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er tIw> S!Ie<.I; ....... can you .....,.,.. (Job tt :7--8)
I dedicate this book 10 my children, Nethallyab_D.alyah and JO$Chush lorac!.
Gel"Sbom M. H. Ratheiser ElI5Chede, the Netherlands
7th of Chesbvan, ~767 Oetober 29, 2006
ABBREVI"T10NS
.'1_
_Bible
no.
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MSib ,,-OAT ,,~
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BEATAl
DEvT Bib
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Edi .... b)' D. N. t',
1'1,,", YO TetamfhJIin;" of'M A....,,,,,,, Sdtooi.J ofOtVnJdJ 1I,uarr:. iIom>
,-_8<
lUf
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BiNko
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Ilibli><:bel Kommeow: AI ... reoumm< BlblhlI ~ 8.11#111 Heilrts< 1111" Wn,:ng-b.ft """ Allen W>d Neuen T........... 1Ieihuhott< '" Ba.hO*l Exopio """ TIl"""'"
ConII NT
C""ioctanoa biblK:a.
~,
c.",~
N~
rM"",",'
om
bibl.,., Old TN" ' .... ~;" t/Ic h' 0.,.."..
~
f;"")'<~ ~
M
F_1#c1or 71Itot<>g1<
'" ffi
FRLAJ<.'T ,~,
'mOD,6 ......
'c.
,_.
Forscb''"I1= nom "11m T....,....", F"""""",,, "" Blbol F""""""I1"":rut ~~ioo ond LitetWlr .... AI ......... N.....
_ _ _ ...,.., ~ """ AI.... r ....",,,..,,,. Edi.... by L. Koet.l
lUDdbuch zwn Allen TO''' oe", 1 1 _ .. !f;blirnJ n.m/og> IlarvaN $dnitk 11
""_apbo
... ID.
1M I"""""'''~ DIctkHJiJry of/It< IM/o. Edi .... by G. A- BIIItricIc
w,
• ........ Nosh,iII.: ..,hi; 8 " '. 1%2
'" '""'"
''''''"' = ~
=
,,= ~
N<~
Jo,,,,16J of 1M .'I"",""", A",,*","y of hilS"'"
.IofdniJJ
of IIlbli«>J i l k _
Jrwlth Quar-t,_
""""""~ rJw ~af. (JI;l T.-... J _ for tIJt _1 oftlw:: Old
T_, S<.w1mJ
"""""" ofS-i/;<_
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;"""""'<J/~_" M~"'"
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Intematioual Commeotary
on !be Old r..........
N<wJ~Dl<-..yofOJdT..
r
"1l~...J
e' .,... ... &til
00'
oro on
m,
O
_'Guides
OIdT..... Old T _" .., Library Old Pu EdiIcd by I. II. Cbar\eowortb. 2 rob. 1'1_ YorI<: Doubleday. 19l!1
I'P",' ........
r",,,,,,,",
O~
O\d T.. _
"" "
Oodt<_irlo ~
,,~
SDlll)"l>S
'"
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." =
SnoJi,oo
s.:....-ca t»bliq_
Solieal L i _ DiooerIotioo s.me. Socidy "rBibikai u....run, S.-;"", _ Stud ... ill lIibli
Scott... .",",.,... of~
,--
St\odiO _ " ' " _
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11-";, N~ .... 1iImclI1<"",
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= " ~
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r..... r.._n""" '"'I'P'v .... T...·"-."" h . . . ..,
Word 8ibli
w;. """",t>af\I;"1>< M~ ...... Al!
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,,,IU<:hrljifor ~ _
K;"'n.
Il'fTRODUCTORY THoUOHTS AND PREU\llNARJES
The prnenl study providC!l the f""""""or\[ for • non-confessiorvJ , mll:_h cthics-centred..,d hio!nri""l.pbilological approacll 10 the Jewi,b bible and deals with the ba.i~ IIC'pS of III alLemalivc paradigmali~ per_ .pectiv. on the biblical I~~!. ' II milS! be unl;QC:utieal method, I oed: 10 demonstrale the ineptness of con r.... tional aod ahi$tarical approacb.. to the Jewish bible. SurveyiDg for Ibis purpose the bistorical developmenl of theological exegesis oflhe bibli_ cal leJll from !he ei&bleenlb eentury onward.' I attempt to ","ow !hat Christi.., theological .~egeleo-from advocalCS of !he diCla probomia method of the pasl to schol.IlI favourill8 bistorical-<:riticll or alternative approach ... in ""'"' rcttJ\llimeo-have not yet attempted to erad;';lte conr..,ionali"" from their inlcrp"","li"" oftbe J_i.h bibl •. T h i. COIIfeMlona! p«Spe<1ive is, mon: 011 ... than not, expressed to various degrees in "'adi"8 devices ouch I. dogmatism, elitism. l u"""".. i"" ism (. form of"'(:ooSWttinian lriumphalism~ ), chriJIIId)oi> .... kwiohbihle. Tho qualifiet"Cbristiao" ;. uci~ zod "hall!I"'kq .00...1 tb< biblical <0,I0Il of tb< Cbrioti.. r ..... oM <m .;., t<>Condary ~ J. 0... to .... """"" oftllis iD ....iption. Ihot it, <100 '" ill< oI1cmpl KI indi~ tb< _ .... ODd..,.",..... ofCbri";_ 11" we .... ';'ol pt, ...... li,.. tb< .. <., -""'" of 1M ","ull> Jiven ill Chapter 1 will """ be • blend of hol~ • IUdimoIllaly .......... ~ of biblical .....-;. in to "Old T.", • "I lhooIoc1" ond "CIIti .. ;." bi!lli<.ol """""aY" ,-J • .....,.", .... _ gfllle OOIIf.. siooal chlr."' ... gf Chriotiollu;'.
