Yahweh and the Sun: Biblical and Archaeological Evidence for Sun Worship in Ancient Israel

by J. Glen Taylor

Publisher:

Sheffield Academic Press

, 1993

Overview

This challenging and provocative book argues that there was in ancient Israel a considerable degree of overlap between the worship of the sun and of Yahweh—even that Yahweh was worshipped as the sun in some contexts. As an object created not by humankind but by God himself, the sun as an object of veneration lay outside the bounds of the second commandment and was considered by many to be an appropriate “icon” of Yahweh of Hosts. Through its investigation of “solar Yahwism,” this book offers fresh insight into several passages and archaeological data regarding the orientations of Yawistic temples, the lmlk jar handles, horse figurines, and the Taanach cult stand. The book argues that the struggle between Yahweh and other deities in ancient Israel took place within the context of the development of Yahwism itself.

In the Logos edition, all Scripture references in Yahweh and the Sun link to the original language texts and the Bibles in your library. By employing Logos’ advanced search features, you can find the exact topics or passages you’re looking for. Whether you are encountering the cultural context of the Bible for the first time, or you’re working on advanced archaeological, historical, or textual research, the Logos edition is right for you.

Key Features

• Preface by the author
• Variety of illustrations
• Bibliographical references and indexes

Product Details

• Title: Yahweh and the Sun: Biblical and Archaeological Evidence for Sun Worship in Ancient Israel
• Author: J. Glen Taylor
• Publisher: Sheffield
• Publication Date: 1993
• Pages: 308

About J. Glen Taylor

Glen comes from Calgary where he acquired an early mentoring in preaching and a passion for a career in Old Testament studies. He is Wycliff’s Associate Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Proclamation, as well as being cross-appointed to the Centre for the Study of Religion and in the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Toronto. His research and teaching interests include ancient northwest Semitic languages (especially Hebrew and Ugaritic), Genesis, Psalms and Hosea, the worship of pagan gods in ancient Israel, and homosexuality and same-gender unions. Currently his research interests focus on biblical inspiration and the Christology of the Hebrew Psalter. Articles by Glen have appeared in The Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Ugarit-Forschungen, and The Biblical Archaeologist. He was formerly a Barton Fellow at the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem. He serves as an Anglican priest in a country parish north of the Muskokas in the summer. He is married to Marion Taylor, Wycliff’s other Old Testament professor. They have three teenaged children.