The Transformation of Tĕhôm

Rosanna A. Lu, PhD (2018), University of California, Los Angeles, is Visiting Assistant Professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University.

List of Tables

Abbreviations



1 Introduction

 1 The Deep: Person, Place, or Thing?

 2 Ancient Near Eastern Deities and Dragons of the Deep

 3 The Problem of Conflict

 4 The Ugaritic Evidence

 5 Methodological Approach

 6 Towards Transformation



2 Deification

 1 Introduction

 2 Ancient Egypt

 3 Ancient Mesopotamia

 4 Ancient Canaan: Ugarit

 5 Summary of Creation & Ritual Texts

 6 Conclusion



3 Personification

 1 Introduction

 2 Tehom in Creation

 3 Tehom in Ritual

 4 Tehom in the Song of the Sea

 5 Tehom and the Promise of Land

 6 Tehom Remembered in Prophecy and Prayers

 7 Tehom and Wisdom

 8 Tehom and the Bronze Sea

 9 Conclusion



4 Subjugation

 1 Introduction

 2 Sea Monsters and Their Subjugators

 3 The Subjugated Deep in Human-Divine Relationships

 4 The Significance of Subjugated Tehom for Ancient Israel

 5 Emotions, Experiences, and Affect Theory

 6 Conclusion



5 Demonization

 1 Introduction

 2 Textual Traditions

 3 Dead Sea Scrolls

 4 Septuagint (LXX)

 5 Targums

 6 Rabbinic Tradition

 7 Conclusion



6 Transformation

 1 Introduction

 2 The Necessity of Transformation

 3 Origins of Evil and Demons

 4 Restraining and Sealing Evil

 5 Oppressive Dragon Enemy

 6 Conclusion



7 Conclusion

 1 The Power of a Fluid Concept

 2 Circular Beginnings and Endings

 3 Awaiting the End



Appendix1: Tehom in the Hebrew Bible

Appendix2: Tehom-Related References in the Hebrew Bible

Appendix3: Tehom in Dead Sea Scrolls Non-Biblical Manuscripts

Appendix4: LXX Translations of Tehom

Appendix5: Targum Translations of Tehom

Appendix6: Tehom in Later Jewish and Christian Tradition

Works Cited

Index