DOCSLIB.ORG

Biblical Metaphors and Sexual Violence Against Women

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Biblical Metaphors and Sexual Violence Against Women Wright State University CORE Scholar Browse all Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 2013 Dangerous Feminine Sexuality: Biblical Metaphors and Sexual Violence Against Women Lisa M. Ewing Wright State University Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons Repository Citation Ewing, Lisa M., "Dangerous Feminine Sexuality: Biblical Metaphors and Sexual Violence Against Women" (2013). Browse all Theses and Dissertations. 706. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all/706 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Browse all Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DANGEROUS FEMININE SEXUALITY: BIBLICAL METAPHORS AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Humanities BY LISA MARIE EWING B.A., Wright State University, 2009 2013 Wright State University WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL March 7, 2013 I HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THE THESIS PREPARED UNDER MY SUPERVISION BY Lisa Marie Ewing ENTITLED Dangerous Feminine Sexuality: Biblical Metaphors and Sexual Violence Against Women BE ACCEPTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF Master of Humanities. __________________________ David L. Barr, Ph.D. Thesis Director __________________________ Ava Chamberlain, Ph.D. Director, Master of Humanities Program Committee on Final Examination: _________________________________ David L. Barr, Ph.D. _________________________________ Mark Verman, Ph.D. _________________________________ Andrea Harris, M.A. _________________________________ R. William Ayres, Ph.D. Interim Dean, Graduate School ABSTRACT Ewing, Lisa Marie. M.H. Masters of Humanities Program, Wright State University, 2013. Dangerous Feminine Sexuality: Biblical Metaphors and Sexual Violence Against Women. This analysis responds to an ongoing debate between feminist and traditional readings of sexually violent (SV) metaphors in the prophetic texts of Hosea, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, and the New Testament book of Revelation. Whereas feminist scholars have often argued that such metaphors are built upon the exploitation of women’s sexuality, traditionalist scholars have insisted that the metaphors are merely literary devices that should only be read within their historical and literary contexts. Taking a moderate position, this analysis uses the cognitive metaphor theory to explain that the SV metaphors depend on cognitive associations of dangerous feminine sexuality to relate to historically-specific concerns of the original authors and audiences. This analysis then examines said historically-specific concerns to reveal the literary function of the metaphors in their original contexts. Finally, this analysis closes by considering current sociopsychological concerns that cause contemporary society to continue relying on the same cognitive associations of dangerous feminine sexuality as seen the SV metaphors. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS I. THE METAPHOR DEBATE AND CONGITIVE METAPHOR THEORY ................. 1 Overview of the Debate ................................................................................................... 4 Literature Review: Feminist-Critical Scholars ................................................................ 7 Literature Review: Sociohistorical Scholars ................................................................. 14 Literary Function of Metaphor ...................................................................................... 18 II. “BATTERED LOVE”: SV METAPHORS IN HOSEA, JEREMIAH, AND EZEKIEL ........................................................................................................................................... 24 Hosea ............................................................................................................................. 25 Jeremiah ......................................................................................................................... 31 Ezekiel .......................................................................................................................... 37 Assyrian/Babylonian Invasion ...................................................................................... 42 Israel’s Broken Covenant ............................................................................................. 44 Sex and Marriage .......................................................................................................... 49 The Cognitive Gain: How Is a Whore Like Ancient Israelite Men? ............................ 54 III. SV METAPHOR IN REVELATION: SAME CONGITIVE ASSOCIATIONS, NEW CLOTHES? ...................................................................................................................... 58 The Whore of Babylon ................................................................................................. 60 The Bride of the Lamb .................................................................................................. 67 Greco-Roman Culture ................................................................................................... 70 Apocalypticism: A New Perspective of the Nature of Evil .......................................... 76 The Sexual Temptress as Feminized Evil ..................................................................... 79 The Cognitive Gain: Same Cognitive Associations, Different Background ................ 