The Retributive and Suffering God of the Book of Jeremiah: A Study of Yhwh's 'Azab-Complaints

Description

Portraits of YHWH as a retributive and a suffering God appear side by side in the book of Jeremiah. Not surprisingly, scholars usually emphasize the contrast and conflict between them. In addition to obvious differences, they also tend to feature in different types of literary material in the book; that is, in prose and poetry. Hakon Sunde Pedersen's study challenges the common view by offering a new interpretation of some of the portraits in which not only radical differences but points of unity and connection between them come to light. Based on these observations, the author suggests that the portraits' juxtaposition in the book may ultimately contribute to highlighting central theological concerns in the book in its present (MT) form. Cover Titel Preface Table of Contents Abbreviations and Formalities Chapter I: Introduction 1. Context and Focus of the Study 2. Prevailing Readings and My Theses 2.1 The Prosaic ʻĀzab-Complaints: A Typical Deuteronomistic Explanation of the Defeat and Exile of Judah? 2.2 The Poetic ʻĀzab-Complaints: A Lament of a Forsaken and Victimized YHWH? 2.3 Summing Up: The Theses of the Study 3. Broader Research Context and Working Assumptions 3.1 The Prosaic ʻĀzab-Complaints: The Problem of Formulaic Prose Material 3.1.1 The Prose–Poetry Problem 3.1.1.1 The Prose as Secondary to the Poetic Material 3.1.1.2 The Nature of Prose contra Poetry 3.1.2 The Formulaic Character of the Prose Material 3.1.3 Tendencies of Deuteronomistic Redaction(s) 3.1.4 Summary 3.2 The PoeticʻĀzab-Complaints: Divine Lament and the Notion of Divine Pathos 3.2.1 Divine Lament in the Book of Jeremiah 3.2.2 Abraham Joshua Heschel and the Notion of Divine Pathos 3.2.3 Terence E. Fretheim and the Notion of Divine Pathos 3.2.3.1 Contemporary Constructive Theology 3.2.3.2 Traditional Biblical Scholarship 3.2.4 Walter Brueggemann and the Notion of Divine Pathos 3.2.4.1 YHWH as a Fully Articulated Personal Agent 3.2.4.2 Bipolar Framework 3.2.5 Phenomenologies of Desire and Different Types of Lament 3.2.6 Summary 4. Approach and Outline of the Study Chapter II: YHWH’s Poetic ʻĀzab-Complaints 1. Introduction 2. YHWH’s ʻĀzab-Complaint in Jer 2:13 2.1 Introductory Remarks 2.1.1 Fretheim’s and Brueggemann’s Readings 2.2 Literary Context 2.2.1 YHWH’s Rîb as Punishment of Continuing Confrontation 2.2.2 A Poem Filled with Irony 2.2.3 Divine Lament and YHWH’s Desire for Continuing Relationship 2.3 The Profile of the ʻĀzab-Complaint 2.3.1 An Accusation of Infidelity? 2.3.2 An Accusation of Foolishness 2.3.3 A Compassionate Lament 2.4 Conclusion 3. YHWH’sʻĀzab-Complaints in Jer 2:17 and 2:19 3.1 Introductory Remarks 3.1.1 Fretheim’s and Brueggemann’s Readings 3.2 Literary Context 3.2.1 Situation of Distress 3.2.2 Rhetorical Questions 3.3 The Profile of the ʻĀzab-Complaints 3.3.1 Accusations of (Marital) Infidelity? 3.3.2 Accusations of Foolishness 3.3.3 Compassionate Laments 3.4 Conclusion Excursus 1: Marital Imagery in Jer 2 1. The Diversity of Marital and Sexual Metaphors 2. The Unidentified Female Figure in Jer 2 3. The Meaning and Function of vv. 2–3 in Jer 2 4. YHWH’s ʻĀzab-Complaint in Jer 5:7 4.1 Introductory Remarks 4.1.1 Fretheim’s and Brueggemann’s Readings 4.2 Literary Context 4.2.1 The Train of Thought in Jer 5:1–9 4.2.2 Imperatives and Rhetorical Questions 4.2.3 The Problem of Falseness and Lack of Integrity 4.3 The Profile of the ʻĀzab-Complaint 4.3.1 An Accusation of Infidelity? 4.3.2 An Accusation of Foolishness 4.3.3 A Compassionate Lament 4.4 Conclusion 5. Summary Chapter III: YHWH’s Prosaic ʻĀzab-Complaints 1. Introduction 2. YHWH’s ʻĀzab-Complaint in 1:16 2.1 Introductory Remarks 2.1.1 The Formulaic Character of the ʻĀzab-Complaint 2.2 Literary Context 2.3 The Profile of the ʻĀzab-Complaint 2.3.1 The Foolishness of the People 2.3.2 Total Judgment 2.4 Conclusion 3. YHWH’s ʻĀzab-Complaint in 5:19 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 The Question–Answer Scheme 3.1.2 The ?Azab-Complaint and the Question–Answer Scheme in 5:19 3.1.2.1 The Formulaic Character of the ʻĀzab-Complaint 3.1.2.2 Distinctive Features of the Passage 3.2 Literary Context 3.3 The Profile of the ʻĀzab-Complaint 3.3.1 The Foolishness of the People 3.3.2 Total Judgment 3.4 Conclusion 4. YHWH’s ʻĀzab-Complaint in 9:12 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Profile of the ʻĀzab-Complaint 4.2.1 The Formulaic Character of the ʻĀzab-Complaint 4.2.2 The Foolishness of the People 4.2.3 Total Judgment 4.3 Conclusion Excursus 2: The Literary Context of Jer 9:11–15 1. Indications of Continuity 2. From a Weeping Prophet to a Weeping God? 3. Jeremiah 8:8–9:2 and Divine Abandonment? 4. Jeremiah 9:9, 16–21 and Total Annihilation 5. Conclusion 5. YHWH’s ʻĀzab-Complaint in Jer 16:11 5.1 Introduction 5.1.1 The Formulaic Character of the ʻĀzab-Complaints 5.1.2 Distinctive Features of the Passage 5.2 Literary Context 5.3 The Profile of the ʻĀzab-Complaint 5.3.1 Total Judgment 5.3.2 The Foolishness of the People 5.4 Conclusion Excursus 3: The Question–Answer Scheme 6. YHWH’s ʻĀzab-Complaint in 19:4 6.1 Introduction 6.1.1 The Formulaic Character of the ʻĀzab-Complaint 6.2 Literary Context 6.3 The Profile of the ʻĀzab-Complaint 6.4 Conclusion 7. Summary Chapter IV: Outlook: The Retributive and Suffering God of The Book of Jeremiah 1. An Occasion to Recognize the Otherness of YHWH 2. An Occasion for Divine Redemption Bibliography Index of References Old Testament Apocrypha Ancient Authors Index of Modern Authors Index of Subjects