Origin Myths and Holy Places in the Old Testament

Examines the biblical narratives which describe the origins of holy places. It argues for the Hellenistic origin or redaction of most of these narratives.

Three central questions are addressed: are there common features in biblical accounts about the foundation of places of worship; are there elements in the aetiological stories that reveal the real mythology/rituals of the sanctuary; what were the circumstances of the creation of such narratives?