ANCIENT ISRAEL Its
Life and Institutions by
ROLAND de VAUX, O.P.
Translated
by
JOHN McHUGH
11
DARTON, LONGMAN AND TODD LTD 1 SPENCER COURT 140 142 WANDSWORTIf HIGH STREET LONDON SW18 4JJ (also published in
U.S.A.
by The McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York)
English translation © Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd 1961 First published in Great Britain 1961 Second edition 1965
This paperback edition 1973
Reprinted 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991,
1994 and 1998
This English translation is based on the original French edition
TO THE STUDENTS OF THE ECOLE BIBLIQUE
published in two volumes under the title Les Institutions de l'Ancien Testament by Les Editions du Cerf, Paris
WITH WHOM I HAVE LEARNED
ISBN 0232512191
WHAT THIS BOOK CONTAINS
SEM�NAR
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Printed and bound in Great Britain by Redwood Books, Trowbridge, Wiltshire
NOTE ON NOMENCLATURE OF SOME BOOKS OF THE BIBLE AND
CONTENTS
APOCRYPHA
Page
F
OR
the convenience of readers who are not familiar with the nomenclature adopted in this book, the lists below show the equivalents in the Authorized/King James Version, and in Douai Challoner and Knox, where differences occur.
TRANSLATOR'S NOTE
I Chronicles 2.
Chronicles
Ezra Nehemiah [
Esdras
Esdras Tobit Ecclesiastes Solomon 2
In this book Josue I Samuel ( 1 S) 2 Samuel (2 S) 1 ICings ( 1 K) 2 Kings (2 K) 1 Chronicles ( 1 Ch) 2 Chronicles (2 Ch) Esdras (Esd) Nehemias (Ne)
3 Esdras 4 Esdras Tobias Qoheleth (Qo) Canticle (Ct) .
D-G., Knox Josue 1 Kings 2 Kings 3 Kings 4 Kings 1 Paralipomena 2 Paralipomena I Esdras 2 Esdras
Obadiah Micah
Michaeas
Zephaniah
Sophonias (So)
Sophonias
Haggai Revelation
Aggaeus
Aggaells
Sirach (Si)
Hosea
Apocalypse
(Ap)
3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
The Backgrolmd Tribal Organizatioll (a) The constitlltioll oj II tribe (b) The 11l1ioll, divisioll and disappearance oj tribes (c) The organization and government oj a tribe (d) Tribal territory. War alld raiding The Law oj Hospitality and Asylum Tribal Solidarity and Bfood-Vcllgeancc The Later DCIJelopl11ent oJ Tribal Orgal1izatioll ill Israel Relics oj Nomadisl/l The 'Nomadic Ideal' oj tile Prophets The Rekabites
3 4 4 6 7 9 10 10 12 13
13
14
PART I
Tobias
Osee (Os) Abdias (Abd)
Ecclesiasticus
2.
8.
Ecclesiastes Canticle of Canticles (D-C.) Song of Songs (Knox) Ecclesiasticus O see Abdia s Michaeas
Xl
INTRODUCTION
NOMADISM AND ITS SURVIVAL I.
A.v./K.J. Joshua I Samuel 2 Samuel I Kings 2 Kings
Vll
PREFACE
Chapter
FAMILY INSTITUTIONS
1. THE FAMILY
OJ 1£lllat type II'<1S the Israelite Jamily? Fatllily solidarity. The go' el 3. The later deldopl/lcllt oJ/alllily C/lstOI/lS I.
2.
2. MARRIAGE
Apocalypse
3.
1. Polygamy alld IllollOgalilY 2. The typical Israelite marriage 3. Choosing the bride 4. Ellgage/lleilts 5. Alarriage cerell/oll ies 6. Replu{iatioll at/.d divorce 7. Adultery and Jomicatioll 8. The lel'irate THE POSITION OF \VOMEN. WIDOWS
19 19 2I 22 24 24 26 29 33
34 36 37
39
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
XIV
Page
Chapter 4. CmLDREN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Attitude to childretl Birth The name Circull1cisiol1 Education Adoptioll
7.
4T
8.
42
9.
43 46 41) 5[
5. SUCCESSION AND INHERITANCE
53
6. DEATH AND FUNERAL RITES
5()
Treatment oj the corpse Burial Motlmillg rites Rites concernillg Jood Thefimeral lamentations Illterpretatioll oj these rites
56
I. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6.
57 59
59
60 6r
PART
II
CIVIL INSTITUTIONS 1. POPULATION
65
2. THE FREE POPULATION: ITS DIVISIONS
68
Social elloltltion 2. The mm �f rank and influence 3. The 'people � the land' 4. Rich and poor 5. Resident aliens 6. Wage-earners 7. Craftsmen 8. Merchl711ts I.
