The Origin and Character of God by Theodore J. Lewis

Author:Theodore J. Lewis [Lewis, Theodore J.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2020-07-02T16:00:00+00:00

One of the lines refers to the place where people make ascent to offer cult to the deity Baʿlu—namely, at his “holy place” (qdš bʿl).97 The description of worshippers making an ascent (nʿl) fits the topography of the Baʿlu Temple located on the Acropolis at the highest elevation of Tell Ras Shamra (Yon 2006: 106–110). Such language resonates with Psalm 24:3–4, which speaks of virtuous worshippers making an ascent to Yahweh’s holy place (yaʿăleh . . . mĕqôm qodšô).98 As Mark Smith (2001b: 93–94) articulates well, at Ugarit sacred spaces “are marked and demarcated for holiness.” “Deities’ sanctuaries . . . partake of holiness” due to the divine presence that “imparts holiness to those places.” It is not only biblical tradition that defines a once-profane place as holy due to divine residence (Exod 3:5; 19:10–25; Josh 5:15). The two other references to holiness (KTU 1.119.30′–31′) reveal, fittingly, how people vow to offer holy cult (nšqdš) to a powerful deity in response to divine aid. English translations of nšqdš can prove murky (e.g., “we shall sanctify/dedicate/consecrate”) with their lack of specificity. The Ugaritic verb nšqdš in the Š stem (/našaqdišu/ or /nušaqdišu/) is here doubly causative (with direct object and implied indirect object): “We will cause animals [here bulls and firstborn males] to be holy offerings by the process of presenting them to a deity [here Baʿlu].”

A similar situation occurs in several of Emar’s festivals that mention a variety of rituals occurring “on the day of sanctification” (ina ūmi qadduši) or elliptically “in the [day of] sanctification” (ina qadduši).99 The text dealing with the installation of the high priestess mentions two such rituals occurring during the first two days of the festival—and with bread and beer as ritual substances! Daniel Fleming (1992a:10–11, 49, 51) translates the relevant passages as follows:

During the shaving sanctification (ina qadduši ša gallubi), they will sanctify (uqaddašū) all the gods of Emar with bread (and) beer. (Emar 369.6)

On the day of the sanctification of the installation (ina qadduši ša malluki), they will sanc[tify] ([uqa]ddašū) all the gods of Emar [with bread (and) beer]. (Emar 369.22)

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