Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Master's Theses Graduate Research 2010 Yom YHWH as a Biblical-Theological Theme Robert Czarnitzki Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses Recommended Citation Czarnitzki, Robert, "Yom YHWH as a Biblical-Theological Theme" (2010). Master's Theses. 33. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/33 This Thesis 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 Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. ABSTRACT YOM YHWH AS A BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL THEME by Robert Czarnitzki Adviser: Jiři Moskala ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Thesis Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: YOM YHWH AS A BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL THEME Name of researcher: Robert Czarnitzki Name and degree of faculty adviser: Jiři Moskala, Ph.D., Th.D. Date completed: April 2010 Problem Although it has been shown in recent studies on the topic that the ―Day of YHWH‖ is to be understood not only as a collocation or concept, but as a motif-complex (a theme), the single theological motifs comprising the motif-complex have seemingly never been outlined in a systematic text-oriented study. Method This thesis investigates which main theological motifs comprise the motif- complex of the ―Day of YHWH‖ by means of a text-oriented study of the final text as existent today. It shall be asked whether the ―Day of YHWH‖ is a true biblical- theological theme, that is, whether it is deeply rooted within biblical tradition. This will include an analysis of whether there is a biblical background and a biblical eschatological outlook linked with the ―Day of YHWH.‖ To accomplish this aim of investigating whether the ―Day of YHWH‖ is an ongoing biblical-theological theme, the biblical data will be investigated in three steps: First of all the biblical text is to be studied. This includes a survey of all the texts using the exact expression ―Day of YHWH,‖ all the texts using the exact expression ―Day of YHWH‖ with an insertion of one word (like revenge, salvation, or wrath) and lastly all the texts using the word ―day‖ with YHWH as a subject and developing a significant day theology. Second, the main theological motifs are to be detected by a detailed study of catchwords, word clusters, and syntactic connections. Third, a biblical intertextual study is to outline the theme‘s inner-biblical linkages, its origin and outlook. Results The main theological motifs linked to the ―Day of YHWH‖ are the motif of cataclysm, divine wrath, judgment, salvation and war, with the motif of judgment being the most dominant among these. The most dominant metaphors used are metaphors of cataclysm, fear, judgment, pride, and war. The most dominant microstructure is the expression ―for the day is at hand.‖ The biblical intertextual study shows most linkages with the Egyptian plagues (Exod 7–11), Miriam‘s song (Exod 15), the blessings and curses lists (Deut 28–29), the Song of Moses (Deut 31–32) and Wisdom Literature. Conclusions In the light of the main theological motifs, metaphors, and microstructures it may be stated that the ―Day of YHWH‖ is indeed a biblical-theological theme with its motifs recurring again and again throughout biblical literature. The inner-biblical origin of the ―Day of YHWH‖ is most likely to be traced back to the blessings and curses lists and the Song of Moses (Deut 28–29; 31–32), even more so if one sees the Song of Moses as originally being YHWH‘s own song. The eschatological outlook of the ―Day of YHWH‖ is manifest in several texts looking ahead to its last, ultimate eschatological occurrence. The uniqueness of the ―Day of YHWH‖ lies in its essence of being an event impacting time, even eschatological time, leading to the installment of transcendence. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary YOM YHWH AS A BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL THEME A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts by Robert Czarnitzki 2010 © Copyright by Robert Czarnitzki 2010 All Rights Reserved YOM YHWH AS A BIBLICAL–THEOLOGICAL THEME A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts by Robert Czarnitzki APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: _________________________________ Jiři Moskala, Ph.D. Th.D., Chair _________________________________ Jacques Doukhan, D.H.L., Th.D. _________________________________ ______________________________ Richard Davidson, Ph.D. Date approved To Rainer: קולי אל יהוה אקרא ויענני מהר קדשו סלה Ich rufe mit meiner Stimme zum HERRN, so erhört er mich von seinem heiligen Berge. (Psalm 3:5) To Margrit: אדני מעון אתה היית לנו בדר ודר Herr, du bist unsere Zuflucht für und für! (Psalm 90:1) TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................... x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................... xi Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 The Motivation for This Thesis .............................................................. 1 The Inundation of Theses ....................................................................... 2 The Impact of Other Theses ................................................................... 7 The Idea of This Thesis .......................................................................... 10 The Methodology of This Thesis ............................................................ 11 An Ancient Near Eastern Setting ....................................................... 11 A Holistic Approach to the Biblical Text .......................................... 12 A Basic Battery of Questions to the Text .......................................... 13 How Are the Yom YHWH-Texts Detected? .................................. 13 How Are the Motifs of the Yom YHWH-Texts Extracted? ........... 15 How Is Objectivity Achieved in the Selection of Motifs? ............ 17 How to Decide if Yom YHWH Is a Biblical Theme? .................... 18 How Is Intertextuality Impacting Interpretation? .......................... 19 II. ISAIAH .......................................................................................................... 25 Anticipations of Yom YHWH .................................................................. 25 Isaiah 2:6–22 ...................................................................................... 25 The Motif of Space........................................................................ 25 The Motif of Time ......................................................................... 26 The Motif of Cataclysm ................................................................ 27 The Motif of Creation ................................................................... 27 The Motif of Fear .......................................................................... 29 The Motif of Judgment.................................................................. 30 The Motif of Theophany ............................................................... 33 Isaiah 13:1–22 .................................................................................... 36 The Motif of Space........................................................................ 36 The Motif of Time ......................................................................... 38 The Motif of Divine Wrath ........................................................... 39 The Motif of Cataclysm ................................................................ 40 The Motif of Creation ................................................................... 40 iv The Motif of Fear .......................................................................... 42 The Motif of Judgment.................................................................. 44 The Motif of a Remnant ................................................................ 48 The Motif of Scattering ................................................................. 49 The Motif of War .......................................................................... 49 Alterations of Yom YHWH ...................................................................... 49 Isaiah 22:1–14 .................................................................................... 50 The Motif of Space........................................................................ 50 The Motif of Time ......................................................................... 50 The Motif of a City ....................................................................... 51 The Motif of Fear .......................................................................... 51 The Motif of Judgment.................................................................. 52 The Motif of War .......................................................................... 53 The Motif of Weeping ................................................................... 54 Isaiah 34:1–17 ...................................................................................