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ETYMOLOGY, LEXICAL, DEFINITIONS AND EXTRA-BIBLICAL USAGE

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Andrews University Seminary Studies, Autumn 1991, Vol 29, No.3, 213-223Copyright ©1991 by Andrews University Press. Cited with permission.MISKAN AND 'OHEL MO'ED: ETYMOLOGY, LEXICALDEFINITIONS, AND EXTRA-BIBLICAL USAGE1RALPH E. HENDRIXAndrews University Miskan and 'ohel mo'ed are names for the cultic dwelling placeof YHWH described in Exod 25-40. This, the first of three studies onmiskan and o'hel mo'ed, will consider the etymologies of the terms,their lexical definitions, and parallel terms found in non-Semiticlanguages. Particular attention will be given to their usage inUgaritic and their translation or interpretation in the LXX. Theintention of this paper is to form some notion of the basic meaningof these terms/phrases as a foundation for a second study whichfocuses on their usages as witnessed within the text of Exod 25-40.A third study will present the literary structure of Exod 25-40, whichthese terms help to form.1. The Etymology and Lexical Definition of Miskan. Miskan is a nominal form of skn, a verb which has the meaningof "self-submission" (once), "settle," "rest," "stop," "1ive in,""inhabit," "sojourn," "dwell" (in its qal form); "let/make tolive/dwell" (in the piel); "settle, "let/make to live/dwell" (in thehiphil).2 Its Assyrian cognate is sakanu ("set," "lay," "deposit") whichyields the nominal form maskanu ("place," "dwelling place").3 1The author wishes to express appreciation to J. Bjomar Storfjell, Richard M.Davidson, David Merling, and Randall W. Younker, members of the faculty of theSeventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, for their patiencein overseeing the preparation of this and related studies. 2W. L. Holladay, ed., A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the OldTestament (Grand Rapids, 1971), 369-370; F. Brown, S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs,eds., The New Brown, Driver and Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (BDB) (Grand Rapids, 1981), 1014-1016; L. Koehler and W. Baumgartner, eds., Lexicon in Veteris Testimenti Libros (KB) (Leiden, 1958), 2:575; J. O. Lewis, "The Ark and the Tent," RevExp 74 (1977): 545; E. Klien, A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language for Readers of English (New York, 1987), 391. 3BDB, 1014. See also A. L. Oppenheim and E. Reiner, eds., The Assyrian213214 RALPH E. HENDRIX: Andrews University Seminary Studies The Hebrew noun miskan is generally understood to meandwelling place," the identity of which is determined by the context in which the term is found.4 In addition, Holladay indicates its usefor "home," "tomb," and "(central) sanctuary."5 J. O. Lewis suggeststhat skn is "rooted in the nomadic past of Israel and literally means'to pitch a tent.'"6 He distinguishes skn from ysb, noting that thelatter is the normal term used for "dwelling in houses," from a basicmeaning "to sit down."7 That is, skn refers to a nonsedentarydwelling place (Lewis suggests a tent) while ysb refers to a sedentarydwelling place (e.g., a house). Thus, one may arrive at thepreliminary conclusion that the verb skn refers generally to someform of nonsedentary dwelling, perhaps "camping" in modernparlance, and that the noun miskan therefore refers to the place ofthat activity: a nonsedentary "dwelling-place," a "camp," or perhapsa "camp site." The emphasis of miskan is therefore on the nature ofthe camp--its nonsedentary nature.Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, volume 10, part I(Chicago: The Oriental Institute, 1977), 369-373, where the following basic definitionsfor maskanu are given: "1. threshing floor, empty lot, 2. small agricultural settlement,3. emplacement, (normal) location, site (of a building), base (of a statue), stand (for apot), residence, position, 4. tent, canopy; 5. fetter (for a slave), 6. pledge given assecurity, and 7. sanctuary (?)." Definition #4 indicates a broader meaning than simply"tent" or "canopy" (372). An appropriate interpretation may be "camp," as suggestedby at least two of the seven examples given. 4BDB, 1015; J. J. Davis, Moses and the Gods of Egypt: Studies in Exodus, 2d ed.(Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1986), 254. 5Holladay lists these primary texts: Num 16:24; Isa 22:16; Lev 15:31; and notesthe meaning as "(central) sanctuary (74 of 130 times), tabernacle Exod 25:9" (219). 6Lewis, 545. 7Ibid. Cf. Holladay, 146. F. M. Cross points out that the usual "priestly" wordfor people "dwelling" was ysb, and was never used of YHWH except when referringto His "throne" or "to enthrone" (F. M. Cross, Jr., "The Tabernacle," BA 110 [1947]:67). M. Haran ("The Divine Presence in the Israelite Cult and the Cultic Institutions,"Bib 50 [1969]: 259) concurs with a differentiated use of skn and ysb in thedeuteronomic writings where skn speaks of "God's presence in a chosen place," butysb refers to "his staying in heaven." For various uses of these two roots, see M. H.Woudstra, The Ark of the Covenant from Conquest to Kingship (Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co., 1965), 69-70.MISKAN AND 'OHEL MO'ED 215 Especially important is the fact that no particular object isinherently associated (etymologically) with the term, which mayapply either to a living being or an inanimate object. The breadth ofthe meaning of miskan must be taken into account in determining itsuse in context. To understand the meaning of miskan, one must ask:"Dwelling place of what or of whom?" The answer must be found inthe context. In practice, the answer is subject to interpretationflavored by theological and hermeneutical presuppositions. As a case in point, considerable discussion has been generatedconcerning how miskan relates to the dwelling place of YHWH asdescribed in the biblical text. R. Friedman defines miskan as the"inner fabric" over which is the "outer fabric" (‘ohel), bothcomprising a "single structure."8 F. M. Cross defines skn "toencamp" or "to tent"; therefore, he suggests that miskan originallymeant "tent" and later came to mean "the" tent par excellence.9 Onthe basis of Ras Shamra evidence, G. E. Wright defines miskan as"tent-dwelling."10 G. H. Davies takes a broader view, definingmiskan as "tabernacle, dwelling, dwelling-place, habitation, abode,encampment"; however, he allows that the term may refer to the"shrine as a whole" (Exod 25:9) or "virtually the holy of holies"(Exod 26:1).11 Here then is provided the prevalent scope ofdefinition: as specific as the "inner fabric" within the tent, yet asbroad as


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