,.Iat.,.,
,
Mi ..... olh ElIoics """ 1M J",,-w. Bihle
In <><de.- to> prnolode misWldemandingl' I do In no way q""'M~ 'he kgltUtra
of"hiSlOry of the ~Iigi"" oflSl'aa:ies" {(II" • hi,torical-criticilly oriented ""ademia. TradiliOllal Jewisb inlC1Jlrelillion has nOl beeD witbout ilS own per_ spectival IrapS ei1ll ... UI' 10 the twentieth ceuNry. Jewi'" (biblical) scbolanha"" IIQuhown grc.at imerest in historical pm;pcctivn but have. ror various rnson .. COO gieal Of philoaoplrical intorpmarion. of the bibl;.:.! ta &ical methoo with the bi.wncal. What il more, Jewisb ne&esis did 001 escape ronfe .. ionaliun e;lber. Judaism has olway. "'garded the Jewisll bible as its basic text bul betd ;t 10 be inlc:rpretcd in the light of fullt""'" tradition (Le. 1"l!l ~::J;!) 1': "1'1 :r.:l:ltl ~"1nl), !hat i .. in the light of tlt. robbin;c ..ug.tical ,"""ilion. And yO!, there is. fundameiltal differeoce between Jewioh and Cbri.tian conf....iortal approaches 10 !be biblicallexl respectively. In !be ca"" of lite latter, b<x:luse Christianity h 1 to it. tn eootrast Jt>daism'. inlerprt\a!i~e IJ8dition i. determiDtd by standina in an ""broken line ofapplying COVClWltal ethic •. Although ilupplica_ Ii"" of the mit::Vf)/h traditioo also entail. a eoolinoow; m;ootextualizati"" oftbe te~t, in wltic~ its """",ing i. exletJdcd in 5UC~ as way thai it comes to include new elements, Ibc"" clemen!1 Ofe • conlinuatMm of the 4. 1"Ilio is DOl '" 'por< the fOc< .......... the .. "Ued "re~bicb~i m the ido.I th ... direcllinc eon I>< tnIO o of the biblical """"p tho _;"'t hiM po"" 1*.. ..:I th< N~ '" ill< ........"""1><>< j<> .... OLowb
"""*''''
"_i.
, ",lInmh-ethical cOle of !he biblical ""'1 and Slem from tbe snuggle !O pullhe lexl into p""" ice. mal i .. from tb • • nempt to connec\ 1he leX!', cor<: as ;1 il with hfe u it is; it fried 1\01 to infuse thetcxI with lMological"""", r... ianal meaning as did Chri$tianity. Conscqutnll y, JOOai$m has IlOl cuI itself ofTfrom the cord of its tradition, its prime religious !ex!', prime ~COIl f... ,iooal~ elhoJ, th,u ;1., "';l:>r its fundamen!al elhicaJ impof'Wl.e fur the orthopraxil-oriemed kw-must 1001 be .~IM j"l0 'M luI aJ 1/11 wrn! 1M _ult oj~clor liftc iNlVS,jgatJom, 0.. the olhcr har>l:t itself, lhal ill. tOward tho ",ligious·idwlogical tthosof !he J"",lfir community fmm which !he biblical leX! arose. Havilla said Lllal. the l""itive .ontribOltioo (If Jewisb scholarship 10 modem biblica l .rudie. 1ics in its ethical and philological cooceolCalion. AnOlbc. foelor I seck !O dwell OIl i. !he ehri .. ian preoccupalion wim "!heology of!he Jewi. Ollli,· Ii<; and prie.lly<--<:ompiling and moulding of ancienl sooree, inlo Ihe preSCOI Jewid! bible. I """k 10 demonstrale thaI whal was of CSSC1\lia l imporW>CC for the.., aulhoRlrcda.clOr< wallO provide "" explana~on for !he lragedy of Ihe e.. ile. The "",""er !O Ihis quesli"" rcs!S DO! 01\ • descripDon of;"! + ".' .1>\11 ... ther OIlthe effects of loyally or disloyally lO !he ",j,...,11o CO"manl. that i.. 10 !he . pecific e!hkol rule. mat 01"". IIl.O.l. JewUh life f.asible. Consequently. ~how 10 liv •• life un S. -P'"""""'"'ion" ...... be III>IItnoood iD the ...... ..... i, Iw .1. . - "" ... billicaI-Ihook>JicaI ...... tioD ...... CbrisIiu ",""tar seeb the cu!mma or ".."y r-s of; ... e" ...tn:ute with the Je"iob l>il>ti e ",oduct"", of • "1heoIos.v" of Il:e JewW: biblo. 6. ",:I:< _ ~ i"' I " ion. propht < bui:: of tbe ..oj.. ronn oft!>< li:en:
I"
..,..i..
