Undercurrents in Restoration Literature: Abraham and the Promise of the Land in Nehemiah 9:6–37

This article examines the intertwined roles of Abraham and the promise of the land in Neh 9:6-37. I argue that Israel's ownership of the land is the thematic axis that binds the two parts of the prayer in Nehemiah 9: the historical survey (vv. 6-31) and the description of the current generation...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Shalom-Guy, Hava (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Catholic Biblical Association of America 2022
In: The catholic biblical quarterly
Year: 2022, Volume: 84, Issue: 1, Pages: 39-60
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Abraham, Biblical person / Divine covenant / Bible. Nehemia 9,6-37
IxTheo Classification:HB Old Testament
HD Early Judaism
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Summary:This article examines the intertwined roles of Abraham and the promise of the land in Neