DOCSLIB.ORG

What Does the Old Testament Say About God?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
What Does the Old Testament Say About God? What Does the Old Testament Say About God? BY CLAUS WESTERMANN Edited by Friedemann WI Golka JOHN KNOX PRESS ATLANTA -_ Editor’s Preface This book is based on the Sprunt Lectures delivered by Professor D. Claus Westermann at IJnion Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia, from January 3 1 to February 3, 1977. The first four lectures, which have been translated by Julian Grinsted and the present editor, appear more or less in their original form with the addition of biblio- graphical material. The two final lectures (chapters V and VI) have been thoroughly revised and retranslated by the Reverend Alastair Unless otherwise indicated, the Scripture quotations in this book are from the Revised H. B. Logan and the present editor. I am also greatly indebted to my Standard Version Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, and @ 1971, 1973 by the Division of colleague Alastair Logan for taking upon himself the labor of proof- Christian Education, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U. S. A. and reading. are used by permission. Last, but by no means least, thanks must go to Lady Frances M. Bruce Lockhart for her perseverance in typing not only the original I,rbrary of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data lectures, but also the version presented in this book. We~terrmnn, Claus. What does the Old Testament say about God’? Friedemann W. Golka University of Exeter, Devon, U. K. “13xxd 011 the Sprunt lectures delivered . at ~!nim ‘l‘h~~~l~gical Seminary, Richmond, Virginia, May 1978 from J;tnu:try 31 to February 3, 1977.” Ir~lude~ hlhliographical references. I. <iotl Ihhllcal teaching. 2. Bible. N.T. Kcl;~tion to the Old Testament. 3. Jesus C‘hl-1st I’er\on ;III~ ofices. I. Golka, Friedemann W. II. l‘ltle. I%Sl 102 0.w37 ‘I 78-52448 ISI1N 0 X04? OIOO 0 Contents I. WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT SAY ABOUT GOD? 11 Introduction A. The History 1. Old Testament Theology and Historical Science 2. Old Testament Theology and Salvation History B. The Word of God in the Old Testament 1. Two Ways of Understanding “Word” 2. Three Main Functions of the Word a. The Word as Announcement b. The Word as Instruction c. The Cultic Word 3. Revelation in the Old Testament C. Humanity’s Response 1. The Response in Words 2. Humanity’s Response in Action a. Carrying Out God’s Commands b. The Sacrifice Conclusion II. THE SAVING GOD AND HISTORY 25 A. The Experience of Being Saved 1. God Was the Savior of Israel (The “Little Historic Creed ‘Y Exodus) 2. God Remains Israel’s Savior 3. The Savior of Individuals, Humanity, and All Creatures B. The Act of Saving and History 1. The Elements of the Saving Act 2. The Composition of the Book of Exodus C. Saving, Blessing, and Judging: The Old Testament Understanding of History D. Individual Elements and Examples 9 1. The History of the Mediator a. The Connection with the Sinai Theophany 2. Old Testament Historiography b. The Difference Between Law and Commandment III. THE BLESSING GOD AND CREATION 39 2. Worship A. The Creator and the Creation 3. Viewpoints for Understanding Worship in the Old 1. The Primeval History (Genesis I---II) Testament 2. The Creation of Man a. Two Types of Cult 3. The Creation of the World b. Blessing and Saving in Worship B. The Blessing c. Worship as the Focal Point in the Life of the People 1. The Distinctive Character of Blessing d. The Universal Aspect of Worship 2. Blessing Pertaining to Three Transitions VI. THE OLD TESTAMENT AND JESUS CHRIST 81 a. The Transition into the Kulturland A. The Historical Books and Christ b. The Transition to Kingship 1. The Saving God and the History of the Saved People c. The Transition Caused by the Collapse of the State 2. The History of Humanity and of a Family 3. The Problem of Blessing in the Book of Job 3. The Wandering People of God 4. Parallels from Other Religions 4. Blessing in the Old and New Testaments 5. The Spirit of God IV. GOD’S JUDGMENT AND GOD’S MERCY 53 6. Kingship A. Sin and Judgment: The Prophets of Doom B. The Prophetic Message and Christ 1. Sin as a Htrmun Phenomenon 1. The Prophecy of Judgment and Christ 2. Sin in the History of God? People 2. The Prophecy of Salvation and Christ 3. The Prophecy of Judgment 3. Christ and the History of the Promise in the Old B. God’s Compassion and the Prophecy of Salvation Testament 1. The “Inconsequence of God” and the Prophets C. Christ and the Response of God’s People 2. God’s Mercy and Forgiveness 1. Psalm 22 and the Psalms of Lamentation 3. God’s Compassion on an Individual: Sin and Forgiveness 2. The Psalms of Praise in Dlxeren t Con texts 3. The Response in Action: The Law a. The God of the Family Conclusion: The Question of a Biblical Theology b. The Joseph Story