1<.,..
Of_'
J hope to be abk to oonv;""e the rc/IdeT that a noo-confcss;"naJ. yet and hi$lorical.philologi<:al htrmtneu!;., i, a justifiable
elhi<:'~ezltred exc~ical
means for inttrprelinathe lew;sh biblc kkoIt>giaJJ/y, oompri$. ;113 the fields of'"biblicJol ethics" and "(hi1ilOry of the) rebgion ohnd ... l Isr:>el." 10 oth ... wQT(\s, The Jewi$h bible. if approached idoologi""lI y. should be studied 'eligioou/y, no< 'Mvlogic;JI/y, ' The oonscq= is a bibl ital .. i"""'h~thioc:al modc:llhat docs juab.e to the hi5tOrical develop. ment of the religion o f the ancient JeW$. Based on these ob$e .....ations. I would like to introdll<'e an .tttmatiw h<mn.".utical-acSclllrt 7/ .ko<'. ", Jew. ondlor J"",'" ,u such. it $(NOS as • reli¥iol>$-tthieal iden· tity mark..- thai provid03 the onei ...1 Jews and their ~IS wiob "" 3(:\;"logy of Jewish life. In this, scl f.idenlificarion via Iht Jewish way Qf living (rormJ, ~)-mil%>'()lh ecbict--undtr the pnlIOCtion. i\Iidanee and "supervi.ion" of tIN: paradoxically hidden butcv"'-prese 11 CODvi<:lions. _poclivdy. As Slated above, tIN: Jew;sh bible does indeed have a God·1.lndentandilli wher.:upon ils ethics is built Bul iOll....:l of inlCflding to dc:seribe or npli<:ale thi. idea. it rather aspires to be • ""urcc of mlnmth-ethiea l OODK'I""t>Ce5 foo its people. th. k",... oneienl and la ter.' Sll<'b • bibUcal ... ligi ......·bchavi<JWal ""de.. l>.nding i, notnriCflIed toward theology, but loward O(:\;"logy ..... teritJg OIl the " hi.ulric-historical" ;nter\lCfllion of ;1 -1-:1 . ' in bringina the "",,;en, Jewl from EgypI throuab tIN: desc:n into
..,f", .,.
" "t~"" i,.....:I ""'" '" ~ly iaodequaI< bioI t;~ ........,oo\It.......tIIt.1! .r realily (Ihoooy)_1" 0............... i.JiOU$ly" .. ra. 10 • __ Iboolopoal ..... ..,;.;tuaI world ..... lif<mcn
_
offlith. I . Steel &0.. thi. penpec1i ••• - . .."""'trw.. mp..l...,.; ... oftinJl< II""",, bur 01\00 marks tho ..... oflheir I~l l>ll! etlrios. 9. Wb<1her!hi..... pen.D<e ;. Ihot of an .Ii.. layer of 1IOC;ay Of
_at,..,.. ....
, !he prurniStd land. Thi.ooncepcion waJoombined with !hecovenant and 1M givingOllr (cf Om! $: I ~). Muoh of what can be foond in the: Jew ish bible I regard Llms.s. re-in!erprCl4liOll and repelitioo of !hi! nOlion atOWId which. specific religious cth;cs i. formed.
COfI<>lh)
coven.'" with TI·~-"-· _'The ancien' Jewi$h forefalh(:r$ are ponroyed ..
hIoving I:nOwtl what ,,'as nkt
beard. He""., history IZIdiOI .wry. thai is. the bi5torical and/or lbe hi.. oric, ~ be<:lme actua~zed by pc""",.1 inlemaliwion via the ptaClice <>fa ope<:ificaUy Jewisb religious bebavioun.l system, Upon lhis fOWl<wion I seek 10oped .for cooseq1,lellCC (the ... bi~ly and llecuril)' llmo'phcrc, 017;:0) ........ commnnic"ed 10 the people of the CO"'tun~ the ancienl Jews. C""""'I\IeIllly. the MillSlnlClio ... for life" (m/lzw)lh) and !hei. ethical pill ... (holiness and Iibenling ju.tice) were in need of pem>nIIl and instiMionll_ ijathrough "itich lbey could be communicated. II win be lQ. ./I~"""~"""'" ~kr '" Ibc f",,1U>! (;:. 0..--..: "!li.w;." and "IIi.lOriswry" and "'hi''''''''" ",fer 10 !he non-r""w.!. "'" .ignifi<... , (io> o.m...: -o.",~i<""" ond "1\<> ' lit;, up<>i"""" mn.ol"'; d..... clio, 1.. w .........11)/ t .... I..o _ 1
• demonstrated that the Jewisb culti. system. wilh its prime ioa.J in lb. tal>emaclc/temple cull. 5C1'"oIed as lbe place of orientation for the search for l>ehaviouraJ/e1llical palIenu in ancient JewLsb sociely. Thereby. Ihe main cbal1lC1eristics of me suucs1ed plRdigm of •• amplcs com.to the fo«' (I) !he ideal 0(;1-1 ...,·-.. In'ealed in ';tt t'1"1f' '::I . "'...uperimp05ed
01110 (2) prime enmple" that is, ""(:Itlplary charactm ,,'110 visuali~N Illi' unfathomabk ideal fo< Jewish uiSl~, .'I""Slicd as C'~I' ~";"T'I ')l'I t'1-rp ':::I (t..v 11:44; 19,2; 20:7, 26). Through !he onl and wri\\nI lraditions, these exampl •• ,..""hod (3) !he C(lvt:naI11l't"'P1., the intended recipients of the parodigm. In thi. COIIIeJlI, Ibe didactic fUDCII"" and value ofM,tory.tellin&" liDd their Joe .... "!times, the ab,,,,._meotione
