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 earliest 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”. It is also significant that YHWH is not mentioned in the Ugaritic texts which focus on the Canaanite pantheon. 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.
Who were the Midianites?
The Midianites were a semi nomadic proto-Arabian tribe who were shepherds and produced distinct decorated pottery known as Qurayyah painted ware, they were also experts in metallurgy and involved in the spice trade. The Midianites lived in an area known as Midian which roughly corresponds to what is now southern Jordan and north west Saudi Arabia.
Recent surveys of Midian have produced surprising discoveries of a developed civilisation between the 13th and 12th centuries. Finds include a fortified citadel, a walled village and irrigation works.
The introduction of Yahwism to Israel
The Midianites are described as having close ties with and helping the Israelites in the Bible. Though there is no evidence of an Exodus from Egypt as described in the Bible, these narratives connecting Israelites and Midianites are likely to have a historical basis, especially as later biblical texts portray the Midianites negatively. In earlier traditions, Moses marries Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro the priest of Midian. Aaron and the elders of Israel share a ritual meal with Jethro, who advises Moses regarding the Israelite judicial system (Exodus 18). The connection between Israel and Midian seems to be authentic, it is unlikely that later authors would invent a story where Moses married a non Israelite woman.
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.
