical Fundament of the Near Eastern ReligionsA Bronze Age Perspective, Ancient Near Eastern Studies 58 (2021): 287319. The present analysis identifies this latter, Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament, ABSTRACT In the Pentateuch, the appellation hel md denotes both the Israelite tabernacle and the tent of meeting evoked in Exod 18, 7-12; Exod 33,7-11; Num 27,1-23 and Deut 31,14-15. We have no direct proof that the metallurgical god, worshipped at the Edomite sanctuary in Timna from the 12th to the 10th century B.C.E., was Yahweh: there is no inscription invoking his name. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. This is a chapter of a greater work. Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan The Symbolic and Social World of the Qurayyah Pottery Iconography. The name was also used as a title, however, meaning "Lord" and was applied to a number of different deities throughout the ancient Near East.Baal is best known today from the Bible as the antagonist of the Israelite cult of Yahweh.. Tales concerning Baal date back to the mid-14th and . Amzallag further notes the similarities between Yahweh and other gods of metallurgy: The god of metallurgy generally appears as an outstanding deity. Jewish God Yahweh Originated in Canaanite Vulcan, Says New Theory If the information is incomplete please let us know and improve, The National Library of Israel Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram POB 39105 Jerusalem, Israel, Bus lines: 7, 7, 9, 14, 35, 35, 42, 66, 66, 68. The Bible does mention other nations worshipping Yahweh and how the god arrived from Edom to help the Israelites in warfare (Deuteronomy 33:2, Judges 5:4-5) but this is not the central narrative. The Book of Genesis concludes with Joseph dying after telling his brothers that Yahweh will bring them out of Egypt and back to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yahweh, the Canaanite God of metallurgy?. Jrgen van Oorschot and Markus Witte (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2017), 2344 [p. 37]; Reinhard Mller, The Origins of YHWH in Light of the Earliest Psalms, in ibid, 207238 [p. 209]; Angelika Berlejung, The Origins and Beginnings of the Worship of YHWH: The Iconographic Evidence, in ibid, 6792 [p. 75]; Manfred Krebernik, The Beginnings of Yahwism from an Assyriological Perspective, in ibid, 4566 [p. 65]. These documents describe groups of Canaanite nomads collectively known as Shasu, including one tribe named Shasu Yhw(h) perhaps the first recorded Yahweh worshippers in history. Religious rites included human sacrifice (especially child sacrifice) in the understanding that the gods gave only the best to the people and so they should reciprocate by offering their best to the gods. Yahweh Timeline - World History Encyclopedia Canaanite religion - Wikipedia His theory is not exactly widely accepted, but has recently been gaining traction. In other words, the genealogies of the Bible contain the memory of an ancient confederation of Canaanite peoples, who may have considered themselves all descendants of Abraham and who all worshipped Yahweh alongside other gods, Amzallag posits. These people, identifiable as the biblical Kenites, would have been held in high regard and seen as being close to the divine because they possessed knowledge about the secret and mysterious process of copper smelting, Amzallag says. Baal (also given as Ba'al) is a Canaanite-Phoenician god of fertility and weather, specifically rainstorms. The following observations corroborate this hypothesis: (1) Yahweh was worshiped by the Edomites, and especially by the Kenites, a small tribe regarded as the Canaanite smelters; (2) the Israelite cult of Yahweh was associated with copper and with a bronze serpent, a typical symbol of metallurgy; (3) the melting of copper is considered in Exodus 4 as the specific sign of Yahweh; (4) a parallel exists between Yahweh and the god of metallurgy worshiped in Egypt (Ptah), Mesopotamia (Ea/Enki) and Elam (Napir), all of them being a mysterious lonely deity; (5) fighting the (other) gods is common to Yahwism and to ancient metallurgical traditions. This study explores whether Yahweh was formerly the Canaanite god of metallurgy. tl_categories_checked(); Hi , You may now order books from the library. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. Cities & Buildings The methods employed in this work are largely transdisciplinary in nature, as text, archaeology, and anthropology will be used to give new dimension to the Midianite-Qenite Hypothesis. As the Israelites developed their community in Canaan, they sought to distance themselves from their neighbors and, as noted, elevated Yahweh above the traditional Canaanite supreme deity El. These observations suggest that the Cain genealogy constitutes, together with the story of Cain and Abel, a coherent myth of Qenite origin. Yahweh, the Canaanite God of metallurgy? You can download the paper by clicking the button above. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies, Ben-Gurion University Research Portal is maintained by Aranne Library staff. