THE IMPORTANCE AND CHALLENGES OF FINDING AFRICA IN THE OLD TESTAMENT: THE CASE OF THE CUSH TEXTS by PHILIP LOKEL submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY in the subject OLD TESTAMENT at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROF S W VAN HEERDEN JOINT PROMOTER: PROF K HOLTER JUNE 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... vi DECLARATION..........................................................................................................viii SUMMARY .................................................................................................................. ix KEY TERMS .................................................................................................................. xi ABBREVIATIONS.......................................................................................................xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 A brief overview and statement of the problem..................................................... 1 1.2 Aims and objectives of the study ........................................................................... 10 1.2.1 Importance ............................................................................................................. 10 1.2.2 Challenges.............................................................................................................. 15 1.3 Clarification of thesis.............................................................................................. 16 1.3.1 Selection of material .............................................................................................. 16 1.3.2 Terminology........................................................................................................... 23 1.4 Methodology ............................................................................................................ 24 1.4.1 Approach................................................................................................................ 24 1.4.2 Organisation and outline of chapters ..................................................................... 26 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 30 2.2 Traditional Western Old Testament Scholarship ............................................... 32 2.2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................ 32 2.2.2 Introductions to biblical histories, Bible maps, Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias ..................................................................................................... 33 i 2.2.3 Bible commentaries ............................................................................................... 37 2.2.4 New trend(s) .......................................................................................................... 40 2.2.4.1 Knut Holter ......................................................................................................... 41 2.2.4.2 Marta Høyland Lavik.......................................................................................... 44 2.2.4.3 Daniel J Hays ...................................................................................................... 46 2.2.4.4 Edwin M Yamauchi ............................................................................................ 49 2.2.4.5 Some critical remarks ......................................................................................... 51 2.3 African American Interpretations ........................................................................ 52 2.3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................ 52 2.3.2 Robert A Bennett ................................................................................................... 54 2.3.3 Charles B Copher................................................................................................... 56 2.3.4 Randall C Bailey.................................................................................................... 58 2.3.5 Alvin A Jackson..................................................................................................... 60 2.3.6 Rodney S Sadler..................................................................................................... 61 2.3.7 Some critical remarks ............................................................................................ 63 2.4 African Scholars’ Interpretations ........................................................................ 65 2.4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................ 65 2.4.2 David T Adamo...................................................................................................... 67 2.4.3 Other voices ........................................................................................................... 71 2.4.3.1 Engelbert Mveng................................................................................................. 71 2.4.3.2 G A Mikre-Selassie............................................................................................. 71 2.4.3.3 Sidbé Semporé .................................................................................................... 72 2.4.4 Some critical remarks ............................................................................................ 72 2.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 75 CHAPTER THREE: CUSH TEXTS REFLECTING PROPER NAMES, PLACES, AND CULTURAL MATTERS 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 76 3.2 Proper Names ......................................................................................................... 78 3.2.1 Jeremiah 36:14....................................................................................................... 78 ii 3.2.2 Zephaniah 1:1......................................................................................................... 82 3.2.3 Psalm 7:1................................................................................................................ 88 3.3 Places ................................................................................................................. 91 3.3.1 Genesis 2:13........................................................................................................... 92 3.3.2 Genesis 10:6-8 ....................................................................................................... 98 3.3.3 Jeremiah 46:9....................................................................................................... 101 3.3.4 Ezekiel 29:10 ....................................................................................................... 105 3.3.5 Esther 1:1; 8:9...................................................................................................... 108 3.4 Cultural Matters .................................................................................................. 113 3.4.1 Numbers 12:1....................................................................................................... 113 3.4.2 Isaiah 18:2............................................................................................................ 117 3.4.3 Jeremiah 13:23..................................................................................................... 121 3.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 123 CHAPTER FOUR: CUSH TEXTS CONCERNING ECONOMIC, POLITICAL / MILITARY MATTERS 4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 126 4.2 Economic matters ................................................................................................. 127 4.2.1 Isaiah 18:7............................................................................................................ 127 4.2.2 Isaiah 45:14.......................................................................................................... 132 4.2.3 Job 28:19.............................................................................................................. 136 4.3 Political and military matters ............................................................................. 139 4.3.1 Introduction........................................................................................................ 139 4.3.2 2 Samuel 18:19-32 ............................................................................................. 141 4.3.3 2 Kings 19:9 (= Isaiah 37:9................................................................................ 147 4.3.4 2 Chronicles 12:3 ............................................................................................... 151 4.3.5 2 Chronicles 14:8-14.......................................................................................... 154 4.3.6 2 Chronicles 16:8 ............................................................................................... 159 4.3.7 2 Chronicles 21:16 ............................................................................................