c. Forgiving in Worship Notes 97 d. Forgiveness in the Servant Songs V. THE RESPONSE 65 A. The Response in Words 1. The Praise of God 2. The Lament B. The Response in Action 1. The Commandments and Laws I What Does the Old Testament Say About God? Introduction’ What does the Old Testament say about God? The answer to this question has to be given from the Old Testament in its entirety. It is the task of a theology of the Old Testament to describe and view together what the Old Testament as a whole, in all its sections, says about God.2 The task is not correctly understood if one takes one part of the Old Testament to be the most important and gives it promi- nence over the others; or if one regards the whole as determined by one concept such as covenant or election or salvation; or if one asks, to begin with, what the theological center of the Old Testament is. The New Testament obviously has its center in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ, to which the Gospels are directed and which the Epistles take as their starting point. The Old Testament, however, has no similarity at all to this structure. It is therefore not possible to translate the problem of the theological center from the New to the Old Testament.’ If we wish to describe what the Old Testament as a whole says about God, we have to start by looking at the way in which the Old Testament presents itself; this can be recognized by everyone: “The 12 WllAT DOb:S TIlEI OLD TISTAMICNT SAY ABOUT GOD? What Does the Old Testament Say About God? 13 Old Testament tells a story” (Gerhard von Rad). With that statement expressed along broad and simple lines? In previous Old Testament we have reached our first decision about the form of an Old Testament theologies this has been attempted predominantly by reducing what theology: if the Old Testament narrates what it has to say about God the Old Testament says about God to comprehensive terms such as in the form of a story, then the structure of an Old Testament theology salvation, election, covenant, faith, kerygma, revelation, redemption, must be based on events rather than concepts.4 soteriology, eschatology, etc. By using these noun concepts they But how can we define this structure of events more exactly? There moved away from the language of the Old Testament, which is over- seems to be an obvious answer to this question: the task of a theology whelmingly dominated by verbs; in addition this meant a loss of the of the Old Testament could simply consist of re-narrating the story diversity in which the Old Testament speaks of God.s of the Old Testament in an abbreviated and summarized form. This If we wish to clarify these broad lines that determine the whole was certainly how Gerhard von Rad understood it: “Re-telling the way in which the Old Testament speaks of God and yet not overlook story is therefore still the most legitimate way for theology to speak the many forms in which it occurs, we shall therefore have to start about the Old Testament.“5 This would be possible if the whole of the from verb structures. This demands a complete change in our way of Old Testament consisted of a continuous story from the first to the thinking. Instead of looking at the Word of God for its thought- last chapter. However, this is not the case.6 content, we shall have to approach it as an action between God and The Old Testament has come down to us in a threefold structure, people and determine its functions. Instead of looking for a state of in which it also originated: the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings; salvation, we shall have to look for an act of saving, and so on. or the historical, prophetic, and didactic books, the nucleus of which The large contexts of the Old Testament have to be understood by is the Psalms. The Bible of the Old Testament, according to this starting from these verb structures. In the historical books just such conception of the traditionists, consists, apart from the narrative, of a large context is apparently provided by the relationship of the the word of God, which occurs in the events, and of humanity’s Pentateuch to the Deuteronomistic History Work: in the middle of response in calling to God. The narrative of the historical books from the one stands the confession of praise,9 in the.middle of the other the Genesis to Chronicles does contain texts in which the word of God confession of sin.” A further theologically significant context is pro- enters the action, and texts which contain the response of praise or vided by the three-part structure of the Yahwistic Work: primeval lament.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Partners with God
