This paper illustrates how solving a problem in the phenomenology of Israelite religion as known through the Bible contributes to understanding some cultic artifacts known through excavation. A small number of biblical narratives describe individuals such as Abraham and Moses who uniquely saw — rather than who had a visionary experience of — YHWH, not angels or stand-ins, as a three-dimensional, physical presence. Exod 34:23-24 and Deut 31:11 (after the MT pointing of the verbs is corrected) command that Israelites come to see YHWH. This common 'seeing" however, differed from the sporadic 'seeing" of Abraham and Moses. The question posed by the Exod and Deut passages is the following: What did Israelites who came expect to see and what did they see? In response, this paper will show, using biblical texts from different genres and an insightful anthropological parallel, where YHWH was thought to be and how he was thought to make himself appear. It will then apply this information to clarify at least one of the roles played by standing stones and model shrines, excavated artifacts, at Israelite cult sites as well as at those of some surrounding peoples.