The Oxford Handbook of the Minor Prophets

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The Oxford Handbook of the Minor Prophets provides a clear and engaging one-volume guide to the major interpretative questions currently engaging scholars of the twelve Minor Prophets by collecting 40 essays by both established and emerging scholars who explore a wide range of methodological perspectives. Divided into four sections, the first group of essays is devoted to historical studies which consider the manuscript evidence for these books and overview debates about how, when, and by whom they were composed. Essays dealing with literary explorations consider the genres and rhetorical style of the material, key themes, and intertextual connections with other sections of the Jewish and Christian canons. A large section on the history of interpretation traces the ways in which past and present confessional communities, scholars, and artists have understood the Minor Prophets. In the final section, essays on individual books of the twelve Minor Prophets explore the structure, themes, and contested issues of each book. Cover Table of Contents Copyright page List of Abbreviations List of Contributors Overview: Approaching the Minor Prophets 1. From "Historical" Prophets To Prophetic Books, Abstract and Keywords Methodological Implications of Focusing on Prophetic Books, Part 1: Literary “Conventions” Methodological Implications of Focusing on Prophetic Books, Part 2: Sociocultural Ecosystems Prophets as Sites of Memory—Implications and Matters of Memorability Shifts and Consequences Illustrative Cases Between the Historical Literati and Their Prophets of Memory: Balancing Continuity and Discontinuity Balancing Close Historical Anchoring and Deanchoring Consistency Based on Inconsistency and Coherence Grounded in Incoherence Instead of a Conclusion Notes: 2. The Dating Of Prophetic Books And The Persian Period "Turn" Abstract and Keywords Historical References Literacy Linguistic Development Theology Intertextual Dependence Participation in Otherwise Datable Literary Strata The “Persian Turn” Concluding Remarks Concerning Persian-Period Dating Bibliography 3. One Book Or Twelve Books? Abstract and Keywords One Book or Twelve Books? Early Jewish and Christian Traditions The Modern Era Diachronic Approaches Synchronic Approaches “Many Books” Concluding Remarks Bibliography Notes: 4. Textual History Of The Minor Prophets Abstract and Keywords Hebrew Witnesses The Septuagint The Targums The Syriac Peshitta The Vulgate Bibliography Notes: 5. The Minor Prophets In The Judean Desert Manuscripts, Abstract and Keywords Unified Composition or a Collection? Fragments of Individual Books Limited Collections Larger Collections Perspectives on Textual History Bibliography 6. Genres And Forms In The Minor Prophets Abstract and Keywords The Prophetic Book and Its Dipolar Rhetorical Strategy Types of Prophetic Books Typological Books Narrative Books Massa Books Jonah Prophecies within Prophetic Books Genres of Prophetic Speech Bibliography 7. Metaphor In The Minor Prophets Abstract and Keywords Surveying the Landscape of Metaphor and Metaphor Theory Metaphors: Dead or Alive? A Sampling of Scholarly Discourse Cities as Bodies? Humans as Lions? Grounding Prophetic Metaphors in the Twenty-First Century: Concluding Comments Bibliography 8. God In The Book Of The Twelve Abstract and Keywords Methodological Considerations Literary Parameters of Speeches and Transitions Thematic Constellations Diachronic Dilemmas The Mode of Speeches in Prophetic Books Metaphors and Other Conceptual Images Messages of the Individual Speeches, Books, and Scroll The Meaning of YHWH in the Twelve Summation Bibliography Notes: 9. Cult And Temple In The Minor Prophets Abstract and Keywords Cult and Temple in the Individual Books Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Bibliography 10. The Nations In The Minor Prophets Abstract and Keywords The Past: The Nations as a Place of Oppression from Which YHWH Delivered Israel The Present: The Nations as Potential Sources of Security That in Fact Oppress Amos Individual Nations as Objects of Divine Punishment Because of Past Rebellion Some Nations Are Essentially on a Par with Israel Hosea The Future: The Nations as Central to Covenant Discipline but Also to Subsequent Deliverance Some of the Nations Will Be Integrated in Restored Israel