Physical space, imagined space, and "lived space" in ancient Israel

Biblical Theology Bulletin, Spring, 2003 by Victor H. Matthews

One more elaboration of the social character of the threshing floor is found in its use as a stage for events that either are turning points in a narrative or serve to showcase major public events. For example, in Gen 50:10-11 the public mourning of Jacob's death occurs "when they [see v. 7 for Joseph's entourage here] came to the threshing floor of Atad." This is twice qualified with the statement that this place is "beyond [i.e., east of] the Jordan" indicating that the mourners have left Egypt and are now free to express their grief in a seven-day ceremony. To further mark the occasion and to demonstrate how the threshing floor has been singled out by their actions, the site is renamed Abel-mizraim. In addition to the events of the story, however, is the inclusion of a rhetorical formula "when they came to the threshing floor of--." It is also used in 2 Sam 6:6, when Uzzah is struck dead for touching the ark of the covenant on the threshing floor of Nacon. In each case, the trigger for subsequent events is arrival at the culturally significant threshing floor.

A similar use of the threshing floor as a stage for events is found in the story of Ahab and Jehoshaphat in 1 Kgs 22:10. These two kings are able to derive a large measure of their "royal power" from the symbols associated with the setting where they confront the prophet Micaiah. In addition to their kingly robes, their thrones and a body of 400 court prophets, these monarchs have gravitated to the most socially significant place they could find, thus magnifying their own importance and intimidating this single, despised prophet of Yahweh. Their thrones are placed at the gate of the capital city of Israel, a space that was once occupied by a threshing floor prior to the construction of Samaria. Almost like peeling away the layers of an artichoke, the cultural critic can see how each level of authority is applied in this verse. And, it all hinges on an understanding by the ancient Israelites of the political value attached to a place (threshing floor) that is associated with the work of the people, their economic prosperity, fair dealings under established, customary laws and traditions, and covenantal ties to maintain a just society.

Needless to say, Ahab's intent in setting up this space-based meeting plays upon the various popular understandings of this place's symbolic value. His actions may seem quite crass, but, like any good politician, he does understand the importance of proper placement and setting. He has taken advantage of the "social space" that he, as king, is apparently free to manipulate. While the gate area is associated with the movement of the citizen in and out of the city (Speiser: 20-23), and is therefore an integrated place where persons of various social classes may come into contact, Ahab has been able to draw upon its character as a source of power. It thus becomes an extension of his own personal court, a much more restricted "social space" (Matthews& Benjamin 1993: 122-24). In this way, what in physical space was inherently egalitarian and socially mixed has become, at least temporarily, in both physical and "social space" an area controlled by the power emanating from two monarchs, their trappings, and their entourage. Pierre Bourdieu (16), in his discussion of the phenomena associated with public space, notes that there is a "tendency toward spatial segregation [with] people who are close together in social space tending to find themselves, by choice, or by necessity, close to one another in geographic space." Obviously, in a high traffic area, such as the city gate, there is often a conjunction or combination of events that may be accidental, or, as in this case, designed to create an affect. It could thus be said that the "location" of power is associated with where in space a powerful individual or group exists or chooses to exist, and is further defined by the area in space over which that person or group is capable of extending control (Allen: 196).