Religion at Kuntillet ʿAjrud

Jeremy Smoak,William Schniedewind

doi:10.3390/rel10030211

Abstract

The discovery of early Hebrew inscriptions at the site of Kuntillet ʿAjrud has generated considerable discussion among scholars over the past few decades. The fact that the inscriptions contain explicitly religious themes led some to conclude that the site had a cultic function. In the present article, we challenge this assumption and argue that the inscriptions with religious themes are embedded in daily life as religion converges with scribal curriculum in ancient Israel. The inscriptions provide insights into conceptions of the Israelite pantheon, divine theophany, and theomachy in early Israelian religious ideology.

Highlights

The sgigondidfiecsasncAesohfervaahr,iotuhesyinaslcsroipptrioonvisd. eOgnleimexpasmespilneto the panthSeigonnifoicfatnhtednioscrtuhsesrionnkoinfgtdheomsi.teSihnacseftohceused on its function
The early studies of the drawings were done uch of the discussion of the drawings has focused on Abstract: The discovery of early Hebrew inscriptions at the site of Kuntill considerable discussion among scholars over the past few decades
Contain explicitly religious themes led some to conclude that the site had RReelliiggiioonn aatt KKuunnttiilllleettAAjjrruudd nbgeoeftnhliepfeaN*E”rgetCwaiycorpiurEttrhliaeaassrgntpleayordznnseAeAdiLligreltraeynttnniisicccBgfellcieue:eceassarmg,ntaebtosiuahnaktelny@ridtehsmCuuamtugulagnstuetedrstbe.etusessce, letUrahmt.CeeopdLaguhAsoia(,dsJsL..diSoIz.ets)es;idAsswnilgliealmess, @CpainhArrsueec9msre0einm0npe9ttbt5i.ao,uerUndctlisdSacA.elepeddr,uowivn(Weiddc.eSha.ia)ilnlylseilngifgheetsathsinisrteoalsigcsuioonmncpecptoitoninovneasrngdoefsatrwhgeuitehIstrhsacaertilbitthaeel inscription curriculum pantheon, doodliRngecse.ivMedo:r3e1oJJveaeernrreeu,mmatryhyeS2S0mmE1g9oo;yaaApkkctic**aeanapnntedgddo:WWd13iilBlMlleiiaaasmrmcihsSS2acc0hlh1sn9on;iiePedudebewlwisihinntehddde:**o18mMacahrcyhi2n0e1a9rly Israelian religious ideology

Summary

Introduction

The sgigondidfiecsasncAesohfervaahr,iotuhesyinaslcsroipptrioonvisd. eOgnleimexpasmespilneto the panthSeigonnifoicfatnhtednioscrtuhsesrionnkoinfgtdheomsi.teSihnacseftohceused on its function. Received: 31 January 2019; Accepted: 13 March 2019; Published: 18 March 2019 religions Religion at KuntilletAjrud he site has been the drawings, but in our view, these aily life. The early studies of the drawings were done uch of the discussion of the drawings has focused on Abstract: The discovery of early Hebrew inscriptions at the site of Kuntill considerable discussion among scholars over the past few decades. Contain explicitly religious themes led some to conclude that the site had RReelliiggiioonn aatt KKuunnttiilllleettAAjjrruudd nbgeoeftnhliepfeaN*E”rgetCwaiycorpiurEttrhliaeaassrgntpleayordznnseAeAdiLligreltraeynttnniisicccBgfellcieue:eceassarmg,ntaebtosiuahnaktelny@ridtehsmCuuamtugulagnstuetedrstbe.etusessce, letUrahmt.CeeopdLaguhAsoia(,dsJsL..diSoIz.ets)es;idAsswnilgliealmess, @CpainhArrsueec9msre0einm0npe9ttbt5i.ao,uerUndctlisdSacA.elepeddr,uowivn(Weiddc.eSha.ia)ilnlylseilngifgheetsathsinisrteoalsigcsuioonmncpecptoitoninovneasrngdoefsatrwhgeuitehIstrhsacaertilbitthaeel inscription curriculum pantheon, doodliRngecse.ivMedo:r3e1oJJveaeernrreeu,mmatryhyeS2S0mmE1g9oo;yaaApkkctic**aeanapnntedgddo:WWd13iilBlMlleiiaaasmrmcihsSS2acc0hlh1sn9on;iiePedudebewlwisihinntehddde:**o18mMacahrcyhi2n0e1a9rly Israelian religious ideology.

Results

Conclusion