The Temple Is Nothing without the Word It Houses

http://jimhamilton.info/2013/10/18/the-scriptures-and-the-shrine-on-the-keeping-of-an-authoritative-copy-of-the-scriptures-at-the-temple/

  
I would add that the temple-centric, Sinai theology seen throughout the Bible makes less sense unless there was an official copy of the Scripture (at least the Torah) housed in the temple. The temple by itself makes no sense. The whole point of Sinai Theology is that Word replaces Idol as representative of God. As an idol needs a temple to be housed, so the revealed Word of God needed a house to maintain that imagery. This is why biblical aniconism is often misunderstood as a worship of a deity without representation. A lot of ANE aniconism may function that way, but biblical aniconism has always had the Word represent God and function as the means by which we bow ourselves to Him.