Under the auspice< of lh~ d It red.oclio,.tauth<mhip, the inJIUnar<:M, prnphcu. nc.), In coottadistincti<>n to tho ~old exesetical ""boo[." hWorlcily js 11<>1 1M fi>a<s or the lilelll/')'
.,pounded
1l. 'I1IroupoII,!h;' >1001)1. !be commonly ""-'1'''' obbrevilli _ _ ...... in iDdlcalinloowceo «.1- Goo. for 0.- d. c.". R. {'"
siP.. M.", or, des'e opocW lII
~,..,u
RubNIt '''',J, Some
~; DellI ~
D<mon>oomy; 12- 16); dIr _ """,,,ronomiOti<; Ottli2 -
OtIdI - la .. «>rpIIO in ON (<1\d _ ..... (.... ,!;oJ~ ... «>poo;ti, <'ic rcdoctioo wi"'-;" DtrH ~ ...... DtrH). and DtrN • dlr """"" within DlrH ()' I
H"""":
, bas probably IlOl been in llIe foregr<>lllld of the early Jewi.
of Jcw;,b ",;~,h ethics (late priestly JlIIlguage), Although he", hi. tori. cal and ac1ioi"llica l ""nstrucu may go hand in hand, the final edi«>r', concentralion rested rather on the bisroric imp&cllhese--mostly p~ exilic----humlll eumpl •• bad OIl the ""il ic and post-eJricol ch..,..,ter. II.IICe. p=i scly be¢a .... thCK bWMJI eumplc:s (....... ll as the onci.cm lewisii cull ""d tbe community of file) .... 00' delioeated as spiritual
gi... \s. lbey IC"..., .. valid ~isua1izatio", oftl>< ideal and .. intrinsic 1m '<> ,he experience of ' heir aDd later kwish gcncnltions. facing the Some problem .. temptation. and doub!s in • honh life whicb i. believed 10 be controlled by ;, -1-;"T -'. !he God oflhe /fl;mmh cove",,"!. In funclioning "" ex,,",ples. Iheoe ch=',," and figure. ill ",nne ;, -, -;"T - • " AJlII"'Cian.,., of humankind's .tJ'Ug81e in lDd wilh lik ;"T +,F don not CQndenm hm"". should !hey f.il. bul give. them anotheT chanee lime and again (of. es"""ially loogosl· ;'1 -1-;'1-' i, "'" portrayed and ~ved OS &
')nIl'
,,'ho _Its pcrittli"" bc<:aute of ~if OWn ollcgcd pcrfoction. but il depicted as I"",ing to '
poIen'i.1 and dignity_ In Itoe oonehxling pan. I Sttk '" apply the panId;gm .,fexamples to Jewish war oo1hi~ and ' 0 !h. bibl;cal charac;.", of Joshua, It will be dclJlQllstr;ued that Joshua fun<'ion.as a j\l$' warrio.- fighti ng . war of sanC1ific.tioo for the sake of the wildemeSs/$C1UC1l'I/!nt people_ In doing so. be Jymbol~s tbe prime exemplary warrior 'cpt_sen,ing the ideal warrior (l'1-H 'I-' J. that is. as fighting.,. exemplary war on behalf of the ideal wor $Uakgi ... H=. tho two ~I pillor--s of!be Jewi$IJ bihtc jIUid< 1IIe!aking of!he promised I.,.d, (1) hoi;"" .. leads '0 the consecration of !he people of Goo to 1'T -' -1'T -' and!he consecn\ti"" offor<:ign e le1lle!lts to qUCT'Cd" land mitmn !he olemenl of Ube~i,,¥justlco, whieh is pm b 'jcd as 1110 hoped_for conslall. in the camp of the ancion, JeWl. Havin& ...;d 1haI, holiD ... and (kind) l;beratingjlWice can only be established if adherence to tbe ",1I::w>ln;1 upheld. For Ibis purpo .... Joshua i. portrayed a. coofirming 111. SinaiticIMosaic cov<:naot at Sbc<:bem (Josh 24). In oonclu_ sion. Ihen, !he milZYOln were !he ....biliziog factor io and"", Jewiih society that guarantced--if adhered lO--SOCial jUSlke and brooght about '1IURWI"
1II01'T+1'T -' c, ~. From what bas been...;d obove. the implicit bcrmceeutica1-exaical method i. appu· cnt. 1Dr; uegeticol LaSl: mUSt corruncn<:< with • philological inY.iti,o_ ti"" of selected biblical .... to and their $O~ for tho fu.t thing tho
• ;"leiptet...,. generally """""",ter'5 i. the Hebrcw(IAramaic) 1<:11 (first Ie",,[ reading). The oecond exegetical task focuses 011 Ibc: text bistoricllly (IICd ond pla«>d undc:r ~ ",j<mn!r-cthical iok"" which Cf)'SlaIlized unlillbc finoJ form oflbe biblical material (approximately fnurthl fifth cennuy B.C.E.) w.. tho:! ODd became binding for normati"" Judaism I>mc'forth ," From !be perspe en. "",eive !heir fi,..d in!clJlretarioo in spe -i logical readiog of the lexl To . lreslI the impor· lMCe (If one perspective over the other is either LO lose ligbt of the ~terary eod product .. we bave i1 or to ignore !be developmtotal .tag •• lhalled up 10 !be final formalioo or sourceslO wlw we mow today as the
"r.