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. Family Religion in Babylonia, Syria and Israel: Continuity and Change Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. The discovery of Amenhotep III's mention of the Shasu of Yahweh placed the god much earlier in history than had been accepted previously. The Moabite Stone was discovered in 1868 in modern-day Jordan and the find published in 1870. Poetic metaphors throughout the Bible describe Yahweh as a fiery deity who makes the mountains smoke (Psalms 144:5) and melts them down (Isaiah 63:19b), just like smelters melt down ore to obtain copper and other metals, the researcher notes. Enter your email address and we'll send you a password recovery link: Have more information? His name means "He Who Makes That Which Has Been Made" and is composed of four Hebrew consonants (YHWH, known as the Tetragrammaton) which the prophet Moses is said to have revealed to his people. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Yahweh/. World History Encyclopedia. Dr. Nissim Amzallag was a Research Fellow (2013-2021) at the Department of Bible, Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies of the Ben Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev (Beer Sheba, Israel). A comparison of Aegean and Biblical sources reveals striking similarities between Dionysus and YHWH: both are characterized by the same symbols, the same mode of action and the same theophany; both provoked a comparable doubt concerning their divine nature and/or their actual powers; and both had the same subversive effects with regard to the official pantheon. Why is the Cain Genealogy (Gen. 4:17-24) Integrated into the Book of Genesis? The celestial universe and the mode of action of YHWH are sometimes depicted by metallurgy. And it is he who inaugurates the Tent of Meeting with a sacrifice and proclaims that Yahweh is greater than all other gods for having freed the Hebrew slaves from Egypt (Exodus 18:7-12). The Canaanites, like all ancient civilizations, worshipped many gods but chief among them was the sky-god El. This study explores whether Yahweh was formerly the Canaanite god of metallurgy. To order books and to enjoy the services of the library, we will need a few more details. Livna: Hameara, 2008 (in Hebrew). Although some biblical writings suggest a south Canaanite origin of Yahweh, no details are provided concerning his worship prior to him becoming the god of Israel. From Greek literary sources and reflections about the continuous metallurgical influence of Canaan on the Aegean world, it is concluded that during the Bronze Age Dionysus was probably the Aegean. Clines Philip R. Davies Executive These findings open new horizons of investigation, both of the Ancient Aegean civilization and of the nature of the popular cult of YHWH in Canaan prior to the monotheistic reform. He is the author of: The Copper Revolution Smelters from Canaan and the Beginning of Civilization (Livna [Israel]: Hameara, 2008, in Hebrew); Esau in Jerusalem The Rise of a Seirite Religious Elite in Zion at the Persian Period (Leuven: Peeters, 2015 ); La Forge de Dieu, Aux origines de la Bible (Paris: Cerf, 2020, in French); Psalm 29: A Canaanite Hymn to YHWH in the Psalter (Leuven: Peeters, 2021); and YHWH and the Origins of Israel Insight from the Archaeological Record (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, scheduled to May 2023). Some biblical writings suggest a south-Canaanite origin of Yahweh, but no details are provided concerning his worship prior becoming the god of Israel. Now, according to Bible, the Midianites were descendants of Midian, another son of Abraham, which again supports the idea of the existence of an extended family of Yahwistic peoples. The biblical narrative, however, is not as straightforward as it may seem as it also includes reference to the Canaanite god El whose name is directly referenced in Israel (He Who Struggles with God or He Who Perseveres with God). Their symbolism bears witness to the compatible values of smiths and nomads. You can register by filling in your personal details or by logging into your Facebook or Google account, Hi {{firstName}}! Judah was able to withstand the Assyrian military campaigns but only by paying tribute to Assyria. Leuven, Peeters, 163-202, 2014. While this still may be true, there's now a competing theory that he was, instead, a god of volcanism and metallurgy. There is no doubt that at least for the Edomites, and possibly for their neighbors, religion had to go hand in hand with what was their most important activity, says Erez Ben-Yosef, an archaeologist from Tel Aviv University who leads a team excavating at Timna. Return to Site, Have you encountered a problem? Mark, Joshua J.. The biblical story of the two brothers and forefathers of the Israelites and Edomites is a sign of the close links between the two peoples. From Greek literary sources and reflections about the continuous metallurgical influence of Canaan on the Aegean world, it is concluded that during the Bronze Age, Dionysus was probably the Aegean counterpart of YHWH, the mysterious Canaanite god of furnace metallurgy. Those arriving from the lower library parking lot should enter the library via the lower level entrance (push the doorbell button). For several years I've simply accepted the idea that Yahweh was originally a Canaanite storm god. The oldest mention of Yahweh was long held to be the Moabite Stone (also known as the Mesha Stele) erected by King Mesha of Moab to celebrate his victory over Israel in c. 840 BCE. Discovery of Yhwh linked with discovery of metallurgy. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. This discovery enables to reconsider the singularity of the Israelite religion. They did not, however, embrace monotheism at this time. While it is likely that there existed a patron deity of metallurgy, the identity of the Canaanite god of smelting remains unknown. [40] See Kristian Kristainsen and Thomas Larsson, The Rise of the Bronze Age Society Travels, Transmissions and Transformations. It starts at page 16. Initially, the people of Canaan, including the Israelites, practiced a form of ancestor worship in which they venerated the god of the father or the god of the house, in addition to paying homage to their earthly ancestors, in an effort to establish individual tribal and family connections (van der Toorn, 177). 27 Jun 2023. The rest of the Book of Exodus details the Ten Plagues which Yahweh sends on Egypt and how Moses leads his people to freedom. And in the arid wastes of southern Canaan, a new power arose. }); When the temple was destroyed and the kingdom sacked, the Jewish clergy had to find some reason for the tragedy and concluded it was because they had not paid enough attention to Yahweh and had angered him through the acknowledgement and worship of other gods. Related Content YHWHs theophany and mode of action are frequently evoked in the Bible as a volcanic event. [3] He was the Idumean structural parallel to Yahweh. As it has been established they were a nomadic people, attempts have been made to link them with the Hebrews and with the Habiru, a group of renegades in the Levant, but these claims have been refuted. The cult of YHWH as god of metallurgy originated among semi-nomadic copper smelters between the Bronze and Iron Age, suggests biblical scholar: And he was not worshipped only by Jews . }); It is Jethro who indirectly leads Moses to his first meeting with Yahweh at the burning bush. Once the land is conquered, Joshua divides it among his people and, in time, they establish the Kingdom of Israel. Search through the entire ancient history timeline. Consequently, the exposition of the Cain genealogy before and independently of the lineage from Adam to Israel becomes an unexpected feature. Qos ( Edomite: Qws, later Qs; [1] Hebrew: Qs) [2] also Qaus ( Akkadian: Qa-u ), or Koze ( Greek: K Kzai) was the national god of the Edomites. Even that the values professed by coppersmiths left a deep mark on the mythology of the nomad, the influences were reciprocal, and the descendants of the Bronze Age smelters would become the champions of nomadic virtues during the Iron Age. (397). Music Man on Twitter: "RT @Noticing777: Yahweh has been compared Credit: Clara Amit, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Additionally, this thesis will also explore the origin of the allochthonous motifs on the Midianite ware and the cultural background of the Midianites. But when they came together to wage war against their common enemies, they would have turned to Yahweh, the divine warrior who could provide victory. Archaeologists uncover remains of an Edomite copper production facility on the so-called Slaves' Hill in Timna. Yahweh, name for the God of the Israelites, representing the biblical pronunciation of "YHWH," the Hebrew name revealed to Moses in the book of Exodus. The e-mail message has now been sent to the address you entered. The chapter concludes: World History Encyclopedia is an Amazon Associate and earns a commission on qualifying book purchases. Reading between the lines, the Bible contains clues pointing to an original identity for Yahweh as a metallurgical deity, he says. "Yahweh." Dr. Grard Nissim Amzallag, is a professor, biologist and researcher at the Judea Center for Research and Development, has published numerous books and articles (in French) and is the author of the book 'The Copper Revolution'(in Hebrew). In 931 BCE, following the death of Solomon, the kingdom split in two and a new political entity, the Kingdom of Judah with its capital at Jerusalem, emerged in the south. This has led, for example, to the so-called Documentary Hypothesis, which considers the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, to be a compilation from multiple sources, each produced by different authors with their own beliefs and agendas. It merely presents the theory for further study and investigation. [36] Metallurgy includes smelting (ore mining, metal production and purification) and smithing (the production of artifacts from raw metal). Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Detail, Noah Window, ChartresWalwyn (CC BY-NC-SA). 22:20). Yahweh the canaanite god of metallurgy pdf Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan (The Library of Hebrew Bible - Old Testament Studies) Home ; Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan (The Library of Hebrew Bible - Old Testament Studies) JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SUPPLEMENT SERIES 265 Editors David J.A.
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