[41] "Among the Edomites, Ishmaelites, Ammonites and Moabites--the tribes with which Israel felt itself most nearly related--the service of the rigorous and destroying god was most prominent The very names for God which are most common among them--Baal, El, Molech, Milcom, Chemosh--are enough to show this. These names denote the mighty, violent, death-dealing God." "The Religion of Israel," Knappert, p. 29. These names constantly recur in the early history of Israel. Jephthah's vow is a familiar instance of this abhorrent rite. Circumcision is supposed to mark a merciful compromise with this blood-gift; in addition to its sanitary character. [42] We know from general history how among other people the homage paid to the productive powers of nature led to systematized prostitution, in the name of the personification of this force of nature. Tradition records how early in this period the Midianites seduced Israel temporarily from Jehovah, by the licentious pleasures of their worship of Baal-Peor. Later on in history we find that it is these impure rites that especially provoke the anger of the prophets. [43] The sun symbols may not have been permanent features of the Temple-worship at this period, though, from the probable identification of the early Jehovah with the sun, it seems likely that their presence there was no casual fact. [44] 2 Kings, xxiii. 6, 7. [45] Isaiah, i. 11-17. [46] Micah, vi. 6-8. [47] Isaiah, xi. 2-5. [48] Isaiah, v. 8; iii. 14, 15. [49] Cf. Exodus, xxiii, 10, 11 (the earliest code) with Deuteronomy, xv. 1-18. [50] The latter seems the probable influence of Persia. At all events, from this time Hebrew literature shows the gradual development of an angelic hierarchy. [51] The comparison of the earlier prophetic writings with the exilic prophecies, and with the later writings, such as Jonah, Ecclesiastes, &c., will illustrate this change. [52] Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones is the earliest appearance of this thought in any writing of whose date we are certain.