This dissertation concerns the interpretation of theophanic imagery in the Prophets. In
essence, my argument is that the imagery which attends and describes theophany in the poetic
books of the Hebrew Bible is mythic and not metaphorical-that it should be interpreted in
relation to the Chaoskampf myth, as Yahweh defeats chaos and restores order, rather than being
understood as a metaphorical comparison with natural phenomena. In arguing this way,
however, I am taking a new approach to theophanic imagery, for such imagery has almost
uniformly been understood in Old Testament scholarship as metaphor. Before examining in
detail this traditional and more widespread approach to theophanic imagery and the alternative to
it which I wish to suggest, however, it will be helpful to state at the outset two foundations upon
which my argument rests and the specific texts which will be enlisted to support it