God's Love Story: Past, Present and Future in the Deuteronomistic Composition (Agypten Und Altes Testament, 112)

Description

Gershon Galil's study examines the formation of the books included in the "Deuteronomistic Composition", and the historical and theological perceptions of the Deuteronomist (Dtr), who composed the "Deuteronomistic Composition" during the Babylonia exile, and completed it ca. 560 BCE. According to the author, the "Deuteronomistic Composition" included not only the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua-Kings, but the book of Jeremiah as well. Deuteronomy is the preface to this composition, and Jeremiah seals it; in Deuteronomy the path is demarcated and the norms are fixed; the body of the composition, namely the books from Joshua to Kings, presents a detailed history of the relation between God and Israel, from the conquest of the good land to the destruction of the Temple and the loss of the land. The book of Jeremiah, which concludes the composition, discusses at length the decline and fall of Judah, analyzes the sins that brought about the destruction, and at the same time propagates the gospel of redemption among the exiles. Like Moses, who predicts exile but also redemption, Jeremiah is the prophet of destruction but also of redemption. So Dtr examines the past according to the principles of the "Torah of Moses" (Deuteronomy) - and delineates the future in light of God's word in the mouth of His prophets - primarily Moses and Jeremiah. God's eternal love for Israel is the main tenet of Dtr's worldview. In his opinion, the bond between the Lord and Israel is endless. Its beginning is in the days of the Patriarchs but it will never end. As the relationship is everlasting, the nation of Israel is divine by nature: eternal and holy. The circular nature of the relationship between God and His people implies, in essence, a reality of closeness and distance, affection and anger, sin and repentance, punishment and salvation. Fulfillment of the word of God is one of the central motifs of the "Deuteronomistic Composition". Since the main message of Dtr is that God promises Israel a return to the land, eternal love and an everlasting covenant, the people may wonder whether God's promises can be trusted. The answer comes in many scriptures that emphasize the fulfillment of the word of God and teach that God's promises can always be trusted. Foreword Contents Chapter I: The Scope and Literary Structure of the Deuteronomistic Composition I.1 The Scope of the Deuteronomistic Composition I.2 The Literary Structure of the Deuteronomistic Composition Chapter II: The Chronological Framework of the Deuteronomistic Composition II.1 From the Exodus to the Establishment of the Temple II.2 From the Establishment of the Temple to its Destruction II.2.1 From the Schism to Jehu’s Revolt II.2.2 From Jehu’s Revolt to the Fall of Samaria II.2.3 From the Fall of Samaria to the Fall of Jerusalem II.3 The Seventy-Years Era and Jehojachin’s Release Chapter III: The Formation of the Book of Deuteronomy III.1 Doublets and Contradictions in the Book of Deuteronomy III.1.1 Two Introductions III.1.2 The Borders of the Land III.1.3 Was Transjordan Included in the Land of Israel or in Moab? III.1.4 Moses: Sin and Punishment III.1.5 The Names of the Mountain of God III.1.6 The Cities of Refuge III.1.7 Joshua in the Book of Deuteronomy III.1.8 The Centralization of Worship in the Book of Deuteronomy III.1.9 Pillars in the Book of Deuteronomy III.1.10 The Relations with Edom, Moab and Ammon III.1.11 Exile and Redemption in the Book of Deuteronomy III.1.12 Deuteronomic and Deuteronomistic Phraseology in the Book of Deuteronomy III.2 The Layers of the Book of Deuteronomy III.3 The First Edition of the Book of Deuteronomy (D) III.3.1 The Choice of the Place and the Concentration of Worship III.3.2 The Choice of Israel and its Holiness III.3.3 Levites in Deuteronomy III.3.4 The Attitudes Towards Monarchy in Deuteronomy III.3.5 Concern for the Poor and Weak in the Book of Deuteronomy III.3.6 “The Lord, our Lord, is One Lord:” The Uniqueness and Unity of the Lord in Deuteronomy III.3.7 The Land in the Book of Deuteronomy III.3.8 A Comparison of the Laws in the Deuteronomic Code with the Laws in the Book of the Covenant, the Priestly Source and the Holiness Code III.3.9 Northern Sources of the Book of Deuteronomy III.4 The Second Edition of the Book of Deuteronomy (Dtr) III.4.1 The Opening Paragraph of the Book of Deuteronomy III.4.2 The Preface to the Book of Deuteronomy (Deut 1:1 – 4:43) III.4.2.1 The Appointment of Judges (Deut 1:9–18) III.4.2.2 The Story of the Spies (Deut 1:19–46) III.4.2.3 From Kadesh-Barnea to Arnon River and the Conquest of Transjordan (Deut 2:1 – 3:29) III.4.2.4 A Preaching Sermon (Deut 4:1–40) III.4.3 A Deuteronomistic Opening to the Deuteronomic Code (Deut 4:44, 46–49) III.4.4 The Concluding Literary Division of the Book of Deuteronomy III.4.4.1 The Covenant in Transjordan (Deut 29–30) III.4.4.2 Joshua in Deuteronomy III.4.4.3 Repentance, Redemption and the Eternity of God’s Covenant with Israel III.4.4.4 The Book of Torah III.4.4.5 Deut 31 III.4.4.5.1 Speech No. 10 (Deut 31:1–8) III.4.4.5.2 Speech No. 11 (Deut 31:9–13) III.4.4.5.3 Speech No. 12 (Deut 31:14–23) III.4.4.5.4 Speech No. 13 (Deut 31:24–29) III.5 The Liturgical Speeches in Deuteronomy Chapter IV: The Formation of the Book of Joshua IV.1 Doublets and Contradictions in the Book of Joshua IV.1.1 The Conquest IV.1.2 The Borders of the Land IV.1.3 The Tribe of Judah IV.1.4 Joshua and Moses in the Book of Joshua IV.1.5 The Inheritance of the Tribe of Levi IV.1.6 Different Styles and More Doublets IV.1.7 Priests and Levites in Joshua IV.2 Four Editions of the Book of Joshua IV.2.1 The First Edition of the Book of Joshua: The Conquest of the Land (The Northern Edition) IV.2.2 The Second Edition: The Conquest and Settlement (The Judean Edition) IV.2.3 The Third Edition of the Book of Joshua (The Deuteronomistic Edition) IV.2.4 The Fourth Edition of the Book of Joshua (The Priestly Edition) Chapter V: The Formation of the Book of Judges V.1 Doublets and Contradictions in the Book of Judges V.1.1 Theocracy or Monarchy V.1.2 The Tribe of Judah V.1.3 The Tribe of Benjamin V.1.4 The Sins of Israel V.1.5 “Major Judges” and “Minor Judges” V.2 Four Editions of the Book of Judges V.2.1 The First Edition of the Book of Judges (“The Book of the Saviors”) V.2.2 The Second Edition of the Book of Judges (The Judahite Edition) V.2.3 The Third Edition of the Book of Judges (The Deuteronomistic Edition) V.2.4 The Fourth Edition of the Book of Judges (The Priestly Edition) Chapter VI: The Formation of the Book of Samuel VI.1 Doublets and Contradictions in the Book of Samuel VI.1.1 Attitudes Towards Kingship VI.1.2 Attitudes Towards David: Apology and Justification Versus Criticism VI.1.3 Attitudes Towards Saul and Benjamin: Praise Versus Polemic and Criticism VI.1.4 Three Versions of Saul’s Coronation VI.1.5 Attitudes Towards the House of Eli, Saul and Ebiathar the Priest VI.1.6 The Amalekites VI.1.7 Additional Duplications and Possible Contradictions in the Book of Samuel VI.2 The Book of Samuel: Sources and Editions VI.3 The Sources of the First Edition of the Book of Samuel VI.3.1 The Book of Saviors VI.3.2 The Acts of Saul VI.3.2.1 Saul’s Election and Legitimation VI.3.2.2 Saul’s Victory Over the Philistines VI.3.2.3 Saul’s Victory Over the Amalekites VI.3.2.4 Summary of Saul’s Wars and Genealogy VI.3.3 The Acts of David VI.3.3.1 The Justification of David (The Apology) VI.3.3.2 The Legitimacy of David and the Delegitimizing of Saul VI.3.3.3 Criticism of Joab VI.3.3.4 Emphasizing David’s Military and Political Achievements VI.3.3.5 Attitudes Towards the House of Eli, Saul and Ebiathar the Priest VI.3.4 The “Book of Jashar” VI.4 The First Edition of the Book of Samuel VI.4.1 The Structure of the First Edition of the Book of Samuel VI.4.2 The Tendencies of the Author of the First Edition of the Book of Samuel VI.4.2.1 Attitudes Towards the House of Eli and Ebiathar the Priest VI.4.2.2 Attitudes Towards Saul and Benjamin VI.4.2.3 Polemics Against Joab VI.4.2.4 Attitudes Towards David and Solomon’s Elder Brothers VI.5 The Second Edition of the Book of Samuel (The Deuteronomistic Edition) Chapter VII: The Formation of the Book of Kings VII.1 Doublets and Contradictions in the Book of Kings VII.2 The Sources of the Book