Scent in Hebrew Worship

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Vanston Irwin Archobold Hooker

Abstract

The article presents an exegetic and theological approach to the issue of scent and its use in the Hebrew cult, such as it is described in the Book of Genesis. It focuses on Noah's offering to YHWH after the Flood (Gen. 8:15 - 9:7), paying further attention to verse 21 of chapter eight, which is considered by some cultural anthropologists as the decisive evidence that YHWH and the gods of the Ancient Near East had the very same nature. The uses of scent in Hebrew worship are compared and contrasted to current practices of the studied biblical writing. It also emphasizes the peculiarity of Hebrew thought, thus questioning statements made by Cultural Anthropology in which it is claimed that the use of scents in the rituals of Hebrew worship has the same theological origin than that of other religions of that time.

Keywords:
Biblical Exegesis Hebrew Cult Uses of Scents Gen. 8:15 - 9:7

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Article Details

Author Biography

Vanston Irwin Archobold Hooker, Corporación Universitaria Adventista

Doctor en Teología Bíblica del Seminario Adventista Latinoamericano de Teología, Entre Ríos, Argentina. Magíster en Divinidades de Andrews University, en Berrien Springs, Michigan. Licenciado en teología de Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Jamaica. Actualmente es decano de la Facultad de Teología de la Corporación Universitaria Adventista, Medellín, Colombia. Ha sido pastor de la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día, profesor de estudios bíblicos en la Corporación Universitaria Adventista. El presente trabajo es el resultado de una investigación en el área de la Teología Bíblica, más específicamente en el libro de Génesis. Es el resumen de los dos primeros capítulos de la tesis doctoral titulada "Hacia una Teología de la Expresión 'aroma agradable' en el Culto hebreo"