I. Name

Qôs is the national deity of Edom. He is attested only once in the Hebrew Bible as an element in the personal name Barqos, “Qôs gleamed forth” (cf. Lihyanite qwsbr; Bartlett 1989: no. 34; South Safaitic brqs, Bartlett 1989: no. 36), indicating the ‘father’ of an exiled clan of nĕtînîm returning from Babylon (Ezra 2.53 = Neh. 7.55). This clan or family must have been of Edomite or Idumaean origin. (The name Kushaiah, 1 Chr. 15.17, cannot be connected with Qôs [pace Bartlett 1989:200–201]: according to 1…