Endnote 7 – From Storm God to Abstract Being

The Sinai theophany is surprisingly calm and simple given its historical significance. The absence of wind is peculiar in light of the presence of this element in private theophanies in Ezekiel 1:4, Job 38:1, 40:6 (and cf. 2 Samuel 22:16; 1 Kings 19:11–12). However, when comparing theophanies, we should bear in mind that appearances of God may serve various purposes and that the components of the theophany will vary accordingly. The makeup of the theophany may also be determined by the location and the audience. Rain and water are part of the theophanies in Judges 5:4 and 2 Samuel 22:12, but these would be out of place in a desert context. One should not expect all theophanies to be identical, even though they may contain some common elements, such as wind, rain, thunder, lightning, fire, earthquake and divine speech.