Theological Reflections on the Oracles against the Nations
This paper illuminates the positive theological value of the oracles against the nations (oans) in the Old Testament. Tracing the historical development of the oan tradition, I propose that the oan tradition originated in a war or a cultic setting and went through three stages of transformation: fir...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2015
|
| In: |
Horizons in biblical theology
Year: 2015, Volume: 37, Issue: 2, Pages: 158-169 |
| Further subjects: | B
Oracles against Nations
theology
Yahweh’s kingship
Israel’s attitude toward foreign nations
|
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
|
| Summary: | This paper illuminates the positive theological value of the oracles against the nations (oans) in the Old Testament. Tracing the historical development of the oan tradition, I propose that the oan tradition originated in a war or a cultic setting and went through three stages of transformation: first, the shift from salvation oracles for Israel to oracles against Israel by the 8th century prophets Amos and Isaiah: second, the shift from a realistic depiction of enemies to a more cosmic depiction of them during the exilic period: third, the inclusion of the nations into the future restoration in the postexilic period. The trajectory of the development of the oan tradition shows how Israel’s self-understanding and attitude toward foreign nations changed with a strong emphasis on Yahweh’s kingship. The emphasis on Yahweh’s kingship over Israel’s special status provides a ground for the inclusion of foreign nations into Yahweh’s plan. By prioritizing Yahweh’s kingship, his people can avoid the danger of self-elevation and embrace the other people into the community. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1871-2207 |
| Contains: | In: Horizons in biblical theology
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/18712207-12341305 |