Divine Glory in the Pentateuch – History and Theology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/ROOTS.2026.1.3Keywords:
Kabod, Tabernacle, Sinaitic theophany, Shekinah, PriesthoodAbstract
This study explores the concept of ‘glory’ (Heb. kabod) in the Pentateuch, examining its appearance in Sinaitic theophanies, the establishment and operation of the mobile sanctuary (the tabernacle), and its roles in cult practice, law, and history. Combining a philological analysis of key passages from Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, it offers a unified interpretation where kabod is not just a visual manifestation but also a performative sign: indicating Yahweh’s presence, legitimizing priestly authority, signaling sacred judgments, and supporting the remembrance of Egypt’s liberation. The research shows that the mobility of the tabernacle and the visibility of the glory are interconnected, and that the expressions of dwelling—kabod, cloud, filling of the sanctuary—form a coherent narrative-ritual system. By integrating philology of terms like kabod, shekinah, miskan, and moed with form criticism and comparison with post-exilic texts (Haggai, 1 Kings, Ezekiel), the study uncovers both continuities and nuances: the Pentateuch highlights a luminous, mobile glory, whereas some post-exilic writings focus on material grandeur and temple fullness. Using literary exegesis, philology, and comparison, it identifies duplications and editorial insertions explaining textual differences. Overall, it presents kabod as a pragmatic marker of divine presence and cultic legitimacy, shedding light on the relationship between theophany, cultic institution, and priestly authority.
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