"Jewisb bible."
A, !hi, i"""'....e. some ",marks .... apt cQoo<:mmg lcnn. and NIe.. used m dU. study. With rc
14. Far lhemodcl, ... a..pm2. IS. F.,.. Ihe ~ ... Chop<er l . 16. "p<>('USi'"<" ..-.j • " «>nomo." ABD 3: ~ 5 ; - ' E. Y_h~ " Hob ..... " in 7lN N_I_ioIIDI ~"'lIihl~,j>"C~(od. E. M. IJIo;kIock ond IL K. HonUon; Grand
f.,..
Ropido: Zo1IdIon.
ro< •.
1981~
12J.-N.
• below, \he term ~Jcws" covers \he genealogically coonected generations "fbelieve" in the God "nsrael in \he same way .. llIe term "Christians" COven Ihe innumerable JJOups thaI. Ihroughout Christianity', h istory. adhcreJ ODd $lill adhere in manifold wa~ I<.> tlIc: D\e~g. and po:r$OII of the N~. Pre5eoHI.y Jewry i. (be di=l and unintenupled religi""" beir and gaIe• • •1descendant "ftlle p""p'" woo te5lificd 10 the bibli· c I I experience of the God oflmlel. of the people who gave IiIORr)' shape 10 the onll and leu llal tradition' llIal rom. l~e Jewi sh sacm1 biblicai lellL A ,imi la. problem is JlOS"d by the terms "First Te5Iametl,M and "Old Tcstament," "They.re .~posed here os Chri s';"" confe ..ional lobcl •.• , !hey int<1pre,ively presuppose a .. cood or ".wor ,c5lameDl, ID <""If"1. the term MH.~ bibl,," I regard .. too neutral and misleading" a label for. book thaI is "" inlriMically religiously 000 ethnically orienled-----oo ODe. for thaI maner, call. tbe Christian "New Testament" the "'Greek bible" either," Conseqllc'llly. MIl.~w bible" aod "G=k bible" are mi..
nomen iust .. "Old Teswnem" 0IId " ) ,T..lalJlCfll" are ChriOli.., conf.... • ,,,,,.1 '''''''Inl. Altho same time, the 1"",, "Jewish bible" makes n",,· Jewisb readen and exesc, •• awore thai !bey are confronted with tbe principal pan of. religiou.< ",";Ilen tradition that i. fIUlu,ully not tmirs. Por this reason, I will also make u..e oflbe IC'mI M)ewish bible ",hen d;sc~'iSing "'Old Tesl8ment lheologies" or "Chri"ian biblical theologiesM" (except when quotiog scholarly opinions); Ibe mere utilization of Ibe deoignalion MJewish bible" in 111= contexts will often
ioto question many • theological """"I... ion. Yet anom....probl= is posed by the mitization oflbe name orlbe God ofthc Jewi'" bible in schol.orly wmt: •. The biblical narnlN>n h.. it thai Ibe God of the ancient .lews revealed hl",,,,lfwith. name, a name whicb the Jewisb tradition interprets .. beini fOfbiddet! to beullefed or wrilten; ~-~ .~ .' ''-!he ineffable """",("ml'o.1 D ~ ODd \TI".!C;"! I:C). J.wish inlet"· p.. 19. The fQtlowing ",,';11 do",,"""'" Ii>aO "'" dirT_ l> eoIOiieo onJi d ~ tWt J. 10). 20. To _ _ _ h _ , from "'" """" by • ~yphooo is ~n.d by kwis/llt-..:!ibool. "" """ .... _ _ . . _ I fo < .... t_ wi""""_1
.,isI=c
"""Y
_em _
Dr""" r.th
lbe....,.ofGod,
Etromon'.
