Biblical Representations of Moab: A Kenyan Postcolonial Reading (Bible and Theology in Africa)

Description

Biblical Representations of Moab: A Kenyan Postcolonial Reading employs critical theories on colonial, anticolonial, and postcolonial ethnicity and African cultural hermeneutics to examine the overlap of politics, ethnicity, nationality, economics, and religion in contemporary Kenya and to utilize those critical tools to illuminate the Hebrew Bible narratives concerning the Moabites. This book can be used by teachers and students of contemporary methods in Hebrew Bible studies, postcolonial studies, Africana studies, African biblical hermeneutics, political science, gender studies, history, philosophy, international studies, religion and peace studies, African affairs, and ethnic/racial conflict and resolution studies. It would also be of immense value to clergy and lay leaders engaged in interfaith or interethnic/racial dialogue. Cover Table of Contents Abbreviations Acknowledgements Introduction Notes Chapter 1. Postcolonial (Postexilic) Context of Israelite-Moabite Representations Questions Pertinent to This Study Selected Texts and Their Historical Contexts Genesis through 2 Kings Isaiah 15–16 Jeremiah 48 Ezekiel 25 The Moabite Inscription Israelite-Moabite and Kikuyu-Luo Ethnic Representations: A Comparison Israelite Subjection to the Babylonian (Colonial) Exile and the Formation of Israelite Ethnicization Narratives Israelite Subjection to the Persian (Postcolonial) Postexilic Conditions and the Continuation of the Formation of Israelite Ethnicization Narratives The Kikuyu Subjection to British Colonial Rule and the Formation of Kikuyu Ethnicization Narratives The Kikuyu Ethnicization Narratives in Postcolonial Kenya Summary and Conclusions Notes Chapter 2. Methodological Concerns Contextualizing Postcolonial Subjectivity Said on the “Oriental” Subject Spivak on the Complexity of the Postcolonial Subject Bhabha on the Subjectivity of the Colonized Synthesis of Postcolonial Concepts Postcolonialism and Race/Ethnicity: Interrelationships Ethnicity Studies and the Development of Ethnic Sentiments The Question of Ethnicity Revisited African Biblical Hermeneutics Mosala: On the Materiality of Biblical Texts Post-Mosalan ABH Notes Chapter 3. Israelite-Moabite Ethnic Representations in the Hebrew Bible Sociocultural Representations of Moabite Origins in Genesis 11:27–19:38 Representations of Lot in Genesis 11:27–12:6 Representations of Lot in Genesis 13 Representations of Lot in Genesis 14 Representations of Lot in Genesis 18:16–33 Representations of Lot in Genesis 19:30–38 Abraham-Lot Narratives and the Complexity of Their Reappropriations The Violence of Exclusion The Abraham-Lot Narratives: Summary and Conclusions Representations of Moabite Land in Numbers 21–24 Representations of Moabite Land in Numbers 21 Representations of Moabite Land in Numbers 22–24 Representations of Moabite Land: Summary and Conclusions Representations of Moabite Political Leaders Representations of Balak in Num 22–24 Representations of Eglon in Judges 3:12–30 Representations of King Mesha in 2 Kings 3:4–27 Representations of Moabite Leadership: Summary and Conclusions Representations of the Moabites in Prophetic Literature Oracles against the Nations: General Comments Representations of the Moabites in Isaiah 15–16 Representations of the Moabites in Jeremiah 48:1–47 Representations of the Moabites in Ezekiel 25:8–11 Representations of the Moabites in Prophetic Literature: Summary and Conclusions Representations of the Moabites in the Moabite Inscription: A Push Back against Israelite Ethnicization Narratives Israelite-Moabite Ethnic Representations in the Hebrew Bible: Summary and Conclusions Notes Chapter 4. Kikuyu-Luo Ethnic Representations in Postcolonial Kenya Lesa Belle Morrison on the Question of Kikuyu-Luo Representations Kikuyu-Luo Representations at the Dawn of Kenya’s Independence Kikuyu-Luo Representations at the Dawn of Kenya’s Independence: Summary and Conclusions Kikuyu-Luo Representations in Jomo Kenyatta’s Kenya The Tom Mboya Factor in the Kikuyu-Luo Representations The Kikuyu “Dissidents” Factor in the Kikuyu-Luo Representations in Kenyatta’s Kenya Kikuyu-Luo Representations in Daniel arap Moi’s Kenya Kikuyu-Luo Representations in the Aftermath of Robert Ouko’s Murder Kikuyu-Luo Representations in Mwai Kibaki’s Kenya The Role of Christian Churches in Kikuyu-Luo Representations Kikuyu-Luo Representations between 2007 and 2013 Kikuyu-Luo Ethnic Representations: Summary and Conclusions Notes Chapter 5. Israelite-Moabite Representations: Recasting the Story Milton Yinger on the Question of a Peaceful Interethnic Coexistence Kikuyu-Luo Ethnic Representations in Postcolonial Kenya: Recasting the Story The Complexity of Ethnicity (Understood as Genealogy or Biological Ties) in Kikuyu-Luo Ethnic Representations The Complexity of Land Issues in Kikuyu-Luo Ethnic Representations The Complexity of Religious Claims in Kikuyu-Luo Ethnic Representations Israelite-Moabite Identities in the Postcolony: Ethnicity in the Book of Ruth Ruth 1 on Genealogy (Biological Ties), Land, and Religion Ruth 2 on Genealogy (Biological Ties), Land, and Religion Ruth 3 on Genealogy (Biological Ties), Land, and Religion Ruth 4 on Genealogy (Biological Ties), Land, and Religion Notes Chapter 6. General Concluding Remarks Notes Bibliography