    Partners with God Theological and Critical Readings of the Bible in Honor of Marvin A. Sweeney Shelley L. Birdsong & Serge Frolov Editors CLAREMONT STUDIES IN HEBREW BIBLE AND SEPTUAGINT 2 Partners with God Table of Contents Theological and Critical Readings of the Bible in Honor of Marvin A. Sweeney Abbreviations ix ©2017 Claremont Press Preface xv 1325 N. College Ave Selected Bibliography of Marvin A. Sweeney’s Writings xvii Claremont, CA 91711 Introduction 1 ISBN 978-1-946230-13-3 Pentateuch Is Form Criticism Compatible with Diachronic Exegesis? 13 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Rethinking Genesis 1–2 after Knierim and Sweeney Serge Frolov Partners with God: Theological and Critical Readings of the Bible in Exploring Narrative Forms and Trajectories 27 Honor of Marvin A. Sweeney / edited by Shelley L. Birdsong Form Criticism and the Noahic Covenant & Serge Frolov Peter Benjamin Boeckel xxi + 473 pp. 22 x 15 cm. –(Claremont Studies in Hebrew Bible Natural Law Recorded in Divine Revelation 41 and Septuagint 2) A Critical and Theological Reflection on Genesis 9:1-7 Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-946230-13-3 Timothy D. Finlay 1. Bible—Criticism, Narrative 2. Bible—Criticism, Form. The Holiness Redaction of the Abrahamic Covenant 51 BS 1192.5 .P37 2017 (Genesis 17) Bill T. Arnold Former Prophets Miscellaneous Observations on the Samson Saga 63 Cover: The Prophet Jeremiah by Barthélemy d’Eyck with an Excursus on Bees in Greek and Roman Buogonia Traditions John T. Fitzgerald The Sword of Solomon 73 The Subversive Underbelly of Solomon’s Judgment of the Two Prostitutes Craig Evan Anderson Two Mothers and Two Sons 83 Reading 1 Kings 3:16–28 as a Parody on Solomon’s Coup (1 Kings 1–2) Hyun Chul Paul Kim Y Heavenly Porkies 101 The Psalm in Habakkuk 3 263 Prophecy and Divine Deception in 1 Kings 13 and 22 Steven S.
    [Show full text]
  • The Language of Creation and the Construction of a New Concept of Theodicy: Job 38-42
    The Language of Creation and the Construction of a New Concept of Theodicy: Job 38-42 Nicole Marie Hildebrand Faculty of Religious Studies McGill University, Montréal August 2006 A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Arts © Nicole Marie Hildebrand, 2006 Library and Bibliothèque et 1+1 Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de l'édition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-32523-0 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-32523-0 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant à la Bibliothèque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par télécommunication ou par l'Internet, prêter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des thèses partout dans loan, distribute and sell th es es le monde, à des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non­ sur support microforme, papier, électronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriété du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits moraux qui protège cette thèse. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation.
    [Show full text]
  • Old Testament Theology for Ministry: the Works of Claus Westermann in English Translation JAMES LIMBURG Luther-Northwestern Theological Seminaries, St
    Word & World 1/2 (1981) Copyright © 1981 by Word & World, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. All rights reserved. page 169 Old Testament Theology for Ministry: The Works of Claus Westermann in English Translation JAMES LIMBURG Luther-Northwestern Theological Seminaries, St. Paul, Minnesota In October of 1979, an article appeared in Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung, the daily newspaper of Heidelberg, Germany, celebrating the 70th birthday of Claus Westermann, Professor of Old Testament. Included is the following comment: He is among the theological professors who came to the university out of parish ministry, and this background in the church has given Westermann’s work its special characteristics to this day. For him, the scholarly interpretation of the Old Testament always has something to do with the contemporary practice of church and society, and therefore he has worked tirelessly to bring scholarly interpretation and practical life into close relationship with each other. With great willingness he has accepted invitations from congregations, study groups, and institutions of learning for countless lectures, discussions, Bible studies, and sermons. And many of his scholarly works arose directly out of such practical work in the congregation.1 The subtitle for this journal is “Theology for Christian Ministry.” That phrase catches the intent of Westermann’s writings precisely. In this issue devoted to Scripture, it seems appropriate to comment upon some of Westermann’s publications now available in English, and to make suggestions for their use in the work of the preacher and teacher. For Westermann, experience and exegesis are always closely related to one another. Thus it is important to begin with a brief sketch of his own life, indicating how he came to devote his attention to the Old Testament.
