Reciprocity and the Risk of Rejection : Debate over Sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible

Sacrifice is a central but contested topic in the prophetical literature in the Hebrew Bible. Whereas some texts criticize the sacrificial cult vehemently, other texts express strong support for such a cult. Interestingly, and somewhat paradoxically, a certain writing, such as the book of Jeremiah, may contain both cult-critical prophecies and passages that promote sacrifices. Divergent interpretations of this ancient debate have engendered an intense scholarly debate. Adopting a new approach, informed by sacrifice theories that emphasize the notion of reciprocity, this article refutes the view that prophets like Amos and Jeremiah rejected all sacrifices. Rather, they (that is, the authors of these books) addressed specific situations, or explained specific catastrophes in retrospect. Viewed from this perspective, the cult-critical prophecies, as well as other references to rejected sacrifice, are in fact compatible with a basically positive attitude towards the sacrificial cult

Sounds of Silence in Biblical Hebrew : A Lexical Study

This article explores the semantic resources of biblical Hebrew, when it comes to speaking about silence. The aim is to reach more clarity concerning the sense and function of pertinent lexemes, and to contribute to a better understanding of the "semantic field" of silence. It is demonstrated that biblical Hebrew had several verbs with the sense "to be silent" (= abstain from speech), but no noun corresponding to the English word "silence" (denoting a situation characterized by the absence of speech or by the complete lack of audible sounds). However, the domains of silence and stillness overlap. Thus, when the biblical writers wanted to describe a situation of "silence", they could choose one of several words associated with the wider concept of stillness

Grapes in the Desert : Metaphors, Models, and Themes in Hosea 4-14

This study explores the textual world of Hosea 4-14. To this end it uses a melhod informed by modern metaphor theory. At the outset, the hypothesis that chapters 4-14 in the book of Hosea constitute a coherent literary composition is submitted. The perspectival theory advanced by Eva F. Kittay is selected as a theoretical basis for the analysis. This theory is iupplemented by mslghts derived from some related metaphor theories. The contours of a new exegetical approach, metaphorical criticism, are outlined. The main part of the study consists of textual analysis of Hosea 4-14. Each metaphor and simile is analysed: Its contextual function is as- sessed, and important intratextual and intertextual connections are registered. In the next step, the text is scanned for traces of influential models. Finally, the multiple functions served by prominent themes are studied. In the concluding part, the results from the analysis are systematized in a number of dif- ferent ways. It is shown that the representations of the people (Ephraim/Israel) are characterized by two specific modes, namely personification and victimization. In an attempt to uncover irn- portant ideological dimensions, the relational models which underlie the text's metaphors are compared to each other: the monarchial, the judicial, the covenantal, the parental, and the agri- cultural model. The impact of these models on the polemical passages in the text is critically examined. It is argued that "God is king" functions as a root metaphor within the discourse. In the concluding vision in 14:2-9, however, there occurs a "paradigm shift" fiom hierarchy to reciprocity. In addition, a number of themes are identified. These themes are shown to create coherence as well as dynamics throughout the discourse. Some prominent themes are chosen as points of departure for metaphorical readings of the entire composition. The conspicuous use of "reversals" is discussed. The study is concluded by some attempts to uncovcr srructural pat- terns m the textual world of Hosea 4-14. These essays discuss fertility/sterility as a basic code, the sacrificial system as a matrix for the metaphors in the text, and various tr;unsformations of the mythological "disappearing deity" pattern

Reciprocity and the Risk of Rejection : Debate over Sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible

Sacrifice is a central but contested topic in the prophetical literature in the Hebrew Bible. Whereas some texts criticize the sacrificial cult vehemently, other texts express strong support for such a cult. Interestingly, and somewhat paradoxically, a certain writing, such as the book of Jeremiah, may contain both cult-critical prophecies and passages that promote sacrifices. Divergent interpretations of this ancient debate have engendered an intense scholarly debate. Adopting a new approach, informed by sacrifice theories that emphasize the notion of reciprocity, this article refutes the view that prophets like Amos and Jeremiah rejected all sacrifices. Rather, they (that is, the authors of these books) addressed specific situations, or explained specific catastrophes in retrospect. Viewed from this perspective, the cult-critical prophecies, as well as other references to rejected sacrifice, are in fact compatible with a basically positive attitude towards the sacrificial cult

Swords Into Plowshares : A Prophecy and Its Reception (Isaiah 2.2-5)

This article studies the reception history of a prophetic passage containing a vision of universal peace: Isa. 2.2-5 (par. Mic. 4.1-4). To begin with, it is demonstrated that one particular motif in this prophetic passage, the beating of ‘swords into plowshares’ (Isa. 2.4), has attained great symbolic significance. It has, above all, become closely associated with efforts to achieve global disarmament. Taking this contemporary trend as a point of departure, the study sets out to explore earlier stages in the history of interpretation. Based on a survey of selected examples from the patristic period, the Constantine era, and the Protestant reformation, it is demonstrated that Isa. 2.2-5 has been understood in different ways through the centuries. It is argued that major shifts in the interpretation can be related to changes in the social and political context of the interpreters. Whereas early Christian commentators (such as Justin Martyr and Eusebius) regarded this prophecy as already fulfilled in their political reality, albeit in strongly divergent ways, both Luther and Calvin advocated a spiritualizing interpretation. Against this background, the widespread use of the words from Isa. 2.4, ‘they shall beat their swords into plowshares’, as a source of inspiration for pacifist activism, stands out as a modern phenomenon