Culture and History of the Ancient Near East
1 primary work
Book 12
To Your Tents, O Israel! examines the function, form, and symbolism of ancient tents, specifically in the Hebrew Bible, but also in the greater context of the Ancient Near East. Terminology associated with tents and the blending of terms for domiciles are initially explored. Then, using historical, mythological, archaeological, and anthropological insights, tents are examined in their manifold usage: domiciliary, military, nuptial, and religious. Various parallels and models of the Tabernacle will be assessed, and the Tabernacle's historicity will be examined. The book ends by analyzing a biblical phrase that dismisses councils: "To your tents, O Israel!"