3.
(1) 69 70 72
RllI1alPay slaves The ema1lcipation �r slaves State slaves
TE E CONCEPT OF THE STA 4. THE ISRAELIT
of the State Israel 171111 tfte 1IariOllS Eastern notiolls es of Israel 2. The TlVei'le Trib the 11101Wrchy of ll 3· The il1stitutio hy 4· The Dual ]v[ollarc el and Judah 5· The killgdollls of Isra 1mmity 6. The post-exilic coln idea of the State? elite Isra 1711 e Was ther
1.
7·
THE KING 5. THE PERSON OF
Accession to the throne 2. The coronation rites (a ) The setting: the sanctuary (b) The investiture !/lith tile insignia (c) The mlointing (d) The acclamation (e) The enthronement (f) The homage e 3· The coro11ation nam ms 4· The enthrol1ement psal our savi as king 5· The 6. Divine adoption 7. The king mld worship 1.
LD 6. THE ROYAL HOUSEHO
74
1.
76
2.
76
3·
78
4·
SLAVES
80
The existence oj slavery in Israel 2. Slaves oj Joreign orighl 3. Israelite slaves 4. The number mId value of slatlCS 5 · The position oj slaves 6. Female slaves
80
1.
Page
Chapter
41
80
XV
5· 6.
The harem The Great Lady The royal clzi1drC11 The king's attendants The royal guard The royal estate
7. THE PRINCIPAL
82
1.
83
2.
84
3·
86
4·
OFFICIALS OF THE KING
The ministers of David and Solomol1 The master of the palace The royal secretary The royal herald
87 87 88 91 91 92 94 95 96 98 98 100 100 102 102 103 103 106 106 107 107 108
lIO I II II3 II5 II5 117 119 120 123 124 127 127 129 131 132
I
I XVI
CONTENTS
Chapter 8.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE KINGDOM
I. 2. 3· 4· 5.
The kingdom oj David The administratio/l under Solomol1 The districts ojJudah The districts oj the kil1gdom oj Israel Local administratioll
9. FINANCE AND PUBLIC WORKS
Royal revenues alld state revel1ues 2. 'Voluntary' or exceptio/wI contributions 3. Tithes 4. Forced labour I.
,I
10. LAW AND J USTICE
Legislative codes 2. Eastern law in anciellt tillles 3· The sOl/rces oj Israelite law 4. Characteristics oj Israelite lall' 5. The hllg' s legislative alldjudidal powers 6. Judges azld cOllrts oj law 7. Procedure 8. Thej1ldg11lellt oj God 9. Pellalties 10. Private vellgeance alld Cities of Refl/ge I.
I!I I
11. ECONOMIC LIFE I. 2.
3· 4· 5. 6. 7· 8. 9·
Lallded property Family property alld large estates COlweyallces and similar Jormalities Deposit a/1d hiring Loarzs SeCtlrities Sureties and bail The Sabbatical Year The JI/bilee Year
12. DIVISIONS OF TIME I . Ancient Eastern calelldars 2. The Israelite calendar. The day 3· The I/lollth 4· The weele
CONTENTS
Page 133 133 133 135
137 137
164 J(14 166 167 169 170 171 172
I.
MILITARY INSTITUTIONS 213 214 218 219 222 225
2. FORTIFIED CITIES AND SIEGE WARFARE
229 229 232 233 236 238
I. A people IIIlder arms 2. The professional army (a) The corps oj mercenaries (b) The chariotry 3. The conscript af/lly
I.
2. 3. 4. 5.
183
186
Fortified tOlVns Ramparts Fortified gates and citadels Siege tVazfare The water supply
3. ARMAMENTS
Offensive weapons 2. Difel1sive arms I.
241 241 244
A short IIl ilitary history oj Israel 2. The conduct oj tVar 3. The consequences oj tVar
247 247 250 254
THE HOLY WAR I. The cOl1cept oj the holy war, and its rites 2. The holy wars at the beginning �f Israel's history 3· Religion and the wars under the monarchy 4. The religious wars oj the Maccabees 5. The 'Order oj the War' from Qumrml
