Israelites in Biblical Dan Worshipped Idols – and Yahweh Too, Archaeologists Discover

IsraelitesinBiblicalDan WorshippedIdols–and YahwehToo,Archaeologists

FindsinthenorthernbiblicalcityofDansuggestthatevenifKingJeroboampushedworshipof goldencalvesandgoatdemonstospiteJerusalem,therewasabigYHWHtemple

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TheTenTribeslivingintheKingdomofIsraelduringthe8th centuryBCE practicedamixedreligion,butcontrarytothe conventionalwisdomamongbiblicalscholars,theirmaindeitywas Yahwehafterall,nottheCanaanitegodElandhisenvoys,golden calvesandgoat-shapeddemons

NewexcavationsheadedbyDr DavidIlanandDr YifatThareaniof theNelsonGlueckSchoolofBiblicalArchaeologyattheHebrew UnionCollegeinJerusalemdiscoveredthatDanalsohoused ArameansandPhoeniciansaswellasIsraelites Butthegigantic sanctuary,originallyfoundoverfourdecadesago,hasthe hallmarksofYahwisticpractice,notpaganritual

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"DanwasruledbyAramDamascuscirca830-770BCE Weknow thisfromboththeBibleandfromtheTelDaninscription,"says Ilan "TheAramaeanspracticedtheircultatDantoo Thequestion iswhetherIsraeliteworshipwascarriedoutconcurrentlyduring thistime Westillaren’tsurebutthisisoneofourresearch questions"

Mainlybasedonthebiblicalnarrative,scholarshadthoughtthat YahwehbecamethemaingodinIsraelonlyafterthatkingdom's obliterationbytheAssyriansin720BCE Butnewanalysisof epigraphic,archaeologicalandtextualevidenceinTelDan,akey centerofworshipinthenorthernkingdom,stronglyindicatesthat

thepeoplewereworshippingYahwehinanorganizedmanneras earlyasthe9thcenturyBCE

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HugeifTrue:TheArchaeologicalCaseforGoliath

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Atthetime,some2,700yearsago,thelandwassplitbetweenthe KingdomofIsraelinthenorthandtheKingdomofJudahinthe south,whichwererivals,occasionallybitterones Israel'scapital wasSamariabutitsreligiouscenterswereBethelandDan,while Judah'scapitalandreligiouscenterwasJerusalem WhilethepriestsinIsraelandJudahmayhavedevotedthemselves tothe"onegod,"evidenceofthepeople'sunrepententpolytheism isrife

"Soheputoutofbusinesstheforeign-godpriests,whomthekings ofJudahhadappointedtomakesacricialsmokeonthehighplaces inthecitiesofJudahandthesurroundingsofJerusalem,aswellas thosemakingsacricialsmoketoBaal,tothesun,tothemoon,to theconstellationsofthezodiac,andtoallthearmyoftheheavens"

-2Kings23:5

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However,accordingtothebiblicalstory,inthenorth,rivalry betweenthetwokingdomsledtoasharpdeviationfromthepath towardmonotheism

CompetingwithJerusalem

ItseemsthatJeroboam,therstkingofIsraelfromaround922 BCE to901BCE (thedatesarearguable)hadabeefwith

Atheoreticalmapoftheregionaround830BCE.Moabisshowninpurpleonthismap,betweentheArnonandZeredrivers.Credit:OldtidensIsrael&Judea Richardprins

Rehoboam,sonofSolomonandkingofJudah.

ThepriestsandLevitessidedwithRehoboam;fearfulthathis peoplewouldtoo,Jeroboamdeliberatelydrovethemtoidolworship intheKingdomofIsrael'smaincities,BethelandDan

OnJeroboam'spredilectionforpaganism("thegoldencalvesthat Jeroboammadetobeyourgods"–Chronicles138),theBiblesays:

"TheLevitesevenabandonedtheirpasturelandsandpropertyand cametoJudahandJerusalem,becauseJeroboamandhissonshad rejectedthemaspriestsoftheLordwhenheappointedhisown priestsforthehighplacesandforthegoatandcalfidolshehad made"2Chronicles14-15

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OnwhyJeroboamwouldpushidolatry,theBiblesays:

"Ifthispeoplecontinuestogouptooersacricesatthehouseof YahwehinJerusalem,theheartofthispeoplewillalsoreturnto theirlord,KingRehoboamofJudah…thekingmadetwogolden calvesandsaidtothepeople:Itistoomuchforyoutogoupto JerusalemHereisyourGod,OIsrael,whobroughtyouupoutofthe landofEgypt"–Kings12

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God'ssevereviewofJeroboam'sfaithlessnessisdescribedinthe BookofKings13:1-5whichevocativelydescribeshispunishment:a witheredhand

Mainlybasedonallthis,somemodernscholarshavebeen assumingthatakeydistinctionbetweenIsraelandJudahlayin fundamentalbeliefs:thatthepriestsandpeopleofthenorth,Israel, worshippedElandpaganidolswhiletheJudahitekingdomwas faithfultoYahweh.

