WILD GOD IN THE WILDERNESS: WHY DOES YAHWEH CHOOSE TO APPEAR IN THE WILDERNESS IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS? by NARELLE JANE COETZEE A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion College of Arts and Law University of Birmingham June 2016 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT: The wilderness is an unlikely place for Yahweh to appear; yet some of the most profound encounters between Yahweh and ancient Israel occur in this isolated, barren, arid and marginal landscape. Thus, via John A. Beck’s narrative-geography method, which prioritises the role of the geographical setting of the biblical narrative, the question of ‘why does Yahweh choose to appear in the wilderness?’ is examined in reference to four Exodus theophanic passages (Exodus 3:1-4:17, 19:1-20:21, 24:9-18 and 33:18-34). First, a biblical working definition of the wilderness is developed, and the specific geographic elements in each passage discussed. Subsequently, the characterisation of Yahweh’s appearances is investigated, via the signs Yahweh used to appear, the words Yahweh speaks and the human experience of Yahweh in the wilderness space. In sum, five reasons for why Yahweh appears in the wilderness were considered significant. The wilderness setting allows Yahweh to (1) be actively present and intimately engaged, (2) be separate and holy, (3) be paradoxically creative, (4) speak transformative and visionary words and (5) be free, risky, and provoking. Finally, the implications of these findings provide new insights to theological considerations of Yahweh. Overall, Yahweh is portrayed as a wild God in the wilderness. DEDICATION To Jesus Christ, the Wildest-One. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge Alphacrucis College (Sydney, Australia). Thank you for providing me with research days, collegial support, feedback on colloquium presentations and a six-month sabbatical period to pursue my doctoral studies. The encouragement, especially from the Theology Faculty, has given me the confidence that I could do this! Similarly, thank you to River’s Edge Church, especially Pastors Luke and Katherine Fletcher, as well as Janet Fletcher, who has released me to pursue further studies, prayed for and with me and supported me along the way. Thank you! Thank you to Dr Andrew Davies, my supervisor, for taking on an unknown Australian student. I have greatly valued your support, wisdom and encouragement as you guided me, these last six years, through this PhD project. The thesis is richer because of your input. Thank you to Celina Mina, a third party editor, who proofread the final verion of the thesis for conventions of language, spelling and grammar. To my family, Mum and late Dad, Steven, Libby, Hannah and Caitlin, I know that you are surprised that I have ended up here, but thank you for letting me explore the wide horizons of research studies. Finally, thank you to Jean, my dear husband who has only ever known me as a PhD student. Thank you for all your support and love throughout this journey. I am so blessed to call you husband. But here’s to a new season without a looming thesis schedule. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION...............................................................................1 1.1 INTRODUCTION: WILDERNESS AND YAHWEH............................................... 1 1.2 THE BIBLE AND GEOGRAPHY .............................................................................. 3 1.2.1 The Bible and Geography: An Overlooked Discussion........................................... 4 1.2.2 The Bible and Geography: Its Significance ............................................................. 9 1.2.3 Narrative-Geography Method................................................................................ 18 1.3 OVERVIEW OF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT .................................................... 20 CHAPTER 2: TOWARDS A DEFINITION OF WILDERNESS.........................24 2.1 WILDERNESS: BIBLICAL HEBREW TERMS .................................................... 25 DEFINED ............................................................................... 25 מדבר :WILDERNESS 2.2 2.2.1 Wilderness: Arid and Semi-Arid Regions ............................................................. 26 2.2.2 Wilderness: Drift Land........................................................................................... 27 2.2.3 Wilderness: True Desert......................................................................................... 27 2.2.4 Wilderness: Ancient Israel’s Geography ............................................................... 28 2.2.5 Wilderness: Biblical Usage.................................................................................... 29 30 ................................................................................. (מדבר) Summary: Wilderness 2.2.6 2.3 WILDERNESS: LITERARY ASSOCIATIONS...................................................... 30 2.3.1 Wilderness: Opposite to Domestic Agriculture ..................................................... 31 2.3.2 Wilderness: Place of Driven Out People................................................................ 32 2.3.3 Wilderness: A Haunt for Wild Animals................................................................. 34 2.3.4 Wilderness: Outside ............................................................................................... 35 2.3.5 Wilderness: A Place of Curse and Death ............................................................... 36 2.3.6 Wilderness: A Negative Ancient Near Eastern Motif............................................ 39 2.3.7 Wilderness: A Place of Transformative Possibility to God ................................... 40 2.3.8 Wilderness: A Liminal Place ................................................................................. 42 2.3.9 Summary: Literary Associations of Wilderness .................................................... 44 2.4 CONCLUSION: A WORKING DEFINITION OF WILDERNESS...................... 44 CHAPTER 3: THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE WILDERNESS..............................47 3.1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 47 3.2 EXODUS 3:1-4:17: THE LANDSCAPE OF THE BURNING BUSH ................... 48 Behind and Beyond ........................................................................................ 49 :אחר 3.2.1 3.2.2 Horeb...................................................................................................................... 52 3.2.3 Mountain of God.................................................................................................... 53 3.2.4 Wilderness: A Holy Place? .................................................................................... 56 3.2.5 Summary: Exodus 3:1-4:17 ................................................................................... 60 3.3 EXODUS 19:1-20:21; 24:9-18: THE LANDSCAPE OF MOUNT SINAI ............. 60 3.3.1 Wilderness of Sinai ................................................................................................ 61 3.3.2 The Mountain......................................................................................................... 63 3.3.3 Wilderness Mount: Holy........................................................................................ 71 3.3.4 The Sabbath Space of the Sinai Wilderness and Mountain ................................... 75 3.3.5 Summary: Exodus 19:1-20:21; 24:9-18................................................................. 77 3.4 EXODUS 33:18-34:8: THE LANDSCAPE OF MOUNT SINAI ............................ 77 3.4.1 A ‘Place’ Near God................................................................................................ 78 3.4.2 Rock and Cleft ....................................................................................................... 81 3.4.3 Summary: Exodus 33:18-34:8 ............................................................................... 84 3.5 CONCLUSION: THE WILDERNESS GEOGRAPHY AND THEOPHANIES .. 84 3.5.1 Wilderness: Cultivates Separation ......................................................................... 85 3.5.2 Wilderness: Captures Holiness .............................................................................. 87 3.5.3 Wilderness: A Creative & Transformative Space.................................................. 89 3.5.4 Conclusion: Wilderness: Its Landscape and Influence .......................................... 90 CHAPTER 4: SIGNS OF YAHWEH IN THE WILDERNESS ............................91 4.1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 91 4.2 EXODUS 3:1-4:17: SIGNS OF YAHWEH............................................................... 92 4.2.1 The Bush ................................................................................................................ 92