Sworn enemies : the divine oath, the book of Ezekiel, and the polemics of exile / C.A. Strine.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Strine, C. A. (Casey Alan), 1975-

Series:

Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft ; Bd. 436.

Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, 0934-2575 ; Bd. 436

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Ezekiel--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Oaths.

Jews--History--Babylonian captivity, 598-515 B.C.

Jews.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (343 p.)

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; Boston : De Gruyter, c2013.

Language Note:

English

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

Sworn Enemies explains how the book of Ezekiel uses formulaic language from the exodus origin tradition - especially YHWH's oath - to craft an identity for the Judahite exiles. This language openly refutes an autochthonous origin tradition preferred by the non-exiled Judahites while covertly challenging Babylonian claims that YHWH was no longer worthy of worship. After specifying the layers of meaning in the divine oath, the book shows how Ezekiel uses these connotations to construct an explicit, public transcript that denies and mocks the non-exiles' appeals to a combined Abraham and Jacob tradition (e.g. Ezek 35). Simultaneously, Ezekiel employs the oath's exodus connotations to support a disguised polemic that resists Babylonian claims that YHWH was powerless to help the exiles. When YHWH swears "as I live" the text goes on to implicitly replace Marduk with YHWH as the deity who controls nations and history (e.g. Ezek 17). Ezekiel, thus, shares the "monotheistic" concepts found in Deutero-Isaiah and elsewhere. Finally, using James C. Scott's concept of hidden transcripts, the author shows how both polemics cooperate to define a legitimate Judahite nationalism and faithful Yahwism that allows the exiles to resist these threatening "others".

Contents:

pt. 1. The meaning of the "as I live" and "lifted hand" formulae

pt. 2. The function of the "as I live" and "lifted hand" formulae.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

9783110290530

3110290537

OCLC:

831121392