The Materiality of Power explores five unique case studies in which architectural spaces, artifacts, icons, epigraphs and biblical manuscripts corroborate the unprecedented existence of a robust daimonic realm in late pre-exilic Israel along with a rudimentary pandemonium that foreshadow later demonological constructs. These material data preserve a countervailing world of apotropaism; a world over which YHWH and his Asherah, depicted in art and epigraph as the internationally renowned Egyptian protective deities Bes and Beset, served as co-presiders. The material and epigraphic evidence from such sites as Kuntillet Ajrud, Ketef Hinnom, Khirbet el-Qom along with the manuscript evidence for Deut. 32 and 1 Sam. 28 indicate that pandemonium members like “the Evil One,” “the Enemies,” and Reshef wreaked havoc on the living and the dead. Yet, other material media such as amulets and inscribed performative speech (“May He (YHWH) bless you and keep you…”), give expression to a counteractive realm designed to manifest apotropaic empowerment. These texts and objects also highlight Asherah’s role in that magical realm as YHWH’s mediatrix (either as consort or mother). Along with an entourage of protective spirits like the Shedim, the Gods and the Divine Sons, Asherah executed the supernatural world’s previously undocumented Iron Age overture to protect the mortal world from the power of harmful daimons.

Brian B. Schmidt, The Materiality of Power: Explorations in the Social History of Ancient Israelite Magic. Forschungen zum Alten Testament 105. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2016. XV, 258 pages. ISBN 978-3-16-153302-0 or eBook PDF.