'"nln'H:
Tea_" ,,,Ira-
of the God or Ibe ancien! Jews as blasphemy, F.,,- these I regard !he often persi'tem utiliwion .,f!he vocalized form .,f!be gmmmallHl by many Christian ",holan of the J.wish bible----ca very noceo( e.u.mple!>dna W. Brueggtmlltll----ti all """"""'sary obsacle for Ibe ob..,...,.ant Jew to panicipate in the biblical discussion. On the ocher hand, realizing thai Chri. ti.., biblical scholars would find il .trange or . ",kward 10 read Ihe tradiliOOll Jewish renderina: lIas~m for the bihlieal God, I will ttaJ<. US
vocali:tOO." Although .. fi<$ll !hought to make II$(: .,fthe propIcd Laoin e<:au$t; I ,ealiwl that Chri.ti"" reader> of'kn find Ibe Hebrew ttndcrinp confusing, as for"" mpic in the cUe of the ulih7.alion of Shlnmlt for Ex<:>dus and Wa.ryiw for Leviticus. Furt/1cl1TJOf"C. in lhe fil$t ;' !/lat, ... tim JI"""', migll! Kem eumbcl"&<>lIle-lhat iI. 1 make use of rather exteosive fOOOlOlillg. <>CCOJiiooaJly referring in mbef \oni quotaliOllJ to IlI1hon ODd their worh . The n:a1lOf\ fur ttli , i, n.tber plain, in ordeT to dcmonstnltt: the cot'txn,eU of my OSsertiOR' a nd evaluation .. the ""tbon' voices need be beard verba,im. Moreover. in <>rder to evade the possible criti<:ill1ll that the authon referred to are qElOtcd out o f ooote~t. I also oulli,.., the cootenl. ofllleir wom 10 the degree nccesoaF)'. Finally. the ,,<,ale ofa work ouoh .. the ODe inteodtd here cannot but be . ketchy. This goco fOT the di"<'us.ioo oftb< variolH 8pJll'*'b.. to the Jewilh bible from the ebriotion and Jewish side ' ","""",lively. as well .. for the lIII.IIy otbc1' lSP""U thaI oerve os "ingredieflts forlhe presentation of an alternative hormc:llCUti"oJ-e~egeti •• l approoch to the Jewish bible. Any sptxi~I;SI ;n any of u.e fields toochM upon will surely app"",iale M
.a
ba"".
11 . Some _ Jo:w;sh ............. ptnilar ""","0< (of. <.J. I. O. levaI· _. Si...u """ zu.-: ,b £w:ry In", ,M .kwiJ ~ IJ~ [ "'i~¢ w _: 1'11S1 ';;').
Chapter I
ANALYSIS OF APPROACHES TO TIlE JEWISH BIBLE
in Lhe introductory .hapter, io thi, 61'$1 section I seek to present some major Christian and J..... ish approecbe, 10 tbe I ..... isll bibl. tilat ...."'" produced ,joc. I . p, Gabl.r. I allempllO ,how Itow Ih. Chrisl;an approach focu$oed il< anenlioo OIl the 'hM/ogy of lb. Jewish bibl. and on the hi3Wry o f the !J;"",lile ",Iillion. Whil. I think !hal \h. hi,lOrical a pproach 10 Lhe k .... ish bibl. has greal value and should be ",garded as the major rontribulion o(Chri,ti.., scholarship 10 lbe scieo· li6c fi.ld of bib~cal srudi.., I also wani 10 ilIdicale Lhe basic probl.m ofChri>lian '"theological" approaches 10 the I ...... i'h bibl.: """f=ional· As was
. ~ plained
ism, ' Jewisll inlorpl'Clations suffered from a similar problem. This Jlresri=1 approach taken by I ..... • isll intelpr''''rs up unlil = l y.' What makco mailers more complicated is !hal J..... ish exegetes often read Ibe biblicaltcxl through Lhe lenses of Je""islllnufili<m. !la ving: said tha~ Ilic pooili". conlri\Hltioo o f Jewish scholarship 10 b iblical studies i. discernible io \h. lasting val ... of ilS ethical andphUoJogicoJ ~ive. which modem Jewi'h biblical scool· an in r«:ctll times ftuilfully .nmbi... with modern his{onc.l ~.
1_ Sot t/I< in~ chapter fOf "" ••pWWiooo <>fib< "";liWloto <>fib< """,;6< _lintlois.!Udy. ~ _ 1lri< is "'" iO <J;_.iIt thoI within .... 1<,..;.......... ic>lbod (pbik>Iosieol.)biawri<:aI p d O _ _ tho nbbinic bu _"",n < li ....l ~.) 00
po-....... i~ J,*"alo hblieol dIUokinio ...... tboua:ll tII y> up to "'" "i<' orS,...
f..,.
......un.
,...-do".,.
