Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

NORTH

Since the development of the compass, geographic orientation has been toward magnetic north. In the ancient world, however, the rising sun served as one’s orientation (“orient” means “east”). The most common word used for east (Heb. qeḏem) means lit., “in front” or “before.” Thus “north” is often designated as “the left” (śĕmōʾl; Gen. 14:15).

Directional north came to take on various connotations for the Hebrews. With the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the desert on the east, Israel watched for invading armies only from the south (the Egyptians) or the north (e.g., the Hittites, Damascus, Persia). From the time of the later monarchy danger threatened especially from the nations who would attack from the north. Thus the prophetic literature is stamped with an expectation of disaster from the north (e.g., Jer. 1:14; Ezek. 1:4). Babylon (Jer. 25:9-11; Ezek. 26:7) and Gog (38:14-16) are specifically mentioned, but more generally God’s judgment itself is expected from the north (e.g., Jer. 4:6). Likewise, prophecies of the return of the exiles speak of them arriving from “out of the north” (Jer. 23:8).

The idea of God’s judgment coming from the north dovetails with an assumption in common with other ancient Near Eastern civilizations that the gods dwell in a mountain toward the north. Thus the theophany of Ezek. 1:4-5 arises in the north, and the evil one of Isa. 14:13 is tempted to supplant God in the north. This idea clashes somewhat with the idea of the lordship of God over the whole earth (Job 26:7) and with God’s dwelling in the temple, but it comes to interesting expression in Ps. 48:1-3(MT 2-4), which identifies Mt. Zion as a northern mountain.

David A. Dorman

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

NORTH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)