Texts in Conversation
The shaking temple in Isaiah 6 echoes the earth trembling at Baal's voice in the Baal Cycle, using movement and sound to mark the overwhelming presence of a god.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
KTU 1.4 VII:31
Cuneiform Texts from Ugarit
Ancient Near East
He opens a window in the house A vent in the midst of the palace. Baal opens a gap in the clouds Baal releases his sacred voice. Baal pronounces the matter of his lips His sacred voice, the earth quakes The high places of the Earth tremble. […] Baal's enemies retreat to the woods The haters of Haddu to the mountain sides. And Mightiest Baal declares: O Foes of Haddu, why do you tremble? Why tremble, O Arms-bearers of the Warrior? Baal surveys the East; Indeed, his hand trembles With a cedar in his right hand. So Baal is seated in his house: Will either king or commoner Establish a dominion land? So I will send an emissary to Divine Mot A messenger to El's Beloved, the Hero That he may summon Mot with his voice Instruct the Beloved with his insides.
Isaiah 6:4
Hebrew Bible
3 They called out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!” 4 The sound of their voices shook the door frames, and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 I said, “Woe to me! I am destroyed, for my lips are contaminated by sin, and I live among people whose lips are contaminated by sin. My eyes have seen the king, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” 6 But then one of the seraphs flew toward me. In his hand was a hot coal he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Look, this coal has touched your lips. Your evil is removed; your sin is forgiven.” 8 I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” I answered, “Here I am, send me!”
Search:
Notes and References
“... By extension, deities’ sanctuaries and their dwellings on mountains partake of holiness. So Baal’s mountain, Mount Sapan, is called “holy” (KTU 1.3 III 30; 1.16 I 7) as well as “divine” (KTU 1.3 III 29). So, too, Yahweh’s dwelling-place is called the “holy mountain” (har qodesh; Psalm 48:2) and “the holy dwelling-place of the Most High” (qedosh mishkene ‘elyon; Psalm 46:5). Divine holiness, as experienced and expressed in cult, is associated with shaking, whether of places of theophany (KTU 1.4 VII; Psalm 114) or people who experience it (KTU 1.4 VII; Isaiah 6:4). ...”
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.
User Comments
,