258 258 261 263 265 266
4. WAR I.
5. 178
III
1 . TIm ARMIES OF ISRAEL
173
180
Israelite ' metrology Linear measures Measures oj capacity Measures of weight The coillage ,
PART
175 178
195 195 196 199 203 206
13. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
139 139 139 140 141 143 143 144 146 147 150 152 155 157 158 160
Page 188 190 193
Chapter 5. The year 6. The beginnil1g oj the year 7. The eras
2. 3· 4· 5·
XVIl
CONTENTS
XVlll
PART
CONTENTS
IV
Chapte r
3. THE TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS Chapter
I
, il
'I
INTRODUCTORY 1. SEMITIC SANCTUARIES 1 . Sacred territory 2. The sacred character of places of cuTtic l/Jorship 3· The choice of places of worship (a) Theophanies (b) Sacred waters (c) Sacred trees (d) Heights 4. Ziggurats 5. Temples 6. 'High places' (a) The name (b) The situatioll �fthe 'high places' (c) The evidence of archaeology (d) Cultic installations (e) 'High places' and funeral services (f) The lawfulness �f'high places'
2. THE FIRST ISRAELITE SANCTUARIES
1 . The places where the Patriarchs worshipped (a) Shechelll (b) Bethel (c) Mambre (d) Beersheba (e) COI�clusioll 2. The desert sanctuary: the Tellt 3· The Ark of the COVel1allt 4· The sallctuaries in the lmtd of Israel before the buildillg oftlze Temple (a) Gilgal (b) Shiloh (c) Mispah ill Bwjal/lin (d) Gibeol1 (e) Ophra (f) Dan (g) Jerusalelll
Page 27I
274 274 276 276 277 277 278 279 28I 282 284 284 284 284 285 287 288 289 289 289 291 292 293 293 294 297 302 302 304 304 305 306 307 308
I. Solomon's Temple (a) The buildings (b) Analogies and itifluences (c) The site of the Temple (d) Furnishings of the Temple (e) The Temple as a national sanctuary 2. The history of Solomon's Temple 3. The post-exilic Temple 4. The theology of the Temple (a) The Temple as the seat of the dillille prescllce (b) The Temple as the sign of electioll (c) Symbolism of the Temple (d) Opposition to the Temple
4. THE CENTRALIZATION OF THE CULT 1.
2.
3. 4. 5.
6.
Central sanctuary or sole sanctuary? Solomon's Temple and rival sanctuaries (a) The attraction of Jerusalem (b) The religious schism of Jeroboalll (c) Dan alld Bethel (d) Other sanctuaries Reforms aiming at centralizatioll Deuteronomy Later sanctuaries outside Jerusalelll (a) The temple at Elephantine (b) The temple at Leontopolis (c) The temple at Garizil1l The origin.of synagogues
5. THE PRIESTLY OFFICE
1. 2. 3. 4.
5· 6. 7·
The name The illstallation of priests The priest and the sanctuary Priests and divine oracles (a) The ephod (b) Urim alld Thummim (c) The decreasing importm1ce of oracles gillen by priests The priest as a teacher The priest and sacrifice The priest as mediator
XIX
Page 3I2 3I2 3I3 3I7 318 319 320 32I 322 325 325 327 328 329
331 331 332 332 333 334 335 336 337 339 340 341 342 343 345 345 346 348 349 349 352 352 353 355 357
'[ I
Chapter 6. THE LEVITES I. EtYlJlology 2. The hereditary priesthood 3. The priestly tribe oJ Levi 4. Historical deucloplllcnt (a) NOIl-Leuitical priests (b) Levite priests (c) Priests alld Levites 5. Levitical towns 6. vVas there ever a non-priestly tribe wiled Lcui? 7. The origill oj the Levites
7. THE PRIESTHOOD IN JERUSALEM UNDER THE MONARCHY I. Ebyathar and Sadoq 2. The descelldants oj Sadoq 3. The priests alld the kings 4. The hierarchy 5. The reveIJues oj the clergy 6. The lower-ranking persolJnel 7. Were there prophets attached to the Temple? 8.
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
xx
THE PlUESTHOOD AFTER THE EXILE I. Priests and Levites down to the period oj Esdras and Nehemias 2. The Levites ill the work oj the Chronicler (a) The Levites and the Ark (b) The singers (c) The door-keepers (d) Other LeviticalJunctions 3. 'SOilS oj Sadoq' alld ' Sons ojAaron' 4. The high priest (a) His titles (b) The illvestiture oj the high priest (c) The high priest and the idea �r kingship (d) The successioll oj high priests 5. The revenues �r the Temple alld oj the clergy (a) The Temple (b) The clergy
9. ALTARS
Pre-Israelite altars in Palestine 2. Israelite altars outside the maill sanctuary 3. The altars used in the desert I.
Page 358 358 359 360 361 361 362 364 366 367 369
372 372 375 376 377 379 382 384 387 388 390 391 391 392 393 394 397 397 398 400 401 403 403 404 406 406 407 409
Chapter 4. The altars ill Solol/lo/l's Telllple (a) The altar �f holocausts (b) The altar �f pelfumes 5. The altar oj Ezechiel 6. The altars ill the second Tcmplc 7. The religiolls sigl1ijicallce oj altars 10.
