Chapter 1 1
1.1 Introducing the Subject of Study 1
1.2 Stating the Probiem 2
1.3 Reviewing the Previous Literature on Seeing the Face of God 4
1.4 Assessing Previous Approaches 13
1.5 Significance of the Divine-Reveiations in the Pentateuch 18
1.6 The Different Functions of 043 "Face" in the Pentateuch 24
1.7 A Brief Reflection on Methodological Issues and Approaches 30
1.8 Methodological Approach in this Study 35
1.9 Specific Method in this Study and the Chapter Outline 38
Section 1: Chapters 2-3: Texts from Genesis
Chapter2 43
2.1 Introduction. 43
2.2 Genesis 3:8-10: God Walks 43
2.3 Genesis 12:1-8: YHWH Calls 51
2.5Genesisl6:7—l4:YHWHSees 57
2.6 Genesis 17:1-5: YHWH Appears 61
2.7 Genesis 18:1-8; 16—22: God Eats Food 68
2.7 Genesis 28:12-22: God/YHWH Stands and Speaks 73
2.8 2.4 Genesis 15:1-21: YHWH Appears in a Vision 54
2.9 Concluding Remarks 76
Chapter3 79
3.1 Introduction 79
3.2 Canonical Context 80
3.3 Exegetical Study of Genesis 32:25-32 81
1.4 Mode of Self-Revelation, Human Recognition, and Response 96
1.5 The Function/SigniHcance of Divine Revelation 96
1.6 Conclusion 97
1.7 The Question of Background of the Motif ОТіЬи/П1Л'"'13
"Face ofYHWH/God" 98
1.8 Beyond the Present Text 100
Section II: Chapters 4—5: Texts from Exodus
Chapter4 103
4.1 Introduction 103
4.2 Exodus 3:1-12: YHWH/God Appears in the Midst of Fire ...104
4.3 Exodus 24:1-18: YHWH/God Appears in the Cloud and Fire 112
4.4Concluding Remarks 122
Chapter 5 125
1.1 Introduction 125
1.2 Canonical Context 128
1.3 Exegetical Study of the Text 136
1.4 Mode of Self-Revelation, Human Recognition, and Response 185
1.5 The Function/SigniEcance of the Motif 186
1.6 Conclusion 187
1.7 The Question of Background of the Motif П1Л'*''^3
"FaceofYHWH/God" 190
5 8 Beyond the Mountain 192
Section Ш: Chapters 6: Text from Numbers
Chapter6 195
6.1 Introduction 195
6.2 Canonical Context 197
6.3 Exegetical Study of Numbers 6:22-27 205
6.4 Mode of Self-Revelation, Human Recognition, and Response 219
6.5 Function and Signihcance 219
6.6 Conclusion 220
6.7 The Question of the Background of
"Shining and Lifting YTTWH's Face" 223
6.8 Looking beyond Numbers 6:22-27 224
Chapter7 227
7.1 Conclusions in Summary 227
7.2 The Face of God and His Physicality 233
Appendices
Appendixl 245
!.l In the Texts in Genesis 246
1.2 In the Texts in Exodus 248
1.3 In the Text in Numbers 6:22-27 251
AppendixII 253
11.1 Relevance and Usefulness for Other Fields of Research 253
11.2 Scope for Future Research 255
11.3 A Closing Reflection 256
Bibliography 259
Web articles 277

This work provides a unique contribution to the growing held of Asian Biblical studies. In viewing "the face of the Lord" and "the glory of the Lord" as referring to the physical, corporeal presence of God, Satyavani presents an intriguing study of the self-revelation of God which challenges received views of divine personhood. Drawing implicitly on her own Hindu background in contesting non-metaphorical readings of divine presence in the Pentateuch, Satyavani offers a highly detailed exegesis of key scriptural readings related to "seeing" God.
Chloe Starr
PhD Assistant Professor Asian Christianity and Theoiogy, Yaie Divinity School
Here, treated together for the very first time, are the texts most relevant for this intriguing subject. Indeed, the virtue of this work is its insistence on situating these texts within the wider narrative sequence of the Pentateuch— an approach long overdue in the long running discussion of this important topic, "Seeing the Face of God".
David Shepherd
PhD Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Loyola Institute Trinity College, Dublin
That the Almighty God has chosen to reveal himself to us is a basic tenet of the biblical faith. This study on the "Face of God" is particularly fascinating because the author relates seeing the face of God to his self-revelation. Besides, the relevance of this study here in South Asia is fairly obvious, for people go to a temple here to have darshana [divine seeing] of a sacred image—that is, they not only go to "see" God, but to be seen by God. So this study is of interest and value from two perspectives—biblical and contextual.
Brian Wintle
Regional Secretary, India, Asia Theological Association