Delivered by Ingenta Tel Aviv University 132.66.11.212 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:47:28 special significance are alsodiscussedandinterpreted. a model shrine, clay figurines, amulets, seals and a few inscriptions. Two buildings of ISSN 2192-2276 HeBAI 4(2015),25–55 1 Valley. state inSyria). However, no biblical source refers toḥov Re Beth-Shean inthe 28–30, a city Plain in the of Acco; 2 Sam name 10:6,8,the of an Aramean and “street”) is mentioned as atoponym biblical inseveral sources (Josh 19: Rḥb is mentioned The after name Beth-Shean. ḥov Re (Hebrew for “piazza” Ironthe Age is inShoshenq I’s list of conquered cities 920b.c.e. (ca. ), where Canaanite and sources. Egyptian The only written record of name the from Shean. The tell Ridge and Gilboa the Jordan the between River, south 5km of Tel Beth- 197.207) is a 10 ha mound, located Valley of middle in the Beth-Shean the Re Tel The Excavation Site andIts Re The of focus present the article is of on religious aspects practices at Tel Introduction 10 raphy revealed intheexcavations at Telḥov Re intheJordan Valley anddated to the presents evidenceThis relating article to religious andiconog practices, cultobjects Israel Northern in Religion regarding Iron Age IIA at Tel Reh the during Cult and Objects Practices Religious Amihai Mazar shed on Israel. religious innorthern period activity inthis

Copyright Mohr Siebeck th ḥov during Iron the Age IIA (10 Over the years, the Over it suggested has occasionally to been usḥob that Re (2Sam Aram Beth 10:6), or itsḥob termRe parallel (2 Sam 10:8),refers to our city. However, term Aram the –9 th ḥov (often Re spelled 1 centuries 219222715X14343676549142 b, is with identified Rḥb, b . c . e . altars,This evidence includesanopen-airsanctuary, pottery © 2015 Mohr Siebeck © 2015Mohr DOI 10.1628/219222715X14343676549142 ḥob . Tell e ; Arabic: Tell ov and their Implications Implications their ov and th –9 a city mentioned Late Bronze inseveral th centuries b.c.e.) and light the they ṣ-Ṣarem ; Israel map reference:

- Delivered by Ingenta Tel Aviv University 132.66.11.212 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:47:28 during Late the Bronze Age I(15 Assyrians(fig. in732b.c.e. 2 The Iron Age IIA, dated broadly to 10 the AnThe Outline Iron IIACity: Hebrew Bible (Josh 17:11–13;Judges 1:27). Valleys as plain; well inthe coastal as northern inthe it reflected is likewise continuity inother sites alongand observed can be Beth-Shean Jezreel the itwhen dominated lands south fertile the of Such of valley the Beth-Shean. enous population local and an independent regime throughout period, this assumed thatḥov Re continued an to be autonomous city an with both indig archaeologicalthe profile of city the since its foundation 3 a Israel,ern asubstantial and yielded they amount of architectural remains citythe area). are These largest the areas excavated of period this innorth period exposed and studied exposed at Telperiod ḥov. Re the 9 the tions eight defined LB–Iron Istrata sub-phases, with several and it may be Iron Age I,albeit with many changes and reconstructions. The excava o Copyright Mohr Siebeck 26 e 1997–2012excavations at Telḥov Re were directed by author the of present the e chronology has long asubject of of period been this controversy. In my view, nd artifacts. Correlationnd artifacts. strata of ineight local excavation areas suggests f the mound),f the as was an area of almost 1000m Over course ofOver eleven excavation 1997–2012,we seasons revealed between and sponsored by Mr. John Camp (U. article on of behalf Institute the of Archaeology of Hebrew the University of Jerusalem tional Chronology”). For latest the and views previous literature, I. see the Ironthe Age IIA should dated be to 980–830 b.c.e. ca. (i. Th Th Narrowing? Another Viewpoint,” Near Eastern Archaeology 74(2011):105–110. Archaeology E. d. D. University of Jerusalem and Israel Exploration Society, in preparation). A. ology 2013–2018; A. E. Tel Excavations at Tel Preliminary Report,”ḥov: Re IEJ49(1999):1–42;A. D, E,F, G)on lower the mound. For earlier A. summaries, see paper. Four excavation areas (A,B, H,J)were located on upper the mound and five (C, main area (Area C), was instrumental in revealing much of material the included in this suggestion unlikely inmy opinion. ḥob, Re Beth combines which other the names list inthe of David’s enemies, makes this

P S th , inThe New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land 5(ed. M Amihai Mazar tern; Jerusalem: Israel Exploration and Biblical Archaeology Society Society, 2008), iasetzky, Iron “The Age Chronology Debate: Is Gap the Narrowing?,” Near Eastern -century city (Stratum was IV) excavated (encompassing nearly 2 azar and N. (e 74(2011):50–54;A.

