Politics · 26 · Prophet and Priest
Ancient kings controlled divine knowledge
Assyrian diviners who read stars and sheep livers swore oaths to share their findings only with the king. Their research was locked in royal libraries.
Knowledge is power, and rulers hoard it.
Dig deeper
Prophets were different: often women, often considered mad, and performing in public. That made them dangerous. When a 'slave girl' in a provincial town prophesied King Esarhaddon's downfall, officials reported it, as their loyalty oaths required.
Source: Why the Bible Began, pp. 407–409
Reader thoughts
Loading comments…