" 1.1. Ck,ulian Approacloes /0 1M Je>o:;,h Bible: '11tft>I0I'!!' aM HislOT)'
The following: investi8ation pteSUJ>JlOSeS an arbitrary~! \>('tIt;ttO "'hal could be ,,"lit:1011Y and ""Old T..,tamtot theology" and iH lIWIy important prede<:~ With tbi, in mind, the pre$eIl\ investiplion commetlce$ with the o<:veo_ (tenth and cigblcentb <:enhIri($ and CO~IrJ.\es on th< nowl ~"inl\ Chriilian lhe
theo1oay of tbe Jewish bible. 1.1. 1. Jo/uJ"" Philipp Gable, and tke l~,= 0/ His PretJeceuOl7 :>Iowadays. two equally accqIled ideas underlie the labd "biblical theol· ogy": it .,j!he< ( I) denotes olhr<>logy whicb.1ll be rouoo in m. scriplint Of it (2) ehar.ot<:riu. a theo1oaY in ICcordance willi the scriprut<'t. While !be former m(W", within and limilS ihclfIQ the pararnnro oftbo: scriptuteS. the lallo:t in CO"b'!! seekll n~tivc measure. valid fot all Chri.tionity .' One: of lllc decisive halhnarb in I.h< bistory ofhlblic.o.l intcrpteWion that made this diShnction pou;bl. was tbe henntncutiell pcnpttlive imrod...:td by JohanD Philipp ..abler ( 1753-1826)' in hi, inOUg.,lnlion
SJ"'ecl\ delivertd 01 the Uni""rsjly of Altdorf. G<:rmIlllY, ;0 1787. The 1. G. Ebolilll , "Tho M_ins of ' BiM"' . '~; " JT.I'n." 6 (l9~') : 11 ()"1' (210). cr 0100 O. Merk. 81b1iJcIo< 1loroIofk du N _ 110 JItJ'er Ao(""FA"iI: lltn _M~ P'J obk . .. b<ei .loJocwIl'IUlipp G4b1.. _ ~ lAn>rz Jkrwr wNi """" NacIJ~"itb"linl (M.ro.qer TbooIoJi .. be Srudi"" 9; M ~ ; f.1w< _ _ i". orlloo Iobd w... 10< ""'"' " <;pIo of.h< R<:fom>&li<>1to. Smc:. ~UIbet. 111< _ _ k.,. for I!o< _ , • • jolrino) .. """taiflOd m boIh _oh biblt and CIIristi ... ,,"'" T.... """"WOO lhe chin& prin oo •• 1oontn, oflbe ""k e oo ....... "'"CI>rioI"·pMcipio. nw """ Unpti aIJlia model for e.urnpk. ",,,,"",ed tin. ...... ".1 ",ii' : .'i.. . ...... I'inh«, 4. Scot a. c. OIl"*""P, 'llibli<>ol ~: Sit"';"1 ""' o."'iplio<," m ,aood;ttg 1M ~ t>{,...Mart/ ~ A"",,"_ (<4. J. T. aotl.,,-eI Ill,; JSO'fStJp 31; 51>0Il10101: JSOT Prno. 19S5). 31~1 ; J. H. Horn ond F. C. f'ruIon<1, OldT",,_ ~.' '" H;'",,>,_~,(I.ondou: SCM Pteu. 1985). H,61~ ; lb>
r"w-""
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Chri,,""
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thol'" ..."m
u_ ..
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title of this oddress indicate. tile """" in wlticb biblical interpretation fOllDd itself: de i",w discrimjne IheoJogiae bibJ;c"" el dogmolictJe reg.mdisque reck! ~lrj",1f1I" jinihus.' ··Building upoo lbe urlier suggestions of (JIhers (O$p'<:1)' fif"llllt1lte doa· malic int"'Prettli"" of $Cripturca and hi, feor of eikgetical mothudologi.
cal p"""i<e: All who "'" <10_ to 'M ""'''''' f.it/> ofCM ..... ity ...profn . ..it), on< "",1«1 ..,;.,. ' hot tM soaod boob. <>p«i.Uy of!he N..... T .... II< !he""" olear......." from ..... iwledi< of"'" e...,uion "'~t" ion i. _ ADd !hey ",or... _lhat ...... boob ore !he only""""'" IAllf di,in< m...... ..... i f,.. wish to~ • • ~rm ..... ___ hope of ..I . ... "". Gi ...... III;' ~1Il <>< "Pi,;""" why !hen .;., ,beK
'D«I'.
p'" '" •
","."or...,,,,,,,.,,, _ 7 I\'lIy . - f..oJ _
"",0"1
of.1Io: • .,."" DoubII ... \hi. di ~ "",in""'. in pori from !he """"sionai obo.lOmof .--tin, one·, """ "!'inion ..... iodtem.... into .... Bib". '" from • ..",ile manner ofinte<pr .. in, i1. O<J..M... rite ~fr,I>< "'flHwd .ruri",,1Ion - . . . •.rlJsioo and ,'-'/otv: . -finoi" ;, ....... fr- .. ....,.,. <¥> I"" " " _ <>f'1>< ,Ioyl.,ity _ _ _ of b/bl/c<JI ,/u!Q/aIj!}""-;1Io ,11< ",hlkty - ' diffi«
di<_"'" ""U
s. J. P. Gobles. "All Omioio: Oolhe Proper DiotinoJ by J. SoDdyo-Wunooh on!! l... Eu...d", in \heir " J. P. Gobles lOll .... Diotin<.ion Bibl'. s:7: T....1ation. C<>mmonIary.
