YHWH’s theophany from the south
YHWH’s theophany from the south
Most modern scholars believe that Yahwism originated to the south of Judah amongst the Midianites, Kenites and Edomites. One reason for this is that YHWH is described as coming from the south in the oldest biblical poetry. Midian and Edom were located to the south of Judah.
Deuteronomy 33:2 And he said, YHWH came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir to them; he shone forth from Mount Paran, and he came with holy tens of thousands; from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
Judges 5:4 YHWH, when you went out of Seir, when you marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
Habakkuk 3:3 God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
There is also non biblical evidence for YHWH’s theophany from the south. Egyptian texts discovered by archaeologists at Soleb mention the Shasu of YHWH who are identified with nomads in the south of Canaan. A text from Kuntillet Ajrud mentions “YHWH of Teman”. The absence of YHWH from the pantheons of Ebla, Mari and Ugarit also support the southern origin of YHWH as they show that YHWH was not a member of a Canaanite pantheon before becoming the God of Israel.
Biblical associations between Israel, Midian and the Kenites
Another reason that scholars support the southern origin of YHWH is because in some of the earliest biblical texts, the Midianites are described as having close ties with and helping the Israelites in the Bible, especially the Exodus group. There was intermarriage between the two groups, Moses married Zipporah who was the daughter of Jethro the priest of Midian. The Midianites also helped guide the Israelites through the desert and Jethro, Moses’ father in law gave him advice on legal matters. These narratives are likely to have a historical basis, especially as later biblical texts portray the Midianites negatively. Why would later writers invent the story of Moses dwelling in Midian and marrying a non Israelite woman? I think this is unlikely and so do many scholars. The ties between Israel and Midian seem to be authentic.
Sources:
YHWH: The Original Arabic Meaning of the Name, Prof Israel Knohl
YHWH Origin of a desert God: Robert D Miller II
Conversations with a Bible Scholar, Frank Moore Cross, Hershel Shanks.