    [Show full text]
  • Foster~Volume 1
    Bratich z Amassing the Multitude 1 1 The Multivalence of the Term “Original Text” in New Testament Textual Criticism Eldon Jay Epp Introduction ne hundred and ninety-one years ago, in 1808, Johann Leonhard Hug’s Introduction to the New Testament carried statements that, in part, may Ostrike textual critics as being far ahead of their time. Hug laments the loss of all the original manuscripts of the New Testament writings “so import- ant to the church” and wonders: “How shall we explain this singular fact?” Next, he observes that Paul and others employed secretaries, but Hug views the closing salutation, written in the author’s own hand, as “sufficient to give them the value of originals.” Then, referring to the further role that scribes and correctors must have played after such a Christian writing had been dictated by its author, he says: Let us now suppose, as it is very natural to do, that the same librarius [copyist] who was employed to make this copy, made copies likewise for opulent individuals and other churches – and there was no original at all, or there were perhaps ten or more [originals] of which none could claim superiority.1 A writing with no original? Or, with ten originals? And proposed by a scholar at the outset of the nineteenth century? Later Hug asserts that “the New Testament has had the peculiar fate of suffering more by intentional alterations than the Source: Harvard Theological Review, 92(3) (1999): 245–281. 2 New Testament Studies works of profane literature . and the heretics, to whom it would perhaps be attributed, had no share in it.”2 What he is saying by both assertions is that, because “strange things had happened in individual mss, even at this early period”3 (that is, before the mid-third century).
    [Show full text]
  • CHAPTER ONE Introductory Matters
    CHAPTER ONE Introductory Matters Being a sacred document of faith and socio-religious history, the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible1 has been subjected to various scholarly investigations since the dawn of the modern era. At the on-set, Old Testa- ment study was dominated by the quest for a theological understanding of the Hebrew Bible. This earliest orthodox confessional approach made no distinction between biblical theology and dogmatic theology or between Old Testament theology and New Testament theology. Old Testament theology as a discipline in the modern sense is just about two centuries old. As Ralph Smith notes, many Old Testament scholars ascribe its foundation to an eighteenth-century rationalist, Johann Philipp Gabler, who attributed the confusion in the Christian world to “an improper use of the Bible” and lack of distinction “between dogmatic theology and the simple historical religion of the Bible.” Through his March 30, 1787, inaugural speech at the Univer- sity of Altdorf, he thus “called for a separation of dogmatic and biblical theology,” and hence “he is often called the father of biblical theology.”2 Gabler’s call was in response to a demand for what was termed “biblical theology” since about the mid-seventeenth century—a critical trend which resulted from the insufficiency of and danger posed by the Protestant Reformation principle of sola scriptura with regard to the method of doing theology. Of course, neither Gabler nor the Reformers did originate the phrase “biblical theology.” He rather employed and described
    [Show full text]
  • Professor Rolf P. Knierim and Mrs. Hildegard E. Knierim
    1 Professor Rolf P. Knierim and Mrs. Hildegard E. Knierim Obituary Marvin A. Sweeney Claremont School of Theology I deeply regret to announce the passing of Professor Rolf P. Knierim (90) and Mrs. Hildegard E. Knierim, née Salm, (89) on September 29, 2018. Both died instantly in an automobile accident near Winslow, Arizona, while returning to Claremont from a brief vacation in New Mexico. Professor Knierim was born in Pirmasens and Mrs. Knierim was born in Edenkoben, both in the Rhineland-Palatinate region in Germany near the French border. They met at the age of 5 or 6 in elementary school, and later faced the challenges of World War II. Professor Knierim was forced into military service at the age of 15, but later turned himself in to American MP’s following the bombardment and capture of his home town. After the conclusion of the war, he continued his education at the Humanitisches Gymnasium in Pirmasens, the Methodist Seminary in Frankfurt am Main, and Heidelberg University. The Knierims were married in 1955, and Professor Knierim was ordained as an Elder in the Methodist Church in 1957. Mrs. Knierim devoted herself to her family. She was well- known for her cheerful personality, her wonderful hospitality, and her own keen intellect. The Knierims are the parents of five children, Johannes, Eva, Eberhard, Barbara, and Gabriele Knierim, and they are grandparents of five grandchildren. While at Heidelberg, Professor Knierim served as a pastor, hospital chaplain, assistant to Professors Claus Westermann and Gerhard von Rad, and Privatdozent. He was invited to write a 2 doctoral dissertation under the supervision of Professor von Rad, and he earned his Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO Death and the Garden: An