Jonah The Sailors The Ninevites The Divine Character Micah The Judgment of Adversarial Nations The Deliverance of Submissive Nations Nahum (p. 137) Assyria The Nations Who Are Assyria’s Victims Beyond National Identities Habakkuk Babylon in Judah’s Historical Experience Babylon in the Future The Nations in the Past and the Future Zephaniah Obadiah Haggai Zechariah Joel Malachi Conclusions Bibliography 11. The Future In The Twelv Abstract and Keywords Aspects of the Future in the Twelve Conditions of the Future among the Twelve The Future as the Period of Human Response Prophetic Future and Certainty Past, Present, and Future in the Twelve Bibliography 12. The Problem Of "Justice" As Social Criticism In The Twelve Prophets Abstract and Keywords Mishpat and Social Justice Mishpat in the Twelve Prophets Absence of Mishpat in the Twelve Justice as Social Criticism Bibliography 13. Violence In The Minor Prophets 14. The Minor Prophets' Relation To The Torah And Former Prophets Abstract and Keywords Jacob/Israel in Hosea (and Micah) Zion in Joel Religious Malpractice in Amos Fraternal Strife in Obadiah God’s Character Traits in Jonah and Micah God as Cosmic Warrior in Nahum and Habakkuk Universal Judgment as New Creation in Zephaniah Allusions to the Past as Images of the Future in Zechariah Covenant, Apostasy, and Judgment Critique and Reform of the Leadership A Future Davidic Monarchy and the Kingship of Yahweh Re-envisioning Torah, Temple, and Priesthood Negotiating Prophecy and Revelation The Book of the Twelve and the Canon Bibliography 15. The Relationship Of The Minor Prophets And The Major Prophets Abstract and Keywords Historical Pathways Textual Pathways Thematic Pathways Bibliography Notes: 16. The Relation Of The Minor Prophets To The Wisdom Tradition(S) Abstract and Keywords Methodological Issues Is There a Wisdom Tradition? John L. McLaughlin Edited by Julia M. O’Brien Criteria for Determining Wisdom Influence From Wisdom to the Minor Prophets Hosea Jonah Habakkuk From the (Minor) Prophets to Wisdom Proverbs Job Conclusion Bibliography 17. The Minor Prophets In Early Judaism Abstract and Keywords Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Conclusion Bibliography Notes: 18. The Minor Prophets In Early Christianity Abstract and Keywords Citation Formulae Text and Canon The Reading of the Twelve in Early Christianity Conclusion Bibliography Notes: 19. The Minor Prophets In Islam Abstract and Keywords Prophets in the Quran Jonah Twelve Prophets in the Quran and Muslim Exegesis Twelve Prophets in Muslim Bible Exegesis Bibliography 20. The Minor Prophets and the Book of the Twelve in Late Eighteenth-Century through Early Twenty-First-Century Research Abstract and Keywords The Minor Prophets The Book of the Twelve Prophets Bibliography 21. The Twelve Minor Prophets In Art And Music Abstract and Keywords Statues, Paintings, and Mosaics Musical Settings Bibliography For additional reference: Websites 22. Reading The Minor Prophets For Gender And Sexuality Abstract and Keywords Inscription and Erasure as a Conceptual Framework Blurring the Lines in Feminist, Queer, and Womanist Readings: Inscribing Women into the Minor Prophets An Unperturbed Andro-theistic Relationship Due to the Erasure of Gender and Sexuality? Reading the Minor Prophets for Gender and Sexuality Inscription and Erasure in Interpreting the Minor Prophets: A Conclusion Bibliography Notes: 23. Race And Intersectionality In Study Of The Minor Prophets Abstract and Keywords Terminology Amos Hosea Nahum Zechariah Joel Conclusion 24. Historical Economics And The Minor Prophets Abstract and Keywords The Economics of the Ancient Southern Levant On Divergent Economic Models Material Elements of Production and Consumption in the Southern Levant Patterns and Structures of Production and Consumption in the Southern Levant Economic Practices in the Southern Levant Reconstructing the Socioeconomic Worlds of the Minor Prophets Amos 4 and Wealthy Women Joel and Economies of “Religion” Haggai and Prosperity Micah and Avaricious Leaders Zechariah and “Market Economy” Future Prospects Bibliography Notes: 25. Postcolonial Approaches To The Minor Prophets Abstract and Keywords The Contours of a (General) Problem Theoretical Problems and Definitions Relevant to Postcolonialism and the Minor Prophets Evolving Toward Salvation: Where Postcolonialism Must Go in the Book of the Twelve