Approaching and Avoiding the Dead in Iron Age Israel: A Reexamination of the Textual and Archaeological Evidence

This article addresses the tension between approaching and avoiding the dead in ancient Israel, found both in the archaeological and biblical evidence. Its point of departure is a possible relationship between the prevalent tendency in the Iron Age southern Levant towards extramural burial (intermen...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Susnow, Matthew (Author) ; Feder, Yitzhaq 1977- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 2022
In: Die Welt des Orients
Year: 2022, Volume: 52, Issue: 1, Pages: 53-83
RelBib Classification:AG Religious life; material religion
HB Old Testament
HH Archaeology
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Description
Summary:This article addresses the tension between approaching and avoiding the dead in ancient Israel, found both in the archaeological and biblical evidence. Its point of departure is a possible relationship between the prevalent tendency in the Iron Age southern Levant towards extramural burial (interment outside settlement boundaries) and attitudes regarding death in the Hebrew Bible, especially the concept of death pollution. By pursuing a reexamination of the textual and archaeological data without foregone conclusions regarding the correlation of biblical attitudes with extramural burial, this investigation offers a more nuanced characterization of the various stages of burial and post-mortem treatment of the corpse.
ISSN:2196-9019
Contains:Enthalten in: Die Welt des Orients
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.13109/wdor.2022.52.1.53