Remembering the lost ark: The ark narrative in its contexts
The ark endures not as physical artifact, but as cultural memory and verbal icon embedded in the textual icon of the Bible. This article examines the ark narrative (1 Sam. 4–6) in its various contexts, including its biblical and ancient Near Eastern ones, and posits icons as a profitable heuristic d...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2023
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| In: |
Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Year: 2023, Volume: 48, Issue: 2, Pages: 135-153 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Deuteronomistic history
/ Bible. Samuel 1. 4-6
/ Bible. Samuel 1. 7
/ Philistines
/ Ark of Noah
/ Dagon
/ Sanctuary
/ Collective memory
/ Icon (Motif)
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| IxTheo Classification: | BC Ancient Orient; religion HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
cultural memory
B Dagon B verbal icon B godnapping B cult statue B portable shrine B divine standard B textual icon B Icon B Ark B Deuteronomistic History B Philistines |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | The ark endures not as physical artifact, but as cultural memory and verbal icon embedded in the textual icon of the Bible. This article examines the ark narrative (1 Sam. 4–6) in its various contexts, including its biblical and ancient Near Eastern ones, and posits icons as a profitable heuristic device. I present the ways that the ark and its story respond to ancient Near Eastern tropes and suggest that the reason for the ark’s capture lies in the characters’ failure to communicate with and obey the deity. My primary contribution lies in reading the narrative alongside its sequel, 1 Samuel 7, which recontextualizes the story by displaying divine power without the ark and retrojecting a Deuteronomistic rationale for the Israelite loss. I also consider its (post-)exilic reception and place it alongside Priestly and Deuteronomic presentations of the ark, which differ in detail but share a common goal, especially when read as part of a single sacred document. |
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| ISSN: | 1476-6728 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/03090892231188741 |