Condemnation as a Dialogic Challenge Hope as a Postcolonial Connection? Final Remarks Bibliography Notes: 26. The Minor Prophets In Jewish Life Today Abstract and Keywords The Issue of Gender Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Zechariah Malachi Conclusion Bibliography 27. The Minor Prophets in Christianity: Habakkuk as a Model for Posttraumatic Christian Prophetic Preaching Abstract and Keywords Habakkuk as Valuable Traumatic Model Location of the Preacher Eschatological Tension/Orientation Conclusion Bibliography Notes: 28. The Minor Prophets In Modern Culture Abstract and Keywords Compelling Images Enigmatic Characters Conclusion Bibliography Notes: 29. Hosea Abstract and Keywords Structure and Cohesion Several Images and Topics Characterize the Book of Hosea Imagery Hosea’s Concerns Hosea Contested Issues Redaction Persian-Period Concerns Criticism of the Cult Bibliography 30. Joel Abstract and Keywords Joel 1: The Beginning of Joel’s Prophecy—Remembering a Drought and Locusts Joel 2:1–27 [Hebrew chap. 2]: Reinterpreting the Locust Plague in Light of an Invasion by Foreign People Joel 2:28–32 [Hebrew chap. 3]: A Universal Community of Yahweh Joel 3 [Heb. 4]: A Universal Judgment The Theology of the Book of Joel in the Context of the Book of the Twelve Bibliography Notes: 31. Amos Abstract and Keywords Structure, Style, and Themes The Historical Amos and the History of Amos Justice, Worship, and Ecology in Amos Conclusion Bibliography Notes: 32. Obadiah Abstract and Keywords Master, Pupil, or Traditionalist? Connections with Jeremiah Edom and the Conquest of Jerusalem Obadiah amid His Peers: Single Book or Part of a Greater Work? The Violence of Vengeance Bibliography Notes: 33. Jonah Abstract and Keywords Jonah within the Book of the Twelve Structure Themes and Motifs Jonah the Fugitive Slave Jonah the Lying Prophet Jonah the Sinner Contested Issues Date Genre Issues of Gender Final Thoughts Bibliography Notes: 34. Micah Abstract and Keywords Structure Dividing the Book in Sections Rainer Kessler Edited by Julia M. O’Brien The Quest for the Coherence of the Book The Formation of the Book Possible Layers within the Book The Composition of the Final Form (p. 466) The Themes of the Book of Micah Foreground Themes Judgment and Hope Social Critique and Ethics Israel and the Nations Modern Questions to an Old Text Micah and Gender Trauma Studies Bibliography Notes: 35. Nahum Abstract and Keywords The Superscription as a Hermeneutical Key The Purported Acrostic of Nahum 1 Nahum in the Book of the Twelve Divine Sexual Violence in Nahum Bibliography Notes: 36. Habakkuk Abstract and Keywords Critical Issues Redaction and Textual Criticism Historical-Critical Issues Genre Structure Content and Plot Themes Theodicy The Righteous in His Faithfulness Shall Live Retribution Theology Divine Sovereignty The Positioning of Habakkuk in the Book of the Twelve Conclusion Bibliography 37. Zephaniah Abstract and Keywords Structure Authorship and Date Key Themes Judgement The Day of Yahweh Cult Corrupt Elites and the Humble Remnant The City Redemption and Restoration The Book of the Four and the Deuteronomistic Question The Book of the Twelve Reading Zephaniah Bibliography 38. Haggai Abstract and Keywords Outline of Haggai Historical Context Themes The Temple, Divine Presence, and Blessing Divining YHWH’s Will Critical Issues Past Scholarship Compositional History Rhetorical Criticism Connections with Zechariah 1–8 and the Book of the Twelve Bibliography 39. Zechariah Abstract and Keywords The Book’s Content and Dating Themes Repentance Mercy Punishment of the Nations Restoration Return The High Priest Temple Rebuilding Expulsion of Sinners Explaining Jerusalem’s Fall Restoration of Jerusalem The Davidic Monarchy Worthless Shepherds Reestablishing Life on the Land Jerusalem’s Strength Bibliography 40. Malachi Abstract and Keywords The Hebrew Text of Malachi The Masoretic Text Compared to the Fragments from the Judean Desert The Hebrew Vorlage of the Greek Translation The Greek Translation Poetic Analysis of the Book of Malachi The Disputation Speech Redactional Criticism The Book of Malachi Inclusion into the Book of the Twelve Prophets Return to YHWH Day of YHWH Historical Situation of Malachi Dating Economic Situation Different Groups Reflected in Malachi Reception within the Christian Bible Theological Significance Bibliography Notes: Index