TI-IE RITUAL OF SACRIFICE
Holocausts Conl/I/ullioll sacrijices 3. Expiatory sacrifices (a) Sacrifice Jor sill (b) The sacrifice 4 reparation (c) The distillctioll betwcell sacrifice for sin aHd the sacrifice of reparation Vegetable �fJeril1g5 4· The shew bread 5· 6. o.fJerillgs oj incense I.
2.
11. THE HISTORY OF SACRIFICE IN ISRAEL
1. 2. 3. 4. ). 6. 12.
The critical theory General considerations Holocausts and coml1nmion-sacrifices Expiatory sacrifices Vegetable oJ Conclusion
THE ORIGIN OF ISRAELITE RITUAL I. Mesopotamian sacrifice 2. Sacrifice among the al1ciel1t Arabs 3. Ca/J(/anite sacrifice 4. The origin oj the sacrificial ritllal oj Israel 5. HUlllan sacrifice in Israel (a) Human sacrifices in historical texts (b) Prophetical texts (c) The law COl/caning the first-bom (d) Sacrifices to lI-foloch
13. THE RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE OF SACRIFICE I. Was sacrifice a gift to a malevolent or a selfish deity? 2. Dicl sacrifice achietJe union with the deity by magic? (a) Union with a god by man's eating a divine victim
xxi
Page 410 410 4I I 412 412 413
415 415 417 418 418 420 420 421 422 423 424 424 425 426 429 430 432 433 433 435 438 440 441 442 443 443 444 447 447 448 448
11"
CONTENTS
XXll
d�
3. 4·
5.
� (b) Union with a god by the immolation of a Jlictim representing man 448 Was sacrifice a meal taken by the god? 449 Outline of a theory of sacrifice 451 (a) The gift 451 (b) Commlmioll 453 (c) Expiation 453 Polemic against sacrifices 454
14. SECONDARY ACTS OF THE CULT
Liturgical prayer (a) Prayer and the cult (b) The place and time of prayer, etc. 2. Rites of purification and of de-consecration (a) Sacrifices and abltttiolls (b) The ashes of the red heifer (c) The ritual for leprosy 3· Rites of consecration (a) General remarks (b) Vows (c) The Nazirites I.
15. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR
The ordinary services in the Temple (a) The daily services (b) The sabbath (c) The new mOOI1 2. The religious calendars (a) The Elohistic Code of the Covenant (b) The Yahwistic Code �f the Covenant (c) Deuteronomy (d) The Law of Holiness (e) Ezechiel (f) The rules for sacrifice given in Numbers (g) Later feasts I.
I I
I;
16. THE SABBATH DAY
The Hame: its etymology 2. Was the sabbath of Babylonian origin? 3· Was the sabbath o..fCanaanite origin? 4· Was the sabbath of Qenite origin? I.
CONTENTS
457 457 457 458 460 460 461 462 464 464 465 466 468 468 468 469 469 470 471 471 472 472 473 473 473
XXlll
C hapter . 5. The antiquity �I tire sabbath 6. The religious significance of the sabbath 7. The history of the sabbath
Page 479 480 482
17. THE ANCIENT FEASTS OF ISRAEL
Thefeasts of the Passover aHd of UII/eavelled Bread (a) The historical developmellt (b) The oright of the Passover (c) The origin of thefeast of Un/eavCIled Bread (d) Their collllection with the history of salvatioll 2. The feast of Weeks 3. The feast of Tents (a) The names of thefeast: its illlportance (b) Its historical developlllellt (c) Its dates (d) The oright of theJeast 4. Was there a New Year/east? 5. Was there a feast �f the Enthronement of Yahweh? 1.
18. THE LATER FEASTS
The Day of Atonelllent (a) The ritual of expiatioll (b) The goat 'for AZlIzel' (c) When was the feast instituted? 2. The feast of tlte Hanukkah (a) The origin mtd history �ftlre/east (b) Tire rites: the HamlHalt alld the feast of Tents (c) Was there allY pagan irif/uellce in the or��ill or the rites oj the Hanukkah? 3. TheJeast of Purim (a) Its date and its rites (b) Purim and the Book of Esther (c) The origin of thefeast I.
490 492 493 495 495 496 498 500 5 02 504 507 507 5 07 5 08 5 09 5 IO 510 5 TJ
513 514 514 515 515
BIBLIOGRAPHY
519
GENERAL INDEX
553
INDEX OF PROPER NAMES
559
INDEX OF SEMITIC FORMS
5 68
INDEX OF BIBLICAL REFERENCES
57!
