1. The origin of the heavenly ascent motif should be sought even earlier than Bunta supposed, namely in the context of the pre-exilic temple cult. 2. The pilgrims were required to go up to the temple at ordained festal times. 3. The pilgrimage culminated in a climb to the pinnacle of the holy mountain of God. Because the peak of the temple mount and temple structure represented heaven, the upward journey likely would have been imagined as a heavenly ascent. 4. The procession to the temple would have involved passing through gates and being confronted by guardians who required adherence to moral laws and answers to questions or passwords. 5. A key purpose for arriving at the temple was to experience the Divine Theophany, thus ―appearing before the Lord‖ or perhaps even ―seeing the face of the Lord.‖ 6. The king, who likely had led the procession up to the temple, was enthroned on or beside the Lord‘s own throne, was transformed or ―reborn‖ as a Son of God, and appeared before the people in glorious fashion as the representative of Yahweh. This is from a great lecture by David J. Larsen https://youtube/watch?v=I8KIjY9pGpU&index=48&list=PLC477EF7D278E2447
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 04:10:34 +0000
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