83 IV. UNCHANGED COGNITIVE ASSOCIATIONS: CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL CONCERNS .................................................................................................................... 86 System Justification Theory ......................................................................................... 89 Case Study: Cleveland, Texas Gang-Rape ................................................................... 92 The Cleveland Case and the SV Metaphors ................................................................. 95 Closing Thoughts: Can We Ever Move Beyond the Cognitive Associations? ........... 100 WORKS CITED ............................................................................................................ 103 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Dr. David Barr: It has been a privilege to have you as my committee chair, and also as one of my most respected instructors during my time at Wright State University. Your scholarship has been a major source of inspiration in my own work. Also, thank you for taking some time out of your retirement to continue assisting this project! Dr. Mark Verman: You were the first professor who got me interested in religious studies. I have admired and respected your knowledge and wisdom ever since. I am grateful for everything you have taught me over the years. Thank you for your candid feedback and guidance. Professor Andrea Harris: You were the first professor who inspired me to take a critical look at sexually violent images. Your scholarship about rape culture opened my eyes to valuable insights, both in academia and the “real world.” Thank you for enlightening me. I hope that one day I will enlighten another young woman the same way. Dr. Ava Chamberlain: Thank you for being patient as I took extra time to complete this project! This project was not easy, but I knew that you had faith in me. Also, thank you for being a supportive program director; I felt like I could come to you about anything. Thank you to the various other professors and classmates who provided their own advice and feedback. Thank you to my kind and understanding boss who allowed me to take time off work to focus on my thesis. Thank you to my friends and family who provided support through encouraging phone calls, text messages, Facebook posts, and talks. Words cannot describe how blessed I felt every time I received another encouraging message from one of you. I could have never done this without your emotional support. v DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to the students, faculty, and staff of the Wright State University Women’s Studies Program. Thank you for contributing to who I am today. One day, we shall overcome rape culture. vi I: THE METAPHOR DEBATE AND COGNITIVE METAPHOR THEORY Some of the Biblical authors used metaphors that depict geographic locations of the Ancient Near East (specifically the cities of Babylon and Jerusalem, and the nation of Israel) as adulterous wives and sexually-robust whores whose actions lead to sexually humiliating punishments for their sins.1 In such metaphors, these “women” are sexually violated as retribution for committing acts of sexual immorality; these metaphors symbolize the consequences of apostasy and sinful activity. These particular metaphors are in the Hebrew prophetic books of Hosea, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. The metaphor represents Israel as an unfaithful wife whose sexually-charged sinful acts of infidelity are violently confronted: “she” (Israel/Jerusalem) is sexually shamed by her jilted “husband” (YHWH). Specifically, in these metaphors the wife/Israel is (1) denounced from her title as wife (Hosea 2:2; Jeremiah 3:8); (2) cut from her husband’s/YHWH’s provided resources for her survival (Hosea 2:3, 9; Ezekiel 16:39); and (3) punished for her adultery with public stripping/sexual humiliation (Hosea 2:3, 10; Jeremiah 13:26; Ezekiel 16:37). This metaphor is also found in
Load more

Recommended publications
  • OLD TESTAMENT BIBLICAL LITERACY Lesson 48 Minor Prophets – Part Two HOSEA and MICAH
    OLD TESTAMENT BIBLICAL LITERACY Lesson 48 Minor Prophets – Part Two HOSEA and MICAH I. HOSEA Who was Hosea? Little is known about Hosea’s life. What we know is gleaned from the reading of the book of his prophesies that bears his name. Hosea is unique among the Old Testament prophets who have prophecies written (the “literary prophets”) in that he was actually born in the Northern Kingdom. Other literary prophets spoke of and to the Northern Kingdom, but those prophets were actually from Judah (for example, Amos from last week). Some scholars believe that Hosea was a baker by trade, basing their opinion on Hosea 7:4ff. In that passage, sinners are noted to be “burning like an oven whose fire the baker need not stir from the kneading of the dough till it rises.” To extrapolate Hosea’s occupation from that passage is risky. It seems equally likely that Hosea would be a farmer because of his repeated analogies to agriculture. One piece of personal information we know more certainly is that Hosea was married to a woman named Gomer. That fact becomes a core part of the message of Hosea. Background and Message Hosea itself records that the prophet was called and active during the reign of Jereboam II in the Northern Kingdom. That puts the prophecies in much the same context as Amos from last week. This time in the Northern Kingdom was marked by prosperity. The rich were getting richer, but the poor were getting poorer. There was little to no social justice in the country.