Il<,.",,,
and Dis< ... ion of JIi. OriIP .. ,ity." $IT )} (198(l): llJ-,B. F(It on ~i Inn>btioo of .... (..ali . . . . t iRlO 000 ......" ... J. P. C.,bl
U."""'ht>Juna .. B;l>Iio<'- und <10, IJoam..o ~:K""" TII<:oloP: unh/;"-';" a..:»ox;"du N..... r..."",,-... , 27J84. Bod. Smolyo-I\' LIIISclt onIes·, KIri",,. ~iI< s,,~(UIm. IS)I). 17993. SodIY. .... ori~"'" _ _ .. no ioojet « to g< (NulMl"" _ 4 11_ 1 99) ~ 11-22. I. Gobl"'. "QrI .... Proper Distinction." 134-)' (n.t." "" _ ) .
l1.yo."""
" Upon dcalinll boicHy willi lIN: inte"".!iv. lcntleocy to cnplI" in cisegw_ cal practice,' Gabler .tresse.llhe proper .. paration ofbiblicallhwlngy from dogmatic theology. The difference i. lhat biblical relisiooftheology (c geM'" hisl.mco) describes the bask Christ;an knowledge a. repr<"_ ..,n!cd in \be"";pIUJ'eS Ihemsclves, whereas dogmalics/theology proper (.. geMre did.r/Ico) dchllems anaincd knowledge draWII from !he scripWres, phiJosophie&l ODd hilogy ----po ...... ing I didactic cl!.aracter" ' ''Il1nes responsibility for the euct ")"'ttmlltic and norme.tive formulation of biblical Ibeology, "teaching wha l each Iheologi.., philosoph; ... rationally aboUI divine thing •. &CC !her similar faClOrS.""
H.".,., Gabler refuled the mingling or I h4Lorical discip\il>< (biblical theology) with I confc$'i"11 said
1tIaI_.
9 . Sot Gab .... ', ~.,. ;toid,. 13S. 10. R. ferriq bock '" .... worbofEmesti, Semler. Tollor.Spoklinf. TOII...,...d Tillm' " .. 00 bad already u.d;caoed ..... Ihe .. i., considerable diff......,. bdw<en "'Ii&ioeol<>sY. (dbI .. ora-! lhoI ",lip.. i. p",'1 "" 1»' .... doo o ill 0
bowL ... ill IhiI life or.d III< on< 10 rome, Rol;p.a i. tb .. Ian>_'y c .... ~ , In C- , compl«dy "', .... ihdIp, fco: bsIa!>« \he . implicity of_they call biblicol theol<>sY with \he ... 1101«), of dotm,ric 1lIeoIoslr; aIo",".b k cmainly _ _ 10 ... \hat .... roe thinJ mus' bo """" obarply diotin",ished from \he OIlIer _ ......... """"""" pro<1l'" "p 10 ..,..."(iIrid,.I,!6-37), II, 1bid,.I36. 12, Ibid, !), Ibid" 1JJ, 14, To bo .ure. Uabler "'... ill b il OWII 'iib< or.d ~mo, • hiaorio:ol o
pl> Iap, _ 1 : " !kodo ioc"" S e<:hatlicol srammoricaI M""""'utico, _ ....... ... ilI "'" do j ...1ico "' .... om. ill auoboriaI -;"11 00<1 ill ;.,...., ...... mber, '1 d)anloo <Jb<1h. duo our" , ge,,·endeo .-.left """'" (ibid.).
,odjr<.
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r.:.c..."" .... . _
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tho~
it i. diffirull to know "'hctllcr hi, two-c<>mpartrnCfl!$ hcrmlogy on equal fOOling ,,;!h dogmatic theol· ogy, as i. often "''''mtd by many modern students Df biblical hcmtc:. ""utic •. Of w!>ether Gabler merely ",tablisbed the biblical theological d; "" il'linc as a 50Wld exesotkal bouncinS-boud to get to Ill. highest 1. ",,1oflheologizilljl. IhaI is, dogmaIic theology, the place where "eMIlio and undoubted unh'cnal ideas {can] be singled 001. !hose ide ... wbicb alone ore useful in dogmaIic lboology . ~ " Despih: thi, ~eil.d inteot: I~\> ........ Gobler',
w'ocbripeo _Anlio
.,j, ;.....,.
DopWik' i ... ""' .. """' olio "!>;tllioch< DopIotik [fWtl_ rue biblioo ...iI< "'I" ~
""f
The foUowinj stops, wbicb cltarac1criz.e Gobler', biblical inlelprCtalion and formularion "fbiblical and dojmalic theology. ,",'ere 1\"" ullimately decisive for the ... paration of the eM",;"" "Old Te.tamenl" from the "New Testament":" r"", bUAIc'"
•
'''''''''v:r ('M d<.crJpsIw 14<.1 .. lit< bwoJ """'~
<>OV'" "' foIl_ by «>Iltdinj; and oomparinlllh< "Ilo>l)' id<..- .ftll< Ordivi
I S. II is in fact.tb " _"'lE .... 1tortnmeutH:aJ ijJjJt_b: """","'»
"dc>c""';e ...... "'Il"." 16. Gablet, "Oo .... Proper J;)istit>;1ioft, " 143. 11, Tha, ;,.,.flerhi."Ontion." II, MorIc lJiNiJcIw: 1'Itt.>Io:wtk. r"m~·."". 9tl (tIto Kalioo . . mine). The in, ...... COIIIItla> M