Yahweh and the gods of Canaan; a historical analysis of two contrasting faiths /

By: Material type: TextTextSeries: Jordan lectures in comparative religion ; 7.Publication details: Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday, 1969.Description: xiv, 294 p. 18 cmSubject(s): DDC classification:
  • 296
LOC classification:
  • BM 170 .A4 1969
Contents:
Contents:
I. Verse and prose in early Israelite tradition -- Poetry versus prose: their relative date and transmission -- Canaanite repetitive style -- Early Israelite repetitive style -- The JE complex -- The historical significance of archaic Hebrew verse II. The patriarchal background of Israel's faith -- Recent archaeological finds bearing on the patriarchal age -- Trade and commerce in the ancient East -- The patriarchal mode of life -- Hebrew and 'Apiru -- Mesopotamian cosmogony in Genesis -- Mesopotamian law in Hebrew tradition III. Canaanite religion in the Bronze Age -- The ethnic and cultural background of the Canaanites -- The nature of Canaanite religion: the epic pantheon -- The pantheon of Ugarit -- Some other Phoenician pantheons -- Miscellaneous beliefs, sanctuaries, and practices IV. The struggle between Yahweh and the gods of Canaan -- The Mosaic movement -- The antiquity of Mosaic law -- Early pagan vestiges in Hebrew literature: archaic demythologizing -- Some aspects of early Israelite cult V. The religious cultures of Israel and Phoenicia in periodic tension -- The prophetic movement in Israel -- Phoenicia and Phoenician higher culture -- Phoenician and Israelite religion in contact -- Phoenician hierophants and their metamorphoses -- Some major aspects of Phoenician literary influence in Israel.
Summary: Summary:Summary: This analysis of contrasting faiths places the religions of Canaan (later Phoenicia) and Israel in their historical settings, treating them as distinct, yet interacting, beliefs. As a prelude to the description of the two religions, the author traces the evolution of poetic style from the Patriarchal Age to the United Monarchy, showing the value of orally transmitted verse for the validation of early Biblical historical tradition. He then demonstrates the Mesopotamian origin of the Patriarchal clans with the aid of new cuneiform date, and shows a close connection between the movement of the Hebrews from the Euphrates Valley through Palestine into Egypt and the work of Moses. Special attention is paid to the early Hebrew family law, the case law of Israel, and the hygienic rules (which are older than commonly thought by scholars). The nature of the Canaanite-Phoenician religion is much clearer than it was a few years ago; its influence on Israel was both greater and less than is usually thought. But the relation was reciprocal, and both gained much in the exchange which set in about the tenth century and continued until the fifth century B.C.
Item type: Books
Holdings
Current library Collection Call number Vol info Status Date due Barcode
Judith Thomas Library General Stacks BKS BM 170 .A4 1969 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) AUA016108 Available AUA016108

Bibliographical footnotes.

Contents:

I. Verse and prose in early Israelite tradition --
Poetry versus prose: their relative date and transmission --
Canaanite repetitive style --
Early Israelite repetitive style --
The JE complex --
The historical significance of archaic Hebrew verse II. The patriarchal background of Israel's faith --
Recent archaeological finds bearing on the patriarchal age --
Trade and commerce in the ancient East --
The patriarchal mode of life --
Hebrew and 'Apiru --
Mesopotamian cosmogony in Genesis --
Mesopotamian law in Hebrew tradition III. Canaanite religion in the Bronze Age --
The ethnic and cultural background of the Canaanites --
The nature of Canaanite religion: the epic pantheon --
The pantheon of Ugarit --
Some other Phoenician pantheons --
Miscellaneous beliefs, sanctuaries, and practices IV. The struggle between Yahweh and the gods of Canaan --
The Mosaic movement --
The antiquity of Mosaic law --
Early pagan vestiges in Hebrew literature: archaic demythologizing --
Some aspects of early Israelite cult V. The religious cultures of Israel and Phoenicia in periodic tension --
The prophetic movement in Israel --
Phoenicia and Phoenician higher culture --
Phoenician and Israelite religion in contact --
Phoenician hierophants and their metamorphoses --
Some major aspects of Phoenician literary influence in Israel.

Summary:

This analysis of contrasting faiths places the religions of Canaan (later Phoenicia) and Israel in their historical settings, treating them as distinct, yet interacting, beliefs. As a prelude to the description of the two religions, the author traces the evolution of poetic style from the Patriarchal Age to the United Monarchy, showing the value of orally transmitted verse for the validation of early Biblical historical tradition. He then demonstrates the Mesopotamian origin of the Patriarchal clans with the aid of new cuneiform date, and shows a close connection between the movement of the Hebrews from the Euphrates Valley through Palestine into Egypt and the work of Moses. Special attention is paid to the early Hebrew family law, the case law of Israel, and the hygienic rules (which are older than commonly thought by scholars). The nature of the Canaanite-Phoenician religion is much clearer than it was a few years ago; its influence on Israel was both greater and less than is usually thought. But the relation was reciprocal, and both gained much in the exchange which set in about the tenth century and continued until the fifth century B.C.