The Hebrew Conception of the World PDF Download

Author: Luis I. J. Stadelmann
Publisher: Gregorian & Biblical Press
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
Among the ancient Near Eastern peoples, the Hebrews uniquely contributed to man's knowledge and understanding of the cosmos. Since their attitude towards the external world reveals the profound conviction that nature plays an integral role in the drama of religious history, the physical universe was hardly a neutral world between Yahweh and Israel. Through their awareness of Yahweh's dealings with his people and of cosmic realities the ancient Hebrews gradually came to discover the attributes of God. They realized, even in the world of nature around them, the broad outline of the plan to which their own destiny was to conform. Hence, the study of their world view is less an inquiry into an intangible cosmic concept than an analysis which discloses their insights into the realities of the physical universe. In order to appreciate the Hebrews' unique world view we shall investigate the creation narratives against the wider background of the ancient Near Eastern literature. We shall journey into all the levels of the universe: the heavens with their luminaries and the meteorological phenomena; the earth with its topographical features; the geophysical phenomena which challenge the very stability of the universe; the waters welling up as springs, or furrowing the earth's surface as rivers, or dotting it as seas, lakes and swamps; the division of the earth into four segments, known as the cardinal points, where the different countries are located; the relation of all these segments to the navel of the earth; finally, the underworld in which are located the subterranean ocean, the foundations of the mountains, and the realm of the dead.