Joel, Obadiah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah: An Introduction and Study Guide

Description

Tchavdar S. Hadjiev introduces students to the books of Joel, Obadiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (the Minor Prophets) in their original historical contexts and to the issues surrounding their composition and interpretation. Hadjiev pays particular attention to important topics such as eschatology, prophecy and cult, intertextuality, theodicy and the genre of the prophetic book. Readers will come to grips with the key themes of judgment, repentance, and salvation in relation to their historical and canonical contexts. Finally, Hadjiev provides a theological evaluation of the prophetic attitude to foreigners and the vision of their final destruction, which is pervasive in Joel, Obadiah, Habakkuk and Zephaniah, and helps readers to grapple with this theme in a modern context. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Series preface Abbreviations Introduction Commentaries on Joel, Obadiah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah Chapter 1: Joel, Obadiah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah and the book of the Twelve The book of the Twelve hypothesis Evaluating the hypothesis Conclusion Further study Part 1: Joel Chapter 2: Reading Joel as a composite literary work: The structure and unity of the book The structures of Joel Unity Conclusion: Reading Joel as a composite unity Further study Chapter 3: The contexts of Joel: Historical, literary and canonical The historical context of Joel The literary and canonical context: Joel and the book of the Twelve Conclusion: The contexts of Joel Further study Chapter 4: The setting and genre of Joel A cultic book? An apocalyptic book? A ‘learned prophecy’? Two didactic books about the present and the future Further study Chapter 5: Locusts, armies and the Day of the Lord in the book of Joel The disaster The Day of the Lord Conclusion: The Day of the Lord in the two books of Joel Further study Part 2: Obadiah Chapter 6: The composition and unity of the book of Obadiah Further study Chapter 7: The historical background of Obadiah The sin of Edom (vv. 10-14) The punishment of Edom (vv. 7-9) The date(s) of Obadiah Further study Chapter 8: The genre, setting and purpose of Obadiah Further study Chapter 9: Edom and the image of the other Ways of understanding and interpreting Obadiah’s invective Hermeneutical strategies for reading Obadiah Further study Part 3: Habakkuk Chapter 10: Interpretation problems in the book of Habakkuk The oracle in 1.1 The connection of 1.2-4, 1.5-11 and 1.12-17 The vision in 2.1-4(5) The identity of the wicked in the woe oracles 2.(5)6-20 The prayer (3.1-19) Further study Chapter 11: The righteous and the wicked: The contexts and meaning of Habakkuk 1–2 The historical context(s) of Habakkuk The wicked are Judeans The wicked are a foreign nation Redactional changes in the identity of the wicked Habakkuk and cultic prophecy Further study Chapter 12: The prayer of Habakkuk (chapter 3) The connection of chapter three to chapters one and two Date and provenance of chapter three Conclusion Further study Chapter 13: Theodicy, empire and violence: Reflections on the theology of Habakkuk Theodicy and the final formof the book Challenging empire (Habakkuk 1–2) God and violence (Habakkuk 3) Further study Part 4: Zephaniah Chapter 14: The genre and structures of the book of Zephaniah The genre of the book of Zephaniah The structures of the book Conclusion Further study Chapter 15: Zephaniah the prophet Can we know anything about the historical prophet? Going back in time: The earlier stages of the Zephaniah tradition The first Zephaniah scroll (1.1–2.3) The date and profile of Zephaniah’s activity A black person of royal descent? Further study Chapter 16: Zephaniah’s oracles against the nations and the composition of 1.1–3.8 The shape of the OAN The provenance of the OAN Zephaniah 1.1–3.8 and the Babylonian exile Zephaniah 1.1–3.8 and the Judean politics in the late monarchic period Further study Chapter 17: Zephaniah’s message of hope (3.9-20) and the canonical shape of the book The salvation of the remnant (2.3*, 7, 9b; 3.11-13) The turning of the nations (2.11; 3.9-10) The joy of Zion (3.14-20) Reading Zephaniah as Scripture Further study Bibliography General subject index Index of scripture references