1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910454519003321

Autore

Wood Alice

Titolo

Of wings and wheels [[electronic resource] ] : a synthetic study of the biblical cherubim / / Alice Wood

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Berlin ; ; New York, : Walter de Gruyter, c2008

ISBN

1-283-39726-9

9786613397263

3-11-021121-1

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (268 p.)

Collana

Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, , 0934-2575 ; ; Bd. 385

Disciplina

235/.3

Soggetti

Angels - Biblical teaching

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Originally presented as author's thesis (Ph. D.--University of Edinburgh).

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Nota di contenuto

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- Part I. The Biblical Texts -- Part II. The Root k-r-b and Comparative Semitic Material -- Part III. The Archaeological Evidence -- Backmatter

Sommario/riassunto

This study examines the physical form and cultic function of the biblical cherubim. Previous studies of the cherubim have placed too great an emphasis on archaeological and etymological data. This monograph presents a new synthetic study, which prioritises the evidence supplied by the biblical texts. Biblical exegesis, using literary and historical-critical methods, forms the large part of the investigation (Part I). The findings arising from the exegetical discussion provide the basis upon which comparison with etymological and archaeological data is made (Parts II and III).The results suggest that traditions envisaging the cherubim as tutelary winged quadrupeds, with one head and one set of wings, were supplanted by traditions that conceived of them as more enigmatic, obeisant beings. In the portrayal of the cherubim in Ezekiel and Chronicles, we can detect signs of a conceptual shift that prefigures the description of the cherubim in post-biblical texts, such as The Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice and the Enochic texts.