96 | The Old Testament and thE aNcient Near Eastern Worldview
The vaulted dome , sometimes called the firmament ( and sometimes equated with the sky ), was seen as connecting to foundations that went deep below the sea . The dome surrounded the earth with its edge meeting at the horizon — the boundary “ between light and darkness ” ( Job 26:10 ; compare Pr 8:27 – 28 ). This explains verses like : “ when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep ,” ( Pr 8:28 ) and “ can you join [ God ] in spreading out the skies , hard as a mirror of cast bronze ?” ( Job 37:18 ).
The vaulted dome was thought to be supported by the tops of mountains because the peaks appeared to touch the sky ( e . g ., 2Sa 22:8 ). The heavens had doors and windows through which rain or the waters above could flow upon the earth from their storehouse above the dome ( Ge 7:11 ; 8:2 ; Ps 78:23 ; 33:7 ).
Genesis 1 describes waters above and below the solid firmament , a belief also reflected in Psalm 148:4 . God was thought to dwell above the firmament , as described in Job 22:14 : “ Thick clouds veil him , so he does not see us as he goes about in the vaulted heavens ” ( compare Am 9:6 ; Ps 29:10 ).
The Earth The earth sat atop the watery deep . The “ waters below ” refers not only to waters that humans use but also the deeper abyss . Thus , the earth was seen as surrounded by and floating upon the seas ( Ge 1:9 – 10 ), having arisen out of the water ( 2Pe 3:5 ). The earth was thought to be held fast by pillars or sunken foundations ( 1Sa 2:8 ; Job 38:4 – 6 ; Ps 104:5 ).
The Underworld The realm of the dead was believed to be located under the earth . The most frequent Hebrew term for this place was she ’ ol , often transliterated in English Bibles as Sheol or translated as the realm of the dead , or even the grave ( Pr 9:18 ; Ps 6:4 – 5 ; 18:4 – 5 ). At times , the Hebrew word for “ earth ” ( ʾerets ) is also used to describe the underworld , since graves were believed to represent gateways to the underworld . In Job , the realm of the dead is even described in watery terms : “ The dead are in deep anguish , those beneath the waters and all that live in them ” ( Job 26:5 ). Jonah ’ s description is perhaps the most vivid . Although he is located in the belly of the great fish , Jonah says he is in the underworld : the watery deep at “ the roots of the mountains ,” a “ pit ” that had “ bars ” that closed forever ( Jnh 2:6 ).
This worldview shaped the Old Testament and illustrates how the Bible uses the language of its time to explain its perspective and to glorify Yahweh .