Humility and instruction in Zephaniah 3.1-7

The rapid and unmarked transition from the oracle against Assyria/Nineveh in Zephaniah 2.13-15 to the condemnation of Jerusalem in 3.1-7 rhetorically underscores the deep and troubling continuity between Jerusalem and Assyria/Nineveh. This article examines this continuity in light of two important e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Main Author: Hays, Nathan ca. 21. Jh. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage [2020]
In: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Assyria / Ninive / Bible. Zefanja 2,13-15 / Bible. Zefanja 3,1-7 / Lesson plan / Education / Babylonian Captivity / Modesty / Pride / Written works / Minor Prophets / Bible. Große Propheten
IxTheo Classification:HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B Zephaniah
B Scribalism
B Humility
B Pride
B Education
B Curriculum
B Exile
B Assyria
B Book of the Four
B Book of the Twelve
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:The rapid and unmarked transition from the oracle against Assyria/Nineveh in Zephaniah 2.13-15 to the condemnation of Jerusalem in 3.1-7 rhetorically underscores the deep and troubling continuity between Jerusalem and Assyria/Nineveh. This article examines this continuity in light of two important elements of the book of Zephaniah: the depiction of Assyria (and those nations aligned with it) as prideful and the scribal character of 3.1-7. The finding is that Zeph. 3.1-7 presents Jerusalem and its leaders as paralleling the arrogant Assyrians and like-minded nations in a way that spurs Zephaniah's exilic scribal audience to adopt a fundamental attitude of humility. Such humility accepts the authority of Yahwistic teachers and instructional texts in order to avoid future judgment against Jerusalem. In a scribal context, repudiating Assyrian-style pride may also entail rejecting education (putatively) aligned with Assyria/Babylon.
ISSN:1476-6728
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0309089219862823