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Made in the image of god: the creation of אדם: the commissioning of the king and the chaoskampf of YHWH

Crouch, C.L.

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Authors

C.L. Crouch



Abstract

This article suggests that Genesis 1 and Psalms 8, 18 and 89 reflect a mythological tradition which described the creation of the human king as YHWH’s counterpart in the divine battle against chaos. The residual royal features of the narrative of the creation of אדם in Genesis 1—the creation of the אדם in the image of god, to exercise dominion—appear in a context of a polemical revision of YHWH’s Chaoskampf and are suggestive of the older tradition’s inclusion of the king’s commissioning as YHWH’s representative and earthly counterpart in these activities. Psalm 8 similarly associates the creation of a royal figure with the exertion of authority and dominion over chaos, using the same image of god language as Genesis 1 to describe this figure and to articulate his special relationship with YHWH. Psalm 18 and especially Psalm 89 affirm the location of the king’s Chaoskampf commission in the midst of YHWH’s own Chaoskampf activities, with the latter’s use of parental language echoing the image of god language in Genesis 1.

Citation

Crouch, C. (2016). Made in the image of god: the creation of אדם: the commissioning of the king and the chaoskampf of YHWH. Journal of Ancient Near Eastern Religions, 16(1), https://doi.org/10.1163/15692124-12341277

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 16, 2014
Publication Date Jun 4, 2016
Deposit Date May 30, 2017
Publicly Available Date May 30, 2017
Journal Journal of Ancient Near Eastern Religions
Print ISSN 1569-2116
Electronic ISSN 1569-2124
Publisher Brill Academic Publishers
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 16
Issue 1
DOI https://doi.org/10.1163/15692124-12341277
Keywords Image of God; Genesis; Chaoskampf; Psalms; Kingship
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/796639
Publisher URL http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/15692124-12341277
Contract Date May 30, 2017

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