of Kings VII.2.1 The First Edition of the Book of Samuel VII.2.2 “The Book of the Acts of Solomon” VII.2.3 “The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah” VII.2.4 “The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel” VII.2.5 Northern Prophetic Sources VII.2.6 Southern Prophetic Sources VII.2.7 Other Sources VII.2.8 Glosses VII.3 Deuteronomistic Editing in the Book of Kings VII.3.1 Scope and Content VII.3.2 Opening Formulas VII.3.3 Evaluations of the Kings of Israel and Judah VII.3.4 Were There Several Deuteronomistic Editors of the Book of Kings or Just One? VII.3.5 Reward, Punishment and the Message of the Book of Kings VII.3.6 The Literary Structure of the Deuteronomistic Edition of the Book of Kings VII.4 Priestly Additions in the Book of Kings Chapter VIII: The Formation of the Book of Jeremiah VIII.1 The Book of Jeremiah: Contradictions and Evidence of its Formation VIII.1.1 Attitudes Towards the Wandering in the Wilderness VIII.1.2 The Future of David’s House VIII.1.3 Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin VIII.1.4 “The LORD is Our Righteousness” – The Name of a King or of a City? VIII.1.5 Reward and Punishment in the Book of Jeremiah VIII.1.6 Attitudes Toward Worship in the Book of Jeremiah VIII.1.7 Internal Evidence for the Formation of the Book of Jeremiah VIII.1.8 The Greek Version and the Formation of the Book of Jeremiah VIII.1.9 Stylistic and Linguistic Differences in the Book of Jeremiah VIII.2 The Main Layers of the Book of Jeremiah VIII.3 The Literary Genres VIII.4 The Pre-Deuteronomistic Edition of the Book of Jeremiah VIII.5 The Deuteronomistic Edition of the Book of Jeremiah VIII.6 The Chronological Data in the Book of Jeremiah VIII.7 Struggle Against Idolatry in the Book of Jeremiah VIII.8 Concentration of Worship in the Book of Jeremiah VIII.9 Social Injustices in the Book of Jeremiah VIII.10 Retribution and Repentance in the Book of Jeremiah VIII.11 Punishment: Destruction, Death and Exile in the Book of Jeremiah VIII.12 Consolation and Redemption in the Book of Jeremiah VIII.13 The Renewal of the Rule of the House of David VIII.14 Post-Deuteronomistic Additions in the Book of Jeremiah Chapter IX: The Historical Conceptions of the Deuteronomist IX.1 Dtr’s Attitude Towards his Sources IX.2 The History of Israel IX.2.1 The Patriarchs IX.2.1 The Patriarchs IX.2.2 Moses’ Age: The Exodus and the Wandering in the Wilderness IX.2.2.1 The Chronological Framework of Moses’ Age IX.2.2.2 The Exodus IX.2.2.3 Appointment of Judges (Deut 1:9–18) IX.2.2.4 The Story of the Spies (Deut 1:19–46) IX.2.2.5 From Kadesh-Barnea to Arnon River and the Conquest of Transjordan (Deut 2:1 – 3:29) IX.2.3 Joshua and the Conquest of the Land IX.2.4 The Age of the Judges IX.2.5 David IX.2.6 Solomon IX.2.7 From Jeroboam I to Omri (1 Kgs 12:1 – 16:14) IX.2.8 The House of Omri IX.2.9 The House of Jehu IX.2.10 Ahaz, King of Judah IX.2.11 The Fall of Israel IX.2.12 Hezekiah IX.2.13 Manasseh IX.2.14 Josiah IX.2.15 Destruction and Exile Chapter X: The Theological Perception of the Deuteronomist X.1 God’s Eternal Love for His People Israel X.2 God’s Eternal Covenant with the House of David X.3 Attitude Towards Monarchy X.4 The Temple X.5 The Worship of God: Centralization of Worship and Sacrifices X.6 Reward and Punishment X.7 The Struggle Against Idolatry X.8 Fulfillment of the Word of God X.9 One Torah X.10 Social Injustice Appendix: The Deuteronomistic Phraseology A.1 Eternal Love, Election and the Davidic Dynasty A.1.1 Eternal Love and Election A.1.2 The Davidic Dynasty A.2 Covenant and Inheritance of the Land A.2.1 Exodus and Covenant A.2.2 Inheritance of the Land A.3 Faith, Loyalty and its Reward A.3.1 The Monotheistic Creed A.3.2 Loyalty to the Covenant and its Reward A.4 Centralization of Worship and the “Name” Theology A.5 The Struggle Against Idolatry A.5.1 Warnings Against Foreign Worship A.5.2 The Polemic Against Idolatry A.6 Sin and Punishment A.6.1 Disloyalty A.6.2 Punishment A.7 The Fulfilment of the Word of YHWH A.8 Rhetoric Phraseology A.9 The Priests the Levites Abbreviations Bibliography Indices Index of Authors Index of Scripture Hebrew Bible Babylonian Inscriptionsand Greek Writings Index of Subjects