Prophecy and Its Cultic Dimensions

edited by Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer and contributions by Marian Broida, Lester L. Grabbe, John W. Hilber, Alex P. Jassen, Anja Klein, Martti Nissinen, Jonathan Stokl and Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer

Book cover: Prophecy and Its Cultic Dimensions

Extent: 191 pages

Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht

Subjects: Religious Studies

Series: Journal of Ancient Judaism. Supplements

Series volume number: 31

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(January 2019)

ISBN: 9783525570869

6.06 x 9.09 inches

Price: $94.00

In stock

This collection of eight essays deals with a wide range of historical, literary, and methodological issues. First, what were the links between the cultic and the prophetic personnel? Did prophets have ritual/cultic functions in temples? Did prophetic actions and/or utterances play a role in the performance of the cult? What were the ritual aspects of divinations? Second, how do literary texts describe the interaction between prophecy and cult? Third, how can various theories (e.g. religious theory, performance theory) enable us to reach a better understanding of the interplay between divination and cultic ritual in ancient Israel and the wider ancient Near East? Marian Broida explores the ritual elements as described in the biblical accounts of intercession. Lester Grabbe revisits the important question of whether cultic prophecy existed in the Jerusalem temple in ancient Israel. Anja Klein maintains that while Psalms 81 and 95 may indirectly testify to a form of cultic prophecy, they do not themselves constitute cultic prophecy. Jonathan Stokl discusses the notion of ‘triggering’ prophecy and suggests that enquiring of Yhwh may in itself be understood as a kind of ritualised behaviour. John Hilber considers the performance of the rituals that accompanied prophetic affirmation of victory in the Egyptian cult. Martti Nissinen looks more broadly at the question whether prophets in the ancient world functioned as ritual performers. Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer investigates the priests’ mediating and predictive functions as depicted in the Deuteronomistic History. Alex Jassen argues that Jews in the Second Temple Period perceived the priests and the temple to be a new locus of prophetic activity.

  • Contributions by Marian Broida
  • Contributions by Lester L Grabbe
  • Contributions by John W Hilber
  • Contributions by Alex P. Jassen
  • Contributions by Anja Klein
  • Contributions by Martti Nissinen
  • Contributions by Jonathan Stokl
  • Contributions by Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer
  • Edited by Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer