" The literature from throughout the ancient Near East clearly addresses the fact that the gods have needs that are met by human beings. As mentioned in the last chapter, rituals and other cultic activities were designed to address those needs.[4] The king and the priests each had duties in the process. All public worship revolved around the image. It marked the deity’s presence and was the center of any ceremony involving the divine.[5] It was awakened in the morning, washed, clothed, fed two sumptuous meals each day (while music was played in its presence), and put to bed at night.[6] Thus worship took place by caring for the needs of the god through his image. This care was intended to ensure the continued presence of the deity in the image. "
― , Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible
![quote : The literature from throughout the ancient Near East clearly addresses the fact that the gods have needs that are met by human beings. As mentioned in the last chapter, rituals and other cultic activities were designed to address those needs.[4] The king and the priests each had duties in the process. All public worship revolved around the image. It marked the deity’s presence and was the center of any ceremony involving the divine.[5] It was awakened in the morning, washed, clothed, fed two sumptuous meals each day (while music was played in its presence), and put to bed at night.[6] Thus worship took place by caring for the needs of the god through his image. This care was intended to ensure the continued presence of the deity in the image.](/image/2860750.jpg)