    [Show full text]
  • It Is Difficult to Speak About Jeremiah Without Comparing Him to Isaiah. It
    751 It is diffi cult to speak about Jeremiah without comparing him to Isaiah. It might be wrong to center everything on the differences between their reactions to God’s call, namely, Isaiah’s enthusiasm (Is 6:8) as opposed to Jeremiah’s fear (Jer 1:6). It might have been only a question of their different temperaments. Their respec- tive vocation and mission should be complementary, both in terms of what refers to their lives and writings and to the infl uence that both of them were going to exercise among believers. Isaiah is the prophecy while Jeremiah is the prophet. The two faces of prophet- ism complement each other and they are both equally necessary to reorient history. Isaiah represents the message to which people will always need to refer in order to reaffi rm their faith. Jeremiah is the ever present example of the suffering of human beings when God bursts into their lives. There is no room, therefore, for a sentimental view of a young, peaceful and defenseless Jeremiah who suffered in silence from the wickedness of his persecu- tors. There were hints of violence in the prophet (11:20-23). In spite of the fact that he passed into history because of his own sufferings, Jeremiah was not always the victim of the calamities that he had announced. In his fi rst announcement, Jeremiah said that God had given him authority to uproot and to destroy, to build and to plant, specifying that the mission that had been entrusted to him encompassed not only his small country but “the nations.” The magnitude to such a task assigned to a man without credentials might surprise us; yet it is where the fi nger of God does appear.
    [Show full text]
  • Jeremiah Commentary
    YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE JEREMIAH BOB UTLEY PROFESSOR OF HERMENEUTICS (BIBLE INTERPRETATION) STUDY GUIDE COMMENTARY SERIES OLD TESTAMENT, VOL. 13A BIBLE LESSONS INTERNATIONAL MARSHALL, TEXAS 2012 www.BibleLessonsIntl.com www.freebiblecommentary.org Copyright ©2001 by Bible Lessons International, Marshall, Texas (Revised 2006, 2012) All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any way or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Bible Lessons International P. O. Box 1289 Marshall, TX 75671-1289 1-800-785-1005 ISBN 978-1-892691-45-3 The primary biblical text used in this commentary is: New American Standard Bible (Update, 1995) Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation P. O. Box 2279 La Habra, CA 90632-2279 The paragraph divisions and summary captions as well as selected phrases are from: 1. The New King James Version, Copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 2. The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Copyright ©1989 by the Division of Christian Education of National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U. S. A. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 3. Today’s English Version is used by permission of the copyright owner, The American Bible Society, ©1966, 1971. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 4. The New Jerusalem Bible, copyright ©1990 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.freebiblecommentary.org The New American Standard Bible Update — 1995 Easier to read: } Passages with Old English “thee’s” and “thou’s” etc.
    [Show full text]
  • Friday, April 23 Revelation 22:1-5 | Psalm 130 | Haggai 2 Saturday
    Friday, April 23 Tuesday, March 2 Revelation 22:1-5 | Psalm 130 | Haggai 2 Matthew 13:44-end | Psalm 89:1-18 | Hosea 1 Saturday, April 24 Wednesday, March 3 Revelation 22:6-end | Psalm 131 | Zechariah 1:1-6 Matthew 14 | Psalm 89:19-end | Hosea 2 Sunday, April 25 Thursday, March 4 Luke 1:1-23 | Psalm 132| Zechariah 1:7-end Matthew 15:1-28 | Psalm 90 | Hosea 3 Monday, April 26 Friday, March 5 Luke 1:24-56 | Psalm 133 | Zechariah 2 Sunday, February 28—Saturday, May 1 Matthew 15:29-16:12 | Psalm 91 | Hosea 4 In this current iteration of the Project 119 Bible reading plan, Tuesday, April 27 you will find three Scripture readings listed for each day of the Saturday, March 6 Luke 1:57-end | Psalm 134 | Zechariah 3 week. There will be a New Testament reading, an Old Testa- Matthew 16:13-end | Psalm 92 | Hosea 5 ment reading, and a selection from the Book of Psalms. If you Wednesday, April 28 read all three passages each day, you will read the entire New Sunday, March 7 Luke 2:1-21 | Psalm 135 | Zechariah 4 Testament each year, most of the Old Testament every two Matthew 17:1-23 | Psalm 93 | Hosea 6 years, and the book of Psalms three times each year. Thursday, April 29 Monday, March 8 Luke 2:22-end | Psalm 136 | Zechariah 5 You are encouraged to read as much of the Bible as you can Matthew 17:24-18:14 | Psalm 94 | Hosea 7 each day.
