I. Name

Ideas of the underworld as the abode of the dead are known from ancient Israel, as well as from the surrounding cultures (Moraldi 1985; Spronk 1986; Xella 1987; Lewis 1989; Tropper 1989; Bloch-Smith 1992). In the Hebrew Bible šĕʾôl is by far the most commonly used word for the netherworld, appearing altogether 65x (66x if the text in Isa. 7.11 is emended). Also other words were used in ancient Israel to denote the realm of the dead (Tromp 1969: 23–128). The feminine noun Sheol appears only in Hebrew, and as a loanword …