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO Death and the Garden: An Examination of Original Immortality, Vegetarianism, and Animal Peace in the Hebrew Bible and Mesopotamia A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in History by Joshua John Van Ee Committee in Charge: Professor William H. C. Propp, Chair Professor Anthony T. Edwards Professor David Goodblatt Professor Thomas E. Levy Professor Patrick H. Patterson 2013 Copyright Joshua John Van Ee, 2013 All rights reserved. The Dissertation of Joshua John Van Ee is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication on microfilm and electronically: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Chair University of California, San Diego 2013 iii DEDICATION To my wife iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Signature Page ................................................................................... iii Dedication .......................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ................................................................................ v List of Abbreviations ............................................................................ vii List of Symbols and Conventions .........................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Education in Ancient Israel by James Crenshaw, Choice 36:5 (January 1999)
    Curriculum Vitae for Joel S. Kaminsky Updated January 2014 Home Address and Phone: 252 Prospect Street, Northampton, MA 01060, 413-586- 0021; Campus Address and Phone: Wright Hall 126, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063, 413-585-3608. Degrees: Doctorate June 1993 University of Chicago Divinity School, Dissertation Topic: “Punishment Displacement in the Hebrew Bible” Master's June 1984 University of Chicago Divinity School, Divinity. Bachelor's June 1982 Miami University, OH. Majors: Religion, Pol. Sci. Awards and Honors: Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations passed with Distinction, March 1987. Employment History: Smith College, Northampton, MA. Professor in the Department of Religion teaching Bible, Biblical Hebrew, Judaic Studies and Religion courses. 1997-present. Chair of the Religion Dept. 2010-11. Member Program in Jewish Studies 1997-present, served as the Director, Program in Jewish Studies 2004-06, Jan. 2007-2009. Member Program in Archaeology 2004-Present, served as Director, Program in Archaeology 2008-09. Member of the Program in Ancient Studies 2006-Present. Duke University Divinity School. Visiting Professor, teaching a Ph.D. seminar on the Hebrew text and narrative technique in Genesis. Fall 2013. Yale University, Visiting Professor, teaching a graduate seminar on the Hebrew Exegesis of Judges. Fall 2009. Visiting Associate Professor, teaching a graduate seminar on Israel’s election theology. Fall 2007. St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN. Assistant Professor in the Religion Department teaching Bible, Judaic Studies and Introduction to Western Religions. 1994-97. Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA. Assistant Professor in the Religion Dept. teaching Judaic Studies, Bible, and Intro. to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 1993-94. Loyola University, Chicago, IL.
    [Show full text]
  • Twentieth-Century Old Testament Studies: a Quick Survey WALTER BRUEGGEMANN Columbia Theological Seminary Decatur, Georgia
    Word & World Volume XX, Number 1 Winter 2000 Twentieth-Century Old Testament Studies: A Quick Survey WALTER BRUEGGEMANN Columbia Theological Seminary Decatur, Georgia HE CONTOURS OF WESTERN CULTURAL HISTORY THROUGH THE TWENTIETH century are in large sweep identifiable: an initial moment of innocence until 1914, the willful barbarism of the two wars (1914-1945), the long tense stand-off of the cold war (1945-1989), and a final decade of localism in the presence of “the last superpower” (1989-2000). I do not suggest that the story of critical Old Testament study is dictated or controlled by the forces of public history. But neither does this particular tale of scholarship exist in a vacuum, without reference to context. In re- viewing and assessing such scholarship, it is important to remember that scholar- ship is conducted by real people who live in the real world with its immense gifts and dangers. I. Old Testament studies at the outset of the twentieth century were completely Among WALTER BRUEGGEMANN’s many writings is his recent proposal, Theology of the Old Testament: Testimony, Dispute, and Advocacy (Fortress, 1997). In the past hundred years, Old Testament scholarship has moved from the his- torical positivism of the late nineteenth century through the strong theological in- terpretations of mid-century and the literary or canonical concerns of the 1970s to the variety of methods given birth by the radical pluralism of century’s end. Great change has brought the field great vitality and energy. Copyright © 2000 by Word & World, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. All rights reserved.
