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E-book
Author Way, Kenneth C

Title Donkeys in the biblical world : ceremony and symbol / Kenneth C. Way
Published Winona Lake, Ind. : Eisenbrauns, 2011

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Description 1 online resource (xvi, 272 pages) : illustrations
Series History, archaeology, and culture of the Levant ; 2
History, archaeology, and culture of the Levant ; 2.
Contents Introduction -- The donkey in ancient Near Eastern texts -- The donkey in ancient Near Eastern archaeology -- The donkey in biblical literature -- Synthesis
Summary In this volume, Kenneth Way explores the role of donkeys in the symbolism and ceremonies of the biblical world. His study stands alone in providing a comprehensive examination of donkeys in ancient Near Eastern texts, the archaeological record, and the Hebrew Bible. Way demonstrates that donkeys held a distinct status in the beliefs and rituals of the ancient Near East and especially Canaan-Israel.The focus on ceremony and symbol encompasses social and religious thoughts and practices that are reflected in ancient texts and material culture relating to the donkey. Ceremonial considerations include matters of sacrifice, treaty ratification, consumption, death, burial, "scapegoat" rituals, and foundation deposits; symbolic considerations include matters of characterization, association, function, behavior, and iconographic depiction. However, the distinction between ceremony and symbol is not strict. In many cases, these two categories are symbiotic. The need for this study on donkeys is very apparent in the disciplines that study the biblical world. There is not a single monograph or article that treats this subject comprehensively. Philologists have discussed the meaning of the Amorite phrase "to kill a jackass," and archaeologists have discussed the phenomenon of equid burials. But until now, neither philologists nor archaeologists have attempted to pull together all the ceremonial and symbolic data on donkeys from burials, ancient Near Eastern texts, and the Hebrew Bible. Way's study fills this void
Notes Based on the author's thesis (Ph. D.)--Hebrew Union College, 2006 under the title, The ceremonial and symbolic significance of donkeys in the Biblical world
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 208-259) and indexes
Notes Print version record
Subject Semites -- Religion.
Donkeys -- Religious aspects -- History
11.42 history of Old Testament times.
BODY, MIND & SPIRIT -- Spirituality -- Paganism & Neo-Paganism.
RELIGION -- Comparative Religion.
Donkeys -- Religious aspects
Semites -- Religion
Ezels.
Oude Testament.
SUBJECT Middle East -- Religious life and customs
Subject Middle East
Genre/Form History
Form Electronic book
ISBN 9781575066431
1575066432