Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 1986 The Concept of Vengeance in the Book of Revelation in its Old Testament and Near Eastern Context Joel Nobel Musvosvi Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Near Eastern Languages and Societies Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Musvosvi, Joel Nobel, "The Concept of Vengeance in the Book of Revelation in its Old Testament and Near Eastern Context" (1986). Dissertations. 103. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/103 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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University Microfilms International A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 USA 313 /61-4700 800 521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Order Number 8919900 The concept of vengeance in the Book of Revelation in its Old Testament and Near Eastern context Musvosvi, Joel Nobel, Ph.D. Andrews University, 1987 UMI 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE CONCEPT OF VENGEANCE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION IN ITS OLD TESTAMENT AND NEAR EASTERN CONTEXT A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Joel Nobel Musvosvi March 19S6 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE CONCEPT OF VENGEANCE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION IN ITS OLD TESTAMENT AND NEAR EASTERN CONTEXT A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Joel Nobel Musvosvi APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: di. ,/ '/ Kenneth A. Strand, Chairman Gerhard F. Hasel, Dean Prpfesspm of Church. History SDA Theological Seminary William H. Shea, Professor of OlA Testament Ivan T. Blazen*f Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology O. C" . MerWynMervyn Maxwell, Profeessor of Church History ~0J- -______________ Steven W. Thompson, Senior Date Approved Lecturer in New Testament Newbold College Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT THE CONCEPT OF VENGEANCE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION IN ITS OLD TESTAi-iJLT AND NEAR EASTERN CONTEXT by Joel Nobel Musvosvi Chairman: Kenneth A. Strand Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE CONCEPT OF VENGEANCE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION IN ITS OLD TESTAMENT AND NEAR EASTERN CONTEXT Name of researcher: Joel Nobel Musvosvi Name and degree of faculty adviser: K. A. Strand, Ph.D. Date completed: March 1986 This study attempts to resolve the theological and ethical problems raised by the call for and rejoicing at vengeance as they appear in Rev 6:9-11 and Rev 19:2, respectively. Central to the study is the question of whether vengeance in Revelation expresses a vindictive huma l attitude or a divine attribute of justice. In Chapter 1 a review of pertinent literature reveals the lack of agreement among scholars on the interpretation of vengeance in Revelation. Chapter 2 examines the concept of vengeance as it occurs in several Ancient Near Eastern vassal treaties, the Old Testament, and Pseudepigrapha. This examination reveals that vengeance, in both biblical and extra-biblical documents 2 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 3 occurs in the context of covenant or treaty relation­ ships. The evidence suggests that vengeance is not a human action of self-help; rather it is the prerogative of the highest authority in protecting loyal subjects. Inasmuch as the survey of Ancient Near Eastern and Old Testament backgrounds revealed suffering to be the context in which calls for vengeance occur, there was need to examine evidences for persecution in the Aposto­ lic era. Chapter 3 reviews these evidences in the New Testament and especially in Revelation. Chapter 4 examines Rev 6:9-10 and 19:1-2, wherein the call for and response to vengeance occur in juridical contexts. In view of the unfair human verdicts against his saints, God must "retry'' the case between them and the persecutor, so that the innocence of the saints and the guilt of the persecutor can be declared. The trial— a covenant lawsuit— involves an open review of the records of both defendant and plaintiff; and in line with the law of malicious witness, God reverses Babylon's judgments. Thus, vengeance is demonstrated to be a divine attribute of justice. The scenes of rejoicing in Rev 18 and 19 recall the Exodus-from-Egypt/Fall-of-Babylon motif and have parallels in some Ancient Near Eastern vassal treaties. The rejoicing is theocentric, and focuses on God's redemptive purpose. Vengeance means deliverance and the restoration of the kingdom to the saints. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Dedicated to My wife Angeline, my son Tendai, and my daughter Vimbai, who provided love and support. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................. viii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ............................... 1 Purpose and Delimitations .............. 7 Purpose ............................... 7 Delimitations ........................ 3 Methodology ............................. 9 Review of Literature ................... 13 Literature on Old Testament Backgrounds.......................... 14 Literature on Vengeance in the Apocalypse .......................... 2 0 II. BIBLICAL AND NEAR EASTERN BACKGROUND TO "VENGEANCE" ............................. 3 5 Naqam in the Ancient Near East ......... 37 Vengeance, Curses, and Protection in Suzerainty Treaties .................. 4 3 Vengeance in the Old Testament ......... 47 Naqam in Leviticus ................... 53 Vengeance of the Covenant ......... 56 Progression in Vengeance of the Covenant............................... 57 The Vengeance of Yahweh in Action ..... 62 Vengeance in the Song of Moses ......... 67 The Rib Pattern ....................... 67 Vengeance in the Days of the Monarchy .. 81 Vengeance and Imprecations in the Psalms ................................ 90 Suggested Solutions to Imprecatory Psalms ....................... 92 The Purpose of Imprecation ........... 95 Covenantal Ground for Imprecation .... 97 Naqam in the Psalms .................... 99 Vengeance in the Prophets .............. 102 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Vengeance in the Minor Prophets ..... 10 2 Day of Yahweh ........................ 10 5 Vengeance in Isaiah .................... 109 Suffering as a Background tc