    [Show full text]
  • Karl-Henrik Wallerstein: in Search of Solid Ground
    Karl-Henrik Wallerstein In Search of Solid Ground Understanding the Epistemology, Hermeneutics, and Theology in Walter Brueggemann’s Theology of the Old Testament, Testimony, Dispute, Advocacy For Walter Brueggemann, the postmodern situation offers a new perspective on biblical interpretation that forges its way between the historical-critical method and classical church theology. In Karl-Henrik Wallerstein his masterly Theology of the Old Testament, Testimony, Dispute, Advocacy (1997) Brueggemann present a new trajectory for the | In | 2019 of Solid Ground Search Karl-HenrikWallerstein discipline of the Old Testament which is based on a new epistemo- In Search of Solid Ground logical and hermeneutical ground. Understanding the Epistemology, Hermeneutics, and Theology in Wal- However, Brueggemann’s conclusion of a concept of God in the fray has been a challenge for the discipline. This thesis offers an ter Brueggemann’s Theology of the Old Testament, Testimony, Dispute, analysis of his approach from the backdrop of his concept of God Advocacy and its relationship between the biblical text and Brueggemann’s own epistemological and hermeneutical presuppositions as pre- sented in Theology of the Old Testament. The argument in this thesis is that it is possible conclude a theo- logical counter-testimony without a tension within YHWH. Instead of a concept of God in tension this thesis suggest that Bruegge- mann’s distinction of God above the fray and God in the fray could be labeled God above the fray and Israel in the fray. 9 789517 659307 Åbo Akademi University Press | ISBN 978-951-765-930-7 Karl-Henrik Wallerstein Born 1977 Master in Theology, one year, in Lund University, 2003 PhD-dissertation in Old Testament Theology defended at Åbo Akademi Unversity, 2019 Åbo Akademi University Press Tavastgatan 13, FI-20500 Åbo, Finland Tel.
    [Show full text]
  • This Thesis Has Been Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for a Postgraduate Degree (E.G
    This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Divine Anger, Divine Holiness and the Exclusion of Moses in Numbers and Deuteronomy Kin Foon MAN Doctor of Philosophy The University of Edinburgh 2017 2 Abstract This dissertation investigates the exclusion of Moses from the Promised Land in Numbers and Deuteronomy. Why are there different reasons given for his exclusion in the two books? Can they be explained by the complex redactions of Deuteronomy? There are four different answers to the question of Moses’ exclusion. According to Deut 1-3, divine anger is directed at Moses because he is the leader of the first exodus generation on whom the wrath of God is visited. Moses is excluded because he should bear the same punishment as the first generation of Israelites who left Egypt. Another reason is given in Deut 4, a mixture of late layers in the Deuteronomistic History.
    [Show full text]
  • Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Society of Biblical Literature
    Annual Meeting 1970 Hotel New Yorker, New York, October 22-27 American Academy of Religion Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Society of Biblical Literature American Academy of Religion Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting 1970 Hotel New Yorker, New York, October 22-27 THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF RELIGION NATIONAL OFFICERS The American Academy of Religion was established in December PRESIDENT 1963 as successor to the National Association of Biblical In¬ Claude Welch, University of Pennsylvania structors founded in 1909. The change of name responded to VICE-PRESIDENT the new developments in the study and teaching of religion in James Burtchaell, University of Notre Dame this century. It accurately reflects the diverse training and interests of the members of the Academy. SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT Robert Michaelsen, University of California, Santa Barbara The purpose of the Academy is to stimulate scholarship and foster research in the complex of disciplines that together SECRETARY constitute religion as an area of learning. Full recognition is Robert McDermott, Manhattanville College given not only to the traditional disciplines but also to those aspects of the social sciences and humanities which have come TREASURER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR to play a role in the study of religion. It is the aim of the Harry M. Buck, Wilson College Academy to provide an opportunity for the development of EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE special interests and cross-disciplinary conversations. Robert Wright, Wilson College These aims are implemented primarily through reading of papers ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS at the annual meeting, sessions of the geographical regions, J.
    [Show full text]