Table Of ContentJules Francis Gomes
The Sanctuary of Bethel and the Configuration of Israelite Identity
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die
alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
Herausgegeben von
John Barton · Reinhard G. Kratz
Choon-Leong Seow · Markus Witte
Band 368
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Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
Jules Francis Gomes
The Sanctuary of Bethel and
the Configuration of Israelite Identity
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DE
G_
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
© Printed on acid-free paper which falls within the guidelines of the ANSI
to ensure permanence and durability
ISBN-13: 978-3-11-018993-3
ISBN-10: 3-11-018993-3
ISSN 0934-2575
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Printed in Germany
Cover design: Christopher Schneider, Berlin
To
Kshitija
My bestfriend and constant
Acknowledgements
The writing of a dissertation may perhaps be compared to the
performing of a concerto. There is the struggle to remain faithful to the
'score' —the primary sources, while seeking to interpret it afresh; there
is the commitment to the 'conductor' —whose baton must be watched
while indulging in a bit of rubato and ad libitum·, and there is the
'orchestra' —of scholars and supporters, who push the trembling
debutante soloist out on a limb, while offering the best support they
can give her or him. The reader might wish to extend the analogy!
In my case, it has been the conductor who has greatly enabled this
musical event, and it is to him that not only applause but also an encore
is due. To switch metaphors from western music to Indian spirituality,
Prof. Graham Davies has indeed been a 'guru' to me. Under his wise
and patient supervision, I have not only learnt much in the field of Old
Testament, but also become a better person by interacting with him. He
has invested a great deal of his time, effort, and pastoral care into my
work and my stay in Cambridge for which I am ever grateful.
I am also deeply indebted to the scholarly 'cloud of witnesses' who
enabled me to 'run with endurance the race' that was set before me.
Prof. Klaus Koch was one of the first to gently nudge me in the
direction of Bethel. I also want to thank him for his kind gifts that he
sent so regularly.
During the final stages of my work when my eyes were dimmed
like Eli's, God provided an eagle-eyed scholar —alert as Samuel —to
edit and proofread my final drafts. Prof. Kim Huat Tan and his wife
Michelle offered their valuable time and went the extra mile.
Special thanks to All Saints Educational Trust, Cambridge
Commonwealth Trust, Church Mission Society, Charles Wallace India
Trust, Langham Partnership, and St.Augustine's Foundation for
generously funding my studies in the U.K. Canon Paul Berg,
administrator of Langham Partnership, provided thoughtful direction
even before we could come to England and pastoral support while we
were here.
The Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge is a wonderful place to study,
thanks to its staff! From day one in Cambridge, Ms Rosalind Paul, Dr.
Peta Dunstan and Kester Gillard roped me into the friendly and good-
humoured ethos of the place.
Vlll Acknowledgements
The Tyndale House library in Cambridge is a treasure house for
biblical studies. What makes it so welcoming is the librarian Dr.
Elizabeth Magba, who is one of the most gracious and helpful persons I
have ever met. Special thanks is also due for her prayer support and
kindness.
It is said that 'to err is human, but to really foul up things it
requires a computer'. When the 'chips' were down, it was Dr. David-
Instone Brewer who came to my rescue.
A word of thanks to Dr. Bruce Winter, Warden of Tyndale House,
who offered us accommodation there.
Dr. Christoph Bultmann, Dr. Andy Warren, Dr Sandra Ramloll,
Clemens Blättert, Nana Kaplanis, and Drs. Hannah and Christian
Stettler offered valuable assistance and expertise in translation.
Prof. Terence Fretheim and Dr. Daniel Hawk, read through my
chapters on Genesis and Joshua and made relevant comments.
Reading for a Ph.D. can leave one as lonely as a 'pelican of the
wilderness'. Our friends in England did not allow that to happen. We
cannot forget the kindness of Dr Eric and Christine Lott, Drs. Sebastian
and Kirsteen Kim, Dr. Monty and Rosemary Barker, Georita Harriot,
my buddies John Hilber and Charles Echols and our friends Paul
Joshua, Sumita and their children.
Our friends and families from India provided the much-needed
moral and prayer support. Special thanks to Fr. Juventius Andrade, Mr.
and Mrs. N.T.Singh, Mr. and Mrs. Rajendran, Sagar Salvi and Sangita
Patole.
Chaplain Ian Thompson, my Tutor Dr Mike Sewell, Gina-Vivian
Neal, Margaret Hay, and the administrative staff of Selwyn College
provided 'support with a smile'. I shall have fond memories of my time
at Selwyn.
The opportunity to minister in another country is always a great
privilege. I am grateful to the Revd. Dr. John Binns and the staff of
Great St.Mary's, the University Church, for allowing me to share that
privilege for three years. The congregation made us feel very much at
home and we shall treasure memories of our time there.
If there has been one person who has accompanied and encouraged
me on this journey, with much love and prayer, it has been my wife
Kshitija who remains my best friend and constant companion. She put
up with my inadequacies and with the rigours of a doctoral
programme. It is to her that this dissertation is dedicated with much
love and affection.
Though the tradition of Jacob at Bethel is an important part of my
dissertation, I have often felt like Jacob at Penuel —struggling with God
Acknowledgements lx
and left limping. But in all this, I have come to realise that 'God's grace
is sufficient for me, for his power is perfected in weakness'. This work
is for his glory, for he has been merciful and has seen me through.
Inevitably, the attempt to compress a breadth of detail on so many
biblical texts into so small a space has involved drastic and painful
decisions about what to omit and what to include. My judgement may
differ with that of different readers.
Last but not the least, I owe a debt of gratitude to the editor of this
series, Monika Müller for her expert comments, guidance, and
encouragement, as well Carsten Burfeind, the editor of BZNW for his
timely help and advice.
I am sometimes asked about the practical relevance of my research
on Bethel. To which I reply: 'If my research can demonstrate that
Bethel, and not Jerusalem, was really "the house of God," I will have
solved half the world's problems. Christians, Jews and Muslims would
cease to squabble over the centrality of Jerusalem!' Seen in this light, I
believe that research 'can have no higher function than this —of taking
its large and persuasive place in the program of God's holy temple and
of thus preparing us for that city in which the seer beholds "no
sanctuary" simply because...all the world becomes "Bethel," the house
of God.'
Jules Gomes
