Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2010 Yahweh’s Winged Form in the Psalms: Exploring Congruent Iconography and Texts LeMon, Joel M Abstract: The striking image of the winged Yahweh occurs in six psalms (e. g., Ps 17:8 “Hide me in the shadow of your wings”). Scholars have disagreed on the background, meaning, and significance of the image arguing that it: (1) likens the Israelite deity to a bird; (2) alludes to the winged sun disk; (3) draws from general Egyptian symbolism for protection; (4) evokes images of winged goddesses; or (5) refers to winged cherubim in the temple and/or on the ark of the covenant. These divergent proposals signal a need for clearer methods of interpreting biblical imagery in light of visual-artistic material from the ancient Near East. This volume refines iconographic methodologies by treating the image of the winged Yahweh as one among a constellation of literary images in each psalm. Since the portrayals of Yahweh in each psalm have distinct contours, one finds several congruencies in Syro-Palenstinian iconographic material. The congruent iconographic motifs for Yahweh’s winged form include (1) the winged sun disk (in multiple form and variations), (2) the Horus falcon, (3) winged suckling goddesses, and (4) winged deities in combat. No single image stands behind the portrayals of Yahweh. In fact, even within a single psalm, more than one iconographic trope can provide congruency with the literary imagery and inform the interpretation of the text. Thus, the winged Yahweh in the Psalms provides an example of a ‘multistable’ literary image, one which simultaneously evokes multiple iconographical motifs. Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-152246 Monograph Published Version Originally published at: LeMon, Joel M (2010). Yahweh’s Winged Form in the Psalms: Exploring Congruent Iconography and Texts. Fribourg, Switzerland / Göttingen, Germany: Academic Press / Vandenhoeck Ruprecht. Joel M . LeM on Yahweh's Winged Form in the Psalms ORBIS BIBLICUS ET ORIENTALIS Published on behalf of the BIBLE+ORIENT Foundation in co-operation with the Department of Biblical Studies, University of Fribourg (Switzerland), the Egyptological Institute, University of Basel, the Institute of Archaeology, Near Eastern Section, University of Berne, the Institute of Bibi ical Research, University of Lausanne, the Department of Religious Studies, University of Zurich, and the Swiss Society for Ancient Near Eastern Studies by Susanne Bickel, Othmar Keel, Thomas C. Römer, Bernd U. Schipper, Daniel Schwemer and Christoph Uehlinger About the author Joel M. LeMon was born in Richmond, Virginia on June 25, 1976. He studied at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia (1994- 1998) before earning the M.Div. degree from Princeton Theologi­ cal Seminary (2001) and a Ph.D. in the Hebrew Bible program at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia (2007). He is currently Assistant Professor of O ld Testament at the Candler School of Theology and lhe Graduate Division of Religion at Emory University. He is the co-editor (with Kent Harold Richards) of Method Malters: Essays on the Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Honor of David L. Petersen (Resources for Biblical Study, 56), Atlanta, Georgia: Society of Biblical Literature and Leiden: Brill, 2009). Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis 242 Joel M. LeMon Yahweh's Wi nged Form in the Psalms Exploring Congruent lconography and Texts Academic Press Fribourg Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Göttingen Publication subsidized by the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences Internetgeneral catalogue: Academic Press Fribourg: w,'V\v.paulusedition.ch Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen: www.v-r.de Camera-rcady text submitted by the author 0 2010 by Academic Press Fribourg, Fribourg Switzerland Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Göttingen ISBN: 978-3-7278-1670-3 (Academic Press Fribourg) ISBN: 978-3-525-54364-1 (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht) ISSN: 1015-1850 (Orb. biblicus orient.) Digitalisat erstellt durch Florina Tischhauser, Religionswissenschaftliches Seminar, Universität Zürich To my wife Rebekah Contents Abbreviations XIII Chapter 1. lntroduction 1 1. Research Problem l 2. lconograpbic Methodologies 7 3. Utilizing Iconographic Evidence from the Ancient Near East 22 4. Format of Study 25 Chapter 2. Typology ofWing Iconography in the Syro-Palestinian Art from the Late Bronze to the Persian Period 27 1. Wings on Birds 28 1.A. Griffon Vultures 28 l .B. Falcons 31 I .C. Doves 34 1.D. Ostriches 36 l.E. Other Birds 37 2. Wings on