    [Show full text]
  • Jeremiah 11:1-13:27
    Jeremiah Prophesies Destruction - Jeremiah 11:1-13:27 Topics: Adultery, Anger, Beauty, Bitterness, Commitment, Compassion, Covenant, Darkness, Death, Enemies, Evil, Family, Follow, Forget, Forsake, Fruit, Glory, God, Goodness, Hatred, Heart, Help, Honor, Idolatry, Instructions, Judgment, Justice, Law, Learning, Life, Light, Listening, Lust, Mercy, Mind, Name, Neighbor, Obedience, Pain, People, Praise, Prayer, Pride, Prophecy, Punishment, Questions, Revelation, Revenge, Righteousness, Safety, Shame, Sin, Stubbornness, Swearing, Testing, Trust, Words Open It 1. What is an issue of fairness that has direct impact on your life? * 2. If you knew that someone was trying to kill you, what would you do? Explore It 3. Of what important era in their history did God want Jeremiah to remind Israel? (11:1-5) 4. Why was God punishing His people? (11:9-11) 5. What did God say the people would discover when they sought help from the gods they had been worshiping? (11:12-13) * 6. How did Jeremiah find out about the plot on his life, and where did he turn for help? (11:18-20) 7. What did the Lord promise to do to the people of Anathoth who had threatened Jeremiah? (11:21- 23) 8. What questions did Jeremiah pose to God concerning His justice? (12:1-4) 9. What did God reveal that He intended to do to His unfaithful people? (12:7-13) 10. How would the response of the nations to God’s judgment on Israel affect those nations? (12:14- 17) 11. What physical demonstration did God require of Isaiah as a lesson to the people? (13:1-7) * 12.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Zechariah, Volume 2
    EXPLORING ZECHARIAH, VOLUME 2 VOLUME ZECHARIAH, EXPLORING is second volume of Mark J. Boda’s two-volume set on Zechariah showcases a series of studies tracing the impact of earlier Hebrew Bible traditions on various passages and sections of the book of Zechariah, including 1:7–6:15; 1:1–6 and 7:1–8:23; and 9:1–14:21. e collection of these slightly revised previously published essays leads readers along the argument that Boda has been developing over the past decade. EXPLORING MARK J. BODA is Professor of Old Testament at McMaster Divinity College. He is the author of ten books, including e Book of Zechariah ZECHARIAH, (Eerdmans) and Haggai and Zechariah Research: A Bibliographic Survey (Deo), and editor of seventeen volumes. VOLUME 2 The Development and Role of Biblical Traditions in Zechariah Ancient Near East Monographs Monografías sobre el Antiguo Cercano Oriente Society of Biblical Literature Boda Centro de Estudios de Historia del Antiguo Oriente (UCA) Electronic open access edition (ISBN 978-0-88414-201-0) available at http://www.sbl-site.org/publications/Books_ANEmonographs.aspx Cover photo: Zev Radovan/BibleLandPictures.com Mark J. Boda Ancient Near East Monographs Monografías sobre el Antiguo Cercano Oriente Society of Biblical Literature Centro de Estudios de Historia del Antiguo Oriente (UCA) EXPLORING ZECHARIAH, VOLUME 2 ANCIENT NEAR EAST MONOGRAPHS Editors Alan Lenzi Juan Manuel Tebes Editorial Board Reinhard Achenbach C. L. Crouch Esther J. Hamori Chistopher B. Hays René Krüger Graciela Gestoso Singer Bruce Wells Number 17 EXPLORING ZECHARIAH, VOLUME 2 The Development and Role of Biblical Traditions in Zechariah by Mark J.
