world religion world religion maps world religion symbols |
Encyclopedia of Religion entry forCalf, GoldenReference is made in the Old Testament to worship of a golden calf by Israelites of the Northern kingdom. These images are said to have been set up in Dan and Bethel (I. Kings xii. 28 ff.; II. Kings, x. 29; Hosea x. 5), and in Samaria (Hosea viii. 5 f.). Reference is perhaps made also to their worship in Gilgal (Amos v. 4 f.; Hosea iv. 15, ix. 15, xii. 11). Apparently, however, they were not worshipped in the temple of Jerusalem or in the other sanctuaries of Judah. Aaron is said to have made a golden calf in the wilderness ; but it is strange that nomads wandering in a wilderness should have thought of worshipping a golden calf. Some scholars have thought that the Israelites followed the example of the Egyptians in worshipping the bull. But Dr. Benzinger points out (Enoycl. BibL) that the Israelites were not much influenced by the Egyptians, and as a matter of fact it was living animals that were worshipped by the Egyptians. The Israelites seem to have learned the worship from the Canaanites amongst whom the bull was the symbol of Baal. The prophetic writers condemn the worship as idolatry (Hosea viii. 5, x. 5; cp. the Deuteronomist in I. Kings xiv. 16, xv. 26, xvi. 26; II. Kings x. 29). See Encycl. Bibl. citations: Encyc. of Rel., Canney
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
|
|
|
||