Incense in Ancient Israel

After a rapid survey of the archaeological and textual evidence for the use of incense in both the ritual and the secular life of ancient Egypt, Arabia and Syria-Mesopotamia, Nielsen turns to a more detailed consideration of the situation in Israel. To a collection of archaeological data, which attests the widespread use of incense in a variety of contexts from the pre-Israelite period onwards, is added a philological discussion of all the relevant terms. Cultic and secular uses of incense are then investigated before a concluding chapter takes lively issue with J. Wellhausen’s opinion about the development of the cult in this particular matter. The evidence with which Nielsen has to deal is frequently tenuous and susceptible of more than one interpretation. It is unlikely, therefore, that he will carry everyone with him in his conclusions. Nevertheless, he fairly represents these differing viewpoints before expressing his own preferences. Each chapter concludes with a summary. The work is thus both sensible and a model of clarity. Its careful collection of a variety of data is to be welcomed.