    [Show full text]
  • The Minor Prophets Michael B
    Cedarville University DigitalCommons@Cedarville Faculty Books 6-26-2018 A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The Minor Prophets Michael B. Shepherd Cedarville University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_books Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Shepherd, Michael B., "A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The inorM Prophets" (2018). Faculty Books. 201. http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_books/201 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Cedarville, a service of the Centennial Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Books by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Cedarville. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The inorM Prophets Keywords Old Testament, prophets, preaching Disciplines Biblical Studies | Religion Publisher Kregel Publications Publisher's Note Taken from A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The Minor Prophets © Copyright 2018 by Michael B. Shepherd. Published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. ISBN 9780825444593 This book is available at DigitalCommons@Cedarville: http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_books/201 A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF THE TWELVE KREGEL EXEGETICAL LIBRARY A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF THE TWELVE The Minor Prophets MICHAEL B. SHEPHERD Kregel Academic A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The Minor Prophets © 2018 by Michael B. Shepherd Published by Kregel Publications, a division of Kregel Inc., 2450 Oak Industrial Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505-6020. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a re- trieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, me- chanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations in printed reviews.
    [Show full text]
  • By BINYAMIN UFFENHEIMER Abraham Joshua Heschel Was Not
    HEBREW BIBLE PROPHECY AND SYMPATHY by BINYAMIN UFFENHEIMER Dedicated to the memory of Abraham Joshua Heschel, on the tenth anniversary of his passing. Heschel’s Orientation and Method Abraham Joshua Heschel was not a scholar in the accepted sense of the word. His approach to the topics with which he dealt — whether biblical prophecy, Aggadah and Midrash, Hassidism, the problem of man’s relation to God, or questions pertaining to modern Jewish existence — cannot be defined as a per- sonally uncommitted search for an abstract, objective truth. On the contrary, his personal involvement was the backbone of his spiritual personality. He refused to suffice with the bare historical facts, but attempted to draw upon the above- mentioned sources of the Jewish heritage when dealing with problems and ques- tions relevant to us as human beings and as modern Jews; in short, he strove for relevance, for the living impact and meaning of the Jewish heritage to our genera- tion. In the final analysis, his approach was that of the thinker and teacher, rather than that of the cool, detached scholar interested in knowledge for its own sake. The danger of this approach lies in the fact that the sources often resist the at- tempt to have the desired solution imposed upon them. But for great teachers and thinkers this never constituted a problem; they managed to overcome this “obstacle” thanks to their interpretive intuition. Indeed, it is the art of creative interpretation, or better, re-interpretation, which has dominated the history of Binyamin Uffenheimer is Professor of Bible' at Tel-Aviv University.
    [Show full text]
  • Jeremiad Lamentations
    JEREMIAD LAMENTATIONS >, OJ oo QJ co .c .;;:u co .S! :0ro C') m m Assyrian soldiers with battering ram attacking Lachish (2 Kings 18:13-14) The career of the prophet Jeremiah prophet as well as the book that bears his spanned the most turbulent years in the his­ name, let's sketch briefly the main historical tory of Jerusalem and Judah. Called to be a events of Jeremiah's day. prophet in 626 B.C., his last activity of The time of Jeremiah's call coincided which we have knowledge occuned in the with the beginning of the demise of the late 580's. For almost forty years he carried hated Assyrian Empire. For over one hun­ the burdens of Judah's life. But he could dred years the Assyrians had ruled most of not tum the tide that eventually led to the the Near East, including Judah. They had destruction of the state, the holy city of governed with an iron hand and a heal1 of Jerusalem, the sacred Temple, and the cho­ stone. War scenes dominated Assyrian art­ sen dynasty of the Davidic family. towns being captured, exiles being led In order to understand the career of this away, prisoners being impaled on sharp BOOKS OF TIlE BIBLE 86 people's obedience to God and to God's qUESTIONS FOR transformation of the world. Read the DISCUSSION words about the future in Isaiah 65:17-18. 1. Scholars hold the opinion that our pres­ Read Isaiah 55:6-11 and answer the ques­ ent book is actually made up of the work of tions below.