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M P azar, “Rehob,” Art. inThe Oxford Encyclopedia of Bible and Archae anitz-Cohen (ed.), Excavations at Tel Reḥov aster et al. , New York: Oxford University Pres

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% - - - - f - Delivered by Ingenta Tel Aviv University 132.66.11.212 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:47:28 the archaeological finds described in this paper inthis indicate archaeologicalthe described finds that Canaanite tra citythe and intermingled with old the population. With regard to religion, Israelitenew identity and ideology, and Israelite families may have in settled became part of part became Israelite the perhaps of part United entity – the Monarchy, 9 ern Kingdomern of Israel late inthe beginning 10 existencethe of hotly is which still debated – and of part North certainly the city’sthe main population throughout 10 the It appears that indigenous the population of Canaanite origin persisted as least until end the of Iron the Age by I,as evidenced material the culture. Bronze Age, and Canaanite the nature of its population was maintained at god,’ seer, and Elisha. healer to presence the person. This person may of aspecific have ‘man the been of mon at Iron IIA Telḥov. Re tian amulets Domestic and cult appears seals. to have com particularly been shrine,model clay libation figurines, vessels, ceremonial chalices, and Egyp iconography: altars pottery were (which common particularly city), inthe a component. inan ancestorused standing cult,inwhich stones constituted an important haps aclan living northeastern of inthe part city, the and may have been 9 55 Valley. few pig bones found at site, the probably from boars hunted Jordan inthe didnotnium, locals raise the pigs, but didnot by ban as them, evidenced a shrine. In terms of diet,like most Canaanite of second the millen societies ofuse shrine, amodel and perhaps adepiction of aCanaanite myth on that dess, of possible the depiction striding agod on seals on mountains, local the ditions prevailed: standing stones, representations of the Tel Re Tel Conclusions biblical termbamāh th Copyright Mohr Siebeck th

The large city at Telḥov Re was established as aCanaanite city Late inthe 4. The exceptional of case Building CP, inour which, opinion, was related 2. Cultic activity related apiary inthe to inArea industry C. 3. Avarietyof are cultobjects indicative of domestic religion and religious 1. Aunique inArea open-air E,perhaps sanctuary with identified the century, population local the presumably gradually accepted much of the centuries b.c.e.: resented “non-conformist,” “foreign” state practices,whereas cultic official the temples Schmitt, “Typology,” 221,rejects ḥov of evidence yielded four of types religious activity during 10 the

Religious Practices theIronAge during andCult IIAat Objects Tel Reh ’ 55 . This sanctuary could serve a cluster could serve of. This sanctuary families, per Holladay’s that view domestic the cultinIsrael rep th –9 th centuryb.c.e the . During th centuries b.c.e. it, when female god fertility . ov th 45 – ------Delivered by Ingenta Tel Aviv University 132.66.11.212 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:47:28 56 family, particular this his Yahwistic name given (whether to himat or birth shi at family was based ḥov Re is correct and ifJehu amember was of indeed names from Telḥov Re inscriptions is El.However, ifour claim that Nim the was accepted at Tel The onlyḥov Re period. theophoric inthis component on later authors. For example, amajor question is extent the to Yahwism which narrativeslical agenda relating theological of the often reflect to period this few written documentsvery have uncovered been The bib from period. this gious The latter beliefs. cannot known be without written sources; however worshipped or of into reli aspects deeper identitythe of gods/goddesses the Israel, ranging from domestic cultto public religious and official practices. cult places, and temples Southern in the Levant, and in Iron particularly Age depictions. artistic unique,the local is notable for relatively the large number of cult uncovered,objects and in ticularly strong Jezreel inthe Valley and central the Jordan Valley. Tel ḥov Re Re Tel from Megiddo, Telḥov, Re Pella, ʿAtarus; and Khirbet and shrine the from to earlier the Canaanite (such art as cult stands the from Taanach; altars the rich iconography, on Canaanite based traditions yet without direct parallels Iron IIA at cult objects sites these represent variations, local at with times Khirbet altars), Pella altars), (pottery Tell el-Far shrine, (model ʿah clay and figurines) Taanach figurines), (decorated ‘cult (decorated ‘cult stands’/altars, stand’/ ferent from other sites Northern inthe Kingdom, Megiddo inparticular reflect only physical the reflect of religion aspects and cannot provide insight into The cultplaces and uncovered cultobjects are of limited value, since they northern Israelnorthern 10 inthe Telabove, Re Copyright Mohr Siebeck 46

