5 - YHWH and His Theomorphic Body

Summary

Chapter five inspects ancient Israelite conceptions of human nature. I argue that YHWH enjoyed the same fluid constitution of other near eastern deities. As such, he could install himself within multiple cult objects on earth simultaneously, whilst always retaining his individual identity. While Israelites were largely aniconic, they did recognise one 'image' as a legitimate theomorphic cult object. That was the human self. Israelites believed that God created the body to resemble him physically. Upon breathing his essence into the human-image, God not only brought it to life but infused it with his own presence. He installed himself within it as he did in other cult objects like'houses of God' and asherahs. According to the Israelites, the self was literally a composite of earth and deity, a commixture of nondivine and divine. YHWH created the cosmos as his temple residence. Inside this temple, he installed a cult statue to be his physical body. Upon installing himself within the human statue, YHWH both deified it and commissioned it as his temple attendant. In this physical image, he therefore manifested himself in his temple and expanded his rule throughout creation.