Old Testament Mythology in its Ancient Near Eastern Context

Abstract

Old Testament studies have two sources of difficulty not found in some other ancient Near Eastern fields, one the result of time past, the other the outcome of recent study. The relationship of myth and ritual is a well-established topic in O.T. studies, but usually argued to no purpose. They are based on Near Eastern materials, especially Mesopotamian and Hebrew, with more casual knowledge of other areas. In this Near Eastern context it is vitally important to distinguish between the basic thought and its expression. Thus the origins of Syro-Palestinian religion of the time of the Israelite settlement can be traced back to some extent to the middle of the 3rd millennium, and some account of the cultural influences from that time to the settlement will be helpful to show what may have happened. The period c. 2600-2200 was one of openness culturally from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean. Keywords: ancient near eastern context; Israelite settlement; Old Testament mythology; Persian Gulf; Syro-Palestinian religion