It'sstartingtolooklikethebiblicalaccountwasheavilybiased

Artist'sreconstructionofthetempleatDan:ItlooksalotlikewhatSolomon'sTempleinJerusalemisbelievedtolooklikeCredit:JonathanGreer

Firstofall,Chroniclesapparentlydatestothe4th–2thcentury BCE,soitwaswrittenhundredsofyearsaftertheevents described Also,itwouldhavebeenwrittenbyscribesinJerusalem, thecapitalofJudah.Theethicsofwritinghistoryaccuratelydidnot existthen,andtheymayhavehadaninterestintrashingtheir long-deadbrethrenofIsrael True,thewriteracknowledges Nowthenewanalysisoftheevidenceexcavatedunderthelate AvrahamBiranatTelDanindicatesthatinfact,bothkingdoms worshippedYahweh,aswellaspaganidols

Immadiyawwashere

ItisthepreponderanceofevidencethatsuggestsYahwisticworship inDan,thearchaeologistsexplain

SuggestivendsincludesealimpressionswithYahwisticnames, templearchitecture,andartifactstypicalofYahwistictemple rituals Theyalsofoundmassiveevidenceofanimalsacriceatthe TelDantemple,ofspeciesassociatedwithYahwisticworshipatthe FirstTempleinJerusalem

“ThesignicanceofwhatwehaveintheTelDantempleisprobably greaterthanmostpeoplerealize,”saysJonathanGreer,associate professorofOldTestamentatGrandRapidsTheologicalSeminary andTelDanstamemberwhohasrecentlyreevaluatedsomeofthe evidence

Therstcluetothenorthernkingdom'sbentliesinthe inhabitant’sverynames

Yahwisticnameswerespelleddierentlybygeography,dueto dierencesinthedialectsofnorthandsouth.Inthesouth,the Yahwisticelementwasspelled“yahu”(yod-heh-vav),whereasin thenorth,itwasspelled“yaw”(yod-vav)duetothecontractionof thediphthong bothareshortenedformsofYHWH

Sealimpressionwithnamesthatincludetheelementyaw[yod-vav –ashortenedformofYHWH]invokingthenameoftheirprotective deityaboundatDan Forexample,stampedsealsdatingtothe9th and8thcenturyBCE,carryingthenamesImmidayawand Zechariyawhavebeenfound

IftheprimarytutelarydeitytheywereworshippingwasEl,the personalnamewouldhaveincludedtheelementEl,andbeen Immanue-elandnotImmida-yaw(meaning"YHWHiswithme")

OfthetwosealimpressionswiththenameImmadiyaw,onewason thehandleofajarinastructureabout15metersnorthofthealtar room Immadiyawmayhavebeenanociatingfunctionaryatthe sanctuary,thearchaeologistssuggest

ThespellingImmadiyawistypicalofthenorth;thissamename spelledthesouthernway(Immadiyahu)wasfoundonanostracon fromHorvatUzaintheNegev,Greersays,addingthatitwasalmost certainlyacompletelydierentman

ImmadiyawparallelsasimilarnamewithanEltheophoric, Immanu-el(Emmanuel),“Godiswithus,”Greeralsoadds

Anotherjarfoundintheroyalstoreroomswasstampedwiththe nameZechariyaw(meaning"Yahwehremembers") Somewonder ifthismightbeKingZechariahof2Kings14:29

ThethirdpotentialYahwisticnamewasonasherd,inan8th centuryBCE context,withaninscriptionthatread“[belongingto] Amoz ”butthesherdbreaksrightafterthez Thenamecouldhave been“Amaziah,”anotherYahwisticname(Amozisshortfor Amaziah,justasBenisshortforBenjamin)

RivaltempleinDan

ThecityofDangoesbackatleast6,000years Inthebiblicalperiod, DanapparentlyposedcompetitiontoJerusalemasacenterfor worship

ThemaindiscoveriesatTelDan,alsoknownasTelQadi,dateback to1966,whenBiranfoundthesanctuaryruins Hisexcavations unearthedalargeplatform,smallaltarsthatwereat-toppedand

HeraldicsymbolofDanortherulerofDaninthe

8thcenturyBCE.

Credit:NelsonGlueck SchoolofBiblicalArchaeology

HeraldicsymbolofDanortherulerofDaninthe

8thcenturyBCE.