Various efforts have made to and classify been evaluate religious practices, With regard of uncovered, objects to types cultic the Telḥov Re is no dif given diversity the ineachsub-type. chapels. Schmitt suggests formal adetailed typology, Zwickel provides a somewhat different typology, adding open-air sanctuaries and small clear. Iwould suggest merging two categories these into one, allowing for variation. Whileties. first and the last categories are clearly second the and defined, third are less tuaries, town sanctuaries, neighborhood shrines, and domestic areas of religious activi evant to paper. and inthis time the place discussed what is legitimate and illegitimate in Israelite religion, a judgment that is of course irrel shown by Schmitt, Holladay’s on definition Deuteronomistic is the based judgment of Israel are of that types are common tradition and inlocal throughout Levant. the As represented Israelite actual the religion. Schmitt Schmitt. Holladay cult places the in Israel classified into four categories: national sanc referencesSee inn. Amihai Mazar ov). These local manifestationsḥov). local These of Canaanite iconography were par ʿAtarus inTransjordan with human figures). The (‘cult stand’/altar ḥov provides awindow into physical the of religion aspects in 13 above to earlier works by Holladay, Dever, Zwickel, and Zevit th –9 th centuries b.c.e.

Along with other the sites mentioned correctly observes that in correctly cult objects observes which, inmywhich, view, is unjustified, 56 ------

Delivered by Ingenta Tel Aviv University 132.66.11.212 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:47:28 Fig. 1:Topographical map of Telḥov Re and excavated areas. Copyright Mohr Siebeck Illustrations regionthis during 9 the adopted later in life) is only the for evidence acceptance the of Yahwism in Religious Practices theIronAge during andCult IIAat Objects Tel Reh th century b.c.e. . ov 47 Delivered by Ingenta Tel Aviv University 132.66.11.212 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:47:28 E sanctuary; 3–4)from Building CP.E sanctuary; Fig. 3:Four altars pottery from Tel 1)from 2)from Area Areaḥov; the the Re Capiary; Copyright Mohr Siebeck Religious Practices theIronAge during andCult IIAat Objects Tel Reh . ov 49 Delivered by Ingenta Tel Aviv University 132.66.11.212 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:47:28 desses?) inapertures.desses?) Fig. 4:Partly of façade preserved an altar(?) from Building CF, showing females (god Copyright Mohr Siebeck 50 Amihai Mazar - Delivered by Ingenta Tel Aviv University 132.66.11.212 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:47:28 Fig. 5:Pottery shrine model from Area C,Stratum IV. Copyright Mohr Siebeck Religious Practices theIronAge during andCult IIAat Objects Tel Reh . ov 51 Delivered by Ingenta Tel Aviv University 132.66.11.212 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:47:28 ure, Stratum 2and VI;2–4:drummers figurines; 4from Stratum IV; 5from Stratum VI. Fig. clay from 6:Selected figurines Strata VI–IVat Telḥov. Re 1:Areclining female fig Copyright Mohr Siebeck 52 Amihai Mazar - Delivered by Ingenta Tel Aviv University 132.66.11.212 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:47:28 bêche Shean;from No. Beth from find 5surface Telḥov. Re Nos. 4–5show figures the in tête ing striding agod on mountains? Nos. 1–2,4from Telḥov Re Area CStrata V–IV; No. Fig. impressions 7:Seal of Iron the IIA Copyright Mohr Siebeck composition. Religious Practices theIronAge during andCult IIAat Objects Tel Reh “Tel Re “Tel ḥov style” on jar handles, perhaps show . ov 53 3 -