everywhere in the created world. He is in actuality going back to an ancient Israelite notion, according to which the mystery of natural life is comprised in spirit and the created world is assured of being kept alive by the ever-renewed pouring out of this breath of life from God, whereas death and corruption seize upon it whenever God withholds his spirit from it (Ps. 104:29f.; Gen. 6:3, 17; 7:15, 22; Num. 16:22; 27:16; Job 10:12; 12:10; 17:1, etc.). This is the same life force which the prophet