Credit:NelsonGlueck SchoolofBiblicalArchaeology

AerialviewofTellDan. Credit:NelsonGlueck/SchoolofBiblicalArchaeology

Replicaoftheshovelsusedtoremoveashesfrom thealtar

Credit:NelsonGlueckSchoolofBiblicalArchaeolog

four-horned,seven-spoutedoillamps,perforatedincensecups, andcultstands

Untiltherecentdiscoveries,thethinkinghadbeenthatthe sanctuaryinDanwasusedbyidol-worshippers,becausethe DanitesunderJeroboamweresupposedtobepagan Butforone thing,thearchitectureofthesacredprecinctisinkeepingwith biblicaldescriptionsofSolomon’sTemple,includingthe proportionsoftheprecinctandconstructiontechniques

Thearchaeologistsfoundamassivealtarbase,ahuge475meters square,withoneofthealtar'sfourhorns Theyestimatethatthe altaritselfstood3metershigh(thealtarinSolomon'sTempleis saidtohavebeen45metershigh)

Inviewofthealtar'sheight,somemeansofapproachwasessential InfactBiranfoundtwointactstaircases,onefacingtheright-hand sideoftheprecinctandtheothertheentrance(thoughthedatingis stillunderinvestigation)

ThepositionofthestaircasesorrampscorrespondswiththeBible's directivestopriestswhenmakingburntoeringsatthealtar After slaughteringtheanimal,theywouldapproachthealtarfromthe righttoarrangeandburnthecarcass(Leviticus1:5,11;4:4;15:24) Thentheywoulddescendtowardtheentrancetodeposittheashes (Leviticus1:16;6:3)

Ifanything,itseemsthatthepositionofapproachesinthe Jerusalemtempledeviatedfromthebiblicaldictate Theapproach totheJerusalemaltarwasfromtheleft,assomescholars reconstructfromlaterexamples

Possiblythetraditionofapproachingthealtarfromtherightwas actuallyanorthernYahwistictraditionthatendedupintheBible, thoughmostpeopleassumetheTempletraditionswerecreatedby southernYahwists,centeredinJerusalem

Thealtarkit

AnotherdiscoverythatshrieksofYahwisticworshipinDan,as describedintheBible,wasthediscoveryofan"altarkit"inoneof therooms

ExcavatorsunderBiranuncoveredabronzebowl,apairofidentical shovels,along-handledshovellikethosethatheldincense,a sunkenpotlledwithburnedanimalremains,andalongiron handlethatmayhavecomefromafork

"Whatisremarkableisthattheseveelements abowl,pairof shovels,incensepan,ashpot,andfork arelisted,oftenasa

AerialoftempleprecinctatTelDanshowingsidechambers,templeplatform,andcentralaltarlocationsCredit:NelsonGlueck/SchoolofBiblicalArchaeology

group,indescriptionsofsacricialparaphernaliaintheBiblesuch asinExodus27:3 Wejustdon'tgetthissortofthinginarchaeology toooften(ifever!),wherewereadalistofitemsintheBiblethat shouldbeinan'altarkit,'thendigthemuprightnexttoeachother besideanaltarlikethis,"saysGreer

"Buildanaltarofacaciawood Makeahornateachofthefour corners,sothatthehornsandthealtarareofonepiece,andoverlay thealtarwithbronzeMakeallitsutensilsofbronze itspotsto removetheashes,anditsshovels,sprinklingbowls,meatforksand repans"-Exodus27:1-3

Credit:NelsonGlueck/SchoolofBiblicalArchaeology

Thetempleutensils.Thecopperequipmentwasmadeintheformofcansandshovelsfortheashes,forksforhandlingtheflesh,andfireholders.

“ArchaeologicalndsinthenorthernbiblicalcityofDanlooklike theycamestraightouttheBible'sritualchecklist”,saysIlan Ifthearchaeologistsarerightaboutwhatitis,thebowlis extraordinary-theonlyexampleeverfoundofa“bloodbowl” (mizraq)inexcavation

Byextensionthebowlispotentiallytheearliestevidencefor specializedritualsinvolvingbloodinYahwisticworship The sanctityofthebloodwasheavilyemphasizedinancientIsrael,and animalsacrices,particularlythoseoeredontheDayof Atonement,weretypicallyinatonementforsin Thepriestswould pourthebloodofsacricedanimalsatthebaseofthealtaranddab itonthealtarhorns(Leviticus9:9) ThehighpriestinIsraelwould alsotakeatokenportionofthebloodintotheMostHolyofthe earthlysanctuary(Leviticus16:14)

Tell-taletoebonesandturtledoves

Anotherdiscoverywasthousandsuponthousandsofanimalbones, foundinthetempleprecinct Manywereinconcentrateddeposits, allowingthearchaeologiststocomparetheareaofdepositsaswell asthetypeofanimalremains

Theyfoundastrikingdierencebetweenthebonedepositsinthe westernchamber,wherethealtarkitwasfound,andtheroom wherethepriestsociated

Credit:NelsonGlueck SchoolofBiblicalArchaeology

Inthepriests'quarters,right-sidedportions: Meat-bearingelementsfromrighthindlimbsand forelimbsofsheepandgoatsoutnumberedthose fromtheleftsideofanimals.

