This essay considers the interpretation of Combination II of the Deir ‘Alla Plaster Inscription in light of biblical and ancient Near Eastern texts. I connect Combination II to the use of clothing in the context of rituals designed to effect either help or harm upon the body. I explore the phenomenological relationship between clothing and the body, and in particular the use of clothing to manifest and modify the body in ritual contexts. This has implications for our understanding of the complex relationship between body and self in the ancient world, with consequences for some of the more obscure references to clothing in the Hebrew Bible. Moreover, this integration of clothing, embodiment, and ritual is important for the interpretation of Combination II as a whole, suggesting that this portion of text be understood as ritual instruction.
