Israel's beneficent dead : the origin and character of Israelite ancestor cults and necromancy
This investigation aims to ascertain whether or not the Israelites believed in the supernatural beneficent power of the dead. First, a lexicon of selected mortuary practices and beliefs is outlined. In the Israelite context, those rites most likely to reflect this belief are necromancy and those which fall within the purview of the ancestor cult intended to express veneration or worship of the ancestors (ch. 1). Secondly, an evaluation of the relevant texts from Syria-Palestine of the third to first millennia B.C.E. demonstrates that a longstanding West Semitic or Canaanite origin for Israel's belief in the supernatural beneficent power of the dead cannot be established on the basis of these data (chs. 2 and 3). Thirdly, an examination of the Hebrew Bible demonstrates that while a concern to care for or commemorate the dead might be inferred, neither an ancestor cult nor ancestor veneration or worship in particular can be established on the basis of the available literary (or material) evidence. Moreover, while necromancy is occasionally attested, the relevant passages which polemicize against Israel's embrace of this practice originate either in the last days of the Judahite monarchy or, more likely, during
Schmidt, Brian B.
Ancestor worship ; History ; Cults ; Dead ; Religious aspects ; Jews ; Death ; Judaism ; Jewish magic ; Palestine
Israel's beneficent dead : the origin and character of Israelite ancestor cults and necromancy. This investigation aims to ascertain whether or not the Israelites believed in the supernatural beneficent power of the dead. First, a lexicon of selected mortuary practices and beliefs is outlined. In the Israelite context, those rites most likely to reflect this belief are necromancy and those which fall within the purview of the ancestor cult intended to express veneration or worship of the ancestors (ch. 1). Secondly, an evaluation of the relevant texts from Syria-Palestine of the third to first millennia B.C.E. demonstrates that a longstanding West Semitic or Canaanite origin for Israel's belief in the supernatural beneficent power of the dead cannot be established on the basis of these data (chs. 2 and 3). Thirdly, an examination of the Hebrew Bible demonstrates that while a concern to care for or commemorate the dead might be inferred, neither an ancestor cult nor ancestor veneration or worship in particular can be established on the basis of the available literary (or material) evidence. Moreover, while necromancy is occasionally attested, the relevant passages which polemicize against Israel's embrace of this practice originate either in the last days of the Judahite monarchy or, more likely, during
israel beneficent dead origin character israelite ancestor cult investigation aim_ascertain whether israelites believe supernatural beneficent power dead first lexicon select mortuary_practice belief outline israelite context rites likely reflect belief fall_within purview ancestor cult intend express veneration worship ancestor secondly evaluation relevant texts syria_palestine bce demonstrate longstanding west semitic canaanite origin israel belief supernatural beneficent power dead establish_basis data chs thirdly examination hebrew_bible demonstrate concern care commemorate dead might infer neither ancestor cult ancestor veneration worship particular establish_basis available literary material_evidence moreover occasionally attest relevant passage israel embrace practice originate either monarchy likely