Chosen and unchosen : conceptions of election in the Pentateuch and Jewish-Christian interpretation / Joel N. Lohr.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lohr, Joel N.

Series:

Siphrut ; 2.

Siphrut, literature and theology of the Hebrew scriptures ; v. 2

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Pentateuch--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Bible. Old Testament--Theology.

Christianity and other religions--Judaism--Biblical teaching.

Christianity and other religions.

Christianity and other religions--Judaism.

Jews--Election, Doctrine of--Biblical teaching.

Jews.

Judaism--Relations--Christianity.

Judaism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (274 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Eisenbrauns : Winona Lake, Indiana, 2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Winner of the 2011 RBY Scott Award from the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies/Société canadienne des études bibliquesThe God of the Bible favors a national people, Israel, and this is at the cost of the other nations. In fact, not being Israel usually means humiliation or destruction or simply being ignored by God. Reading the text “with the grain” or placing oneself within the chosen’s perspective may seem very well until one considers the unchosen. There is much regarding the unchosen that has not been explored in scholarly research, but in this important work, Lohr attempts to make sense of the question of election and nonelection in the OT as a Christian interpreter and with a concern for the history of interpretation and Jewish-Christian dialogue.He also corrects a Christian tendency to read election and nonelection as love and damnation, respectively, a perception that is altogether foreign to the OT itself. The unchosen are important to the overall world view of Scripture and, although election entails exclusion, and God’s love for the one people Israel is a love in contrast to others, it does not follow that the unchosen fall outside of the economy of God’s purposes, his workings, or his ways. The unchosen often face important tests of their own and have a responsibility to God and the chosen, however much this idea defies modern-day notions of fairness. It is a central idea of Scripture that already appears in the original call of and promises made to Abram and something that, if ignored, places our larger understanding of God at risk.Equally important, if contemporary faith communities (both Jewish and Christian) form their understanding of “the other” on a faulty reading of Scripture regarding the unchosen, chaos and hatred can ensue. The political and religious climate of our contemporary world has never presented a more important time to get this matter right. Scholars and students alike are finding Chosen and Unchosen to be an indispensable resource as they mull over these difficult questions.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface Election and Nonelection: Why Bother?

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Part 1. Election in Jewish and Christian Interpretation

1. Introducing Election and Nonelection: Christian Interpretation

2. Jewish Election Theologies: Exclusion and Disgrace?

Part 2 Election and Nonelection in the Pentateuch: Test Cases

3. Blessing or Curse? Abraham, Election, and the Nations: The Story of King Abimelech

4. An Unchosen Figure Who Saves a People (Exodus 2:1–10)

5. Numbers: Balaam and Yhwh ’s Irrevocable Love for Israel

6. Israel and the Nations in Deuteronomy

7. Chosen and Unchosen: Can Good Come from a God Who Favors?

Appendix 1. The Tendency to View Balaam as Sinner

Appendix 2. Ḥerem in the Old Testament: An Overview

Bibliography

Indexes

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781575066158

1575066157

OCLC:

759160101