Numinous Beings 38 2.A. Hybrid Figures (Mischwesen) 39 2.A. l . Winged Sphinxes 39 2.A.2. Winged Uraei 42 2.A.3. Winged Beetles 44 2.A.4. Winged Demons and Genii 45 2.B. Winged Deities 50 2.B.2. Anthropomorphic Winged Disk 53 2.B.3. Winged Anthropomorphic Gods 54 2.B.4. Winged Anthropomorphic Goddesses 56 3. Conclusion 58 Chapter 3. The lconic Structure of Psalm 17 and Congruent Images in Ancient Near Eastem Iconography 60 l. Translation of Psalm 17 60 Excursus: Text-critical Discussion on Psalm 17: 14 62 2. Literary Analysis 67 2.A. Structural Outline 67 2.B. Rhetorical Movement 67 2.C. Form and Setting 68 2.D. The Image of the Psalmist 69 2.E. The Image of the Enemy/Enemies 71 2.F. Tbe Image ofYahweh 71 Vill Y AHWEH'S WINGED FORM IN THE PSALMS 2.G. The Iconic Structure of Psalm l 73 3. lconographic Congruencies to the Constellations oflmages in Psalm 17 73 3.A. Winged Birds 74 3.B. Winged Cherubim 83 3.C. Winged Disks and Winged Anthropomorphic Deities 95 4. Conclusion: The Image of the Winged Yahweh in Psalm 17 111 Chapter 4. The Iconic Structure of Psalm 36 and Congruent Images in Ancient Near Eastern lconography 11 3 l. Translation of Psalm 36 113 2. Literary Analysis 115 2.A. Structural Outline 1 15 2.B. R11etorical Movement 115 2.C. Form and Setting 116 2.D. The Image of the Psalmist 116 2.E. The Image of the Enemy/Enemies 116 2.F. The Image ofYahweh 117 2.G. The Iconic Structure of Psalm 36 119 3. lconographic Congruencies to the Constellations oflmages in Psalm 36 119 4. Conclusion: The Image ofthe Winged Yahweh in Psalm 36 126 Chapter 5. The Iconic Structure of Psalm 57 and Congruent Images in Ancient Near Eastern lconography 129 l. Translation of Psalm 57 129 2. Literary Analysis 130 2.A. Structural Outline 130 2.B. Rhetorical Movement 13 1 2.C. Form and Setting 132 2.0 . The Image of the Psalmist 133 2.E. The Image of the Enemy/Enemies 134 2.F. The Image ofGod 135 2.G. The Iconic Structure of Psalm 57 136 3. lconographic Congruencies to the Constellations oflmages in Psalm 57 136 4. Conclusion: The Image of the Winged Yahweh in Psalm 57 140 Chapter 6. The lconic Structure of Psalm 61 and Congruent Images in Ancient Near Eastem Iconography 141 1. Translation of Psalm 61 161 2. Literary Analysis 142 2.A. Structural Outline 142 2.B. Rhetorical Movement 142 CONTENTS IX 2.C. Fom1 and Setting 143 2.D. The Image of the Psalmist 146 2.E. The Image ofthe Enemy/Enemies 147 2.F. The Image of God 148 2.G. The lconic Structure of Psalm 61 150 3. Jconographic Congruencies to the Constellations oflmages in Psalm 61 150 3.A. The Horus Falcon 150 3.B. The Winged Sun Disk 151 4. Conclusion: The Image of the Winged God in PsaJm 61 153 Chapter 7. The Iconic Strncture of Psalm 63 and Congiuent Images in Ancient Near Eastern Iconography 155 1. Translation of Psalm 63 155 2. Literary Analysis 157 2.A. Structw-al Outline 157 2.B. Rhetorical Movement 157 2.C. Form and Setting 157 2.D. The Image of the Psalmist 159 2.E. The Image of the Enemy/Enemies 161 2.F. The Image ofYahweh 162 2.G. The Iconic Structure of Psalm 63 164 3. lconographic Congruencies to the Constellations of Images in Psalm 63 164 3.A. The Winged Sun Disk 164 3.B. The Winged Dea Nutrix 165 4. Conclusion: The Image of the Winged God in Psalm 63 167 Chapter 8. The lconic Structure of Psalm 91 and Congruent Images in Ancient Near Eastern Iconography 169 l. Translation of Psalm 91 169 2. Litera1y Analysis 172 2.A. Sh·uctural Outline J 72 2.B. Rhetorical Movement 172 2.C. Form and Setting 173 2.D. Images and Refugees 175 2.E. The Image ofthe Enemy/Enemies 177 2.F. The Image ofYahweh 180 2.G. The Iconic Structure of Psalm 91 182 3. Iconographic Congruencies to the Constellations oflmages inPsalm91 183 3.A. The Winged Sun Disk 183 3.B. The Winged Warrior in Battle 184 4. Conclusion: The Image ofthe Winged Yahweh in Psalm 91 185 X YAHWEH'S WINGED FORM IN THE PSALMS Chapter 9. Conclusions 187 Figures 195 Bibliography 211 Index 225 Preface This monograph is a revised version of my doctoral dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Graduate Division of Religion of Emory University (May 2007). The completion of this project has been made possible by a host of individuals. First, I must express my deep gratitude to my disserta­ tion committee at Emory University: David L. Petersen, Brent A. Strawn, and Gay Robins. Each modeled scholarly diligence and graciousness. Moreover, at every stage of the project, they provided critical reflection and support. I must also thank Carol A. Newsom, who engaged my work at var­ ious points, both while I was a graduate student and since. I consider my­ self profoundly fortunate to be able to call these individuals my senior col­ leagues at Emory University.