Credit:NelsonGlueck/SchoolofBiblicalArchaeology

“Myanalysisofaseriesofconcentratedanimalbonedeposits revealedseveralpatternsofnon-randomdistribution,"explains Greer "Thestrongestwasthat,lookingatthebonesfrommeatbearingportionsofhindlimbsandforelimbsfromsheepandgoats, Inoticedthattherewerefarmoreright-sidedportionsinthe westernchambers,anareaassociatedwithpriests

"Thiscalledtomindthebiblicalprescriptionsforprieststoreceive right-sidedportionsastheirpriestlyduefromcertainsacrices

Metalbowlforcatchingthebloodofthesacrificial animal.

suchasinLeviticus7:32-33"

Israelites'oeringstoYahwehincludedbulls,rams,malegoats, turtledoves,andyoungpigeons(Leviticus1:3,5,10,14),Theoerer laidhishandontheanimal'shead(Leviticus1:4) Theanimalwas thenslaughteredandtheblood,representinglife,wassprinkled upontheburntoeringaltar(Leviticus1:511) Thecarcasswould thenbeskinnedandcutupintoitsparts,itsintestinesandshanks wouldbewashed,andtheheadandotherbodypartswereallplaced onthealtar(theociatingpriestsreceivedportions)

Furthermore,88%ofthetoebones(threesmallbonesthatextend intothehoofsheeporgoats)thatthearchaeologistsfoundwerein thewesternchamber,whichcouldbebecauseofthepaymentof skinsfromtheburntoeringtotheociatingpriests Hooves wouldhavebeenleftattachedtothehides

Paganatheart

Evidenceof"non-orthodox"religiousperspectivescanbefoundall overancientIsraelandJudah,especiallypertainingtothe incorporationofthevenerationofAsherah(or“theasherah”),a Canaanitegoddessoffertility

Thebibleisscathing

2Kings23:5,8mentions"highplacesinthe citiesofJudahandthesurroundingsofJerusalem fromGeba [northernborder]asfarasBeer-sheba[southernborder]"

Atthesehighplaces,theIsraelitesmade"sacricialsmoketoBaal, tothesunandtothemoonandtotheconstellationsofthezodiac andtoallthearmyoftheheavens"Theyhadhousesfor"male templeprostitutes inthehouseofYahweh"andoeredtheir children"throughtheretoMolech." 2Kings23:4-10

ButatDan,thesehighplaceswerelikelydedicatedtoYahweh.

ArchaeologistshavefoundhundredsofgurinesinJerusalemand Judah,mainlyintheruinsofprivatehomes Mostweredepictions ofanudefemalewithexaggeratedbreasts Scholarsidentifythese gurineswiththefertilitygoddessesAshtorethandAsherah, talismanstohelpconceptionandchildbirth.InTelDan,aso-called "JudahitePillarFigurine"wasfoundnexttothemainplatform

Onecansympathizewiththeangrydesperationoftheembattled prophets,whoclearlyfelttheir"orthodox"positionwasaminority opinion

ButcumulativeevidenceindicatesthatwhetherornotJeroboam discouragedYahwehworshipwhiledeifyinggoldenbovinesand demongoats,inDan,atleastsomepeoplealsoworshippedYahweh.

AnimalbonesfoundatTelDaninthecontextofthetemple,includingthetoebonesCredit:NelsonGlueck/SchoolofBibli

ThesealimpressionswithYahwisticnames,thearchitecture,the artifacts,andthebonesarguethecase Addthebiblicaldescriptions ofTelDanasanimportantpilgrimagesiterivalingJerusalem,and theprophets,regardingwhomYahwisticworshipisassumed "ItmaysuggestamorerobustandcomprehensiveYahwisminthe northernkingdom,'fromDantoBethel,'ifnotinthewholeof ancientIsrael,'fromDantoBeersheva' Weareusedtothinkingof thekingdomsascompletelyseparateandwritingthenorthoasa kingdomofidolworshipersduetoacursoryreadofthebiblical accounts,"Greersays

"Itisashamethatmosttouristgroupsheadtothesacredprecinct atDantoillustratetheidolatryofJeroboam’sgoldencalfrather thanasourbestparalleltotheFirstTemple,withevidencefrom animalbones,architecture,epigraphy,andartifactstoboot,"he adds

Infact,thendsatDancorrelatesostronglytobiblicaltexts,even moreso–possibly–thanthendsinJerusalem,thatathoughtis begged,Greersays PerhapsitwastheIsraelitesofDaninthenorth, nottheJudahitesinJerusalem,whowerethesourceofsomeJudaic traditions