    [Show full text]
  • David Jeremiah Book of Signs Study Guide
    David Jeremiah Book Of Signs Study Guide Loverless and conveyable Rene syllable some dehorners so verdantly! When Jean-Marc elongated his unbirthdays parches not honorably.substitutionally enough, is Gavriel arenicolous? Evaporated Stephanus always paunch his percher if Royal is Masoretic or psychologized Dr David Jeremiah Books Signed New & Used Alibris. Also helps you east with a crossword puzzle. Escape a Coming Night Volume 4 STUDY either by Dr David. Those books included in the Bible by a tradition or sip are called canonical. Again David is intensely personal about where God isn't just everywhere. Dr Jeremiah A ship Beyond Amazing Hardcover Book poor STUDY GUIDE away Other 50 out of 5 stars. Use another three of signs and the signs of study guide and therefore put together they demand a small group study tactics that holds the. 9 Decisions That Will Transform Your install Today Dr David Jeremiah. The confront of Signs 31 Undeniable Harbingers of the. Search more than it is because it looks at dublin university press on biblical prophecy dr jeremiah shares through books have fun multiple choice. The custom of Signs Study Guide 31 Undeniable Prophecies of the Apocalypse Dr David Jeremiah Thomas Nelson 2019 US999. Jeremiah books joshua book we sign in vain in trouble in each study guide is injurious to be signed out for this handbook, david jeremiah shares both unnecessary and. The assign of Signs Study center by Dr David Jeremiah 970310109723 available and Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. Module 4 dba study we hope answers Equine Dental Vets. Will discover what signs.
    [Show full text]
  • Hosea 13-Jonah 4
    Hosea 13-Jonah 4: September 7: Hosea 13-14 1. Who is responsible for Israel’s destruction, according to 13:9? Who alone can provide the solution? How does this proclaim the gospel to us today? 2. Compare Hosea 14:1-3 with Hosea 6:1-3. One passage expresses genuine repentance, while the other expresses false repentance (compare verse 4 of each to see God’s response). How are the two “repentences” different? Have you genuinely repented? Introduction to Joel: Author/Date: Very little is known about the author of this book. Joel’s name means “the Lord is God” and he seems to be among the earliest of the writing prophets. Joel 1:13 and 2:17 indicate that the temple was still established, while the enemies mentioned (3:2) suggest an earlier date as well. The MacArthur Study Bible suggests that the book was composed during the reign of Joash (835-796 BC), though this is not certain. Themes: The main message of the book of Joel is “the day of the LORD.” In the Bible, “the day of the LORD” refers not to a single day, but rather to a broader timeframe of judgment. Sometimes, it refers to more immediate judgments experienced by Israel and Judah. Other times, it refers to something more remote. For example, I Thessalonians 5:2 speaks of the day of the Lord as a time of future, eschatological judgment, what might be called the Great Tribulation. Likewise, Revelation 16:14 refers to it as a future global judgment. At the heart of the book is a call to God’s people to repent (2:12-17).
    [Show full text]
  • Hosea an Inspiring Quote the Book of Hosea Who Wrote This Book?
    Hosea The prophet Hosea in the 8th century BCE protested violently against Israelite religious practices. An inspiring quote “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). The Book of Hosea Hosea came from the north and preached at the same time as Amos. He discovered the tenderness of God through personal experience. He loved his wife, although she behaved badly towards him; through his love he succeeded in restoring to her the feelings she had had when she was young. This is how God loves us: not because we are good, but so that we can become good (Hosea 1-3). The book begins with God’s command to Hosea to marry an unfaithful wife who he loved passionately and the first few chapters describe what happened when he did so. Chapter 4 onwards contains a range of messages from God via Hosea, first to the people of Israel (chapters 4-11) and then to the people of Israel and Judah (chapters 11-14), about the anger God felt because of their betrayal of him through injustice, corruption and their worship of other gods. Woven between these messages of doom are some messages of hope, pointing to what God’s people can look forward to beyond the times of trouble. Who wrote this book? The author is announced as Hosea in verses 1:1-2. He was a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Hosea, in Hebrew, means salvation but Hosea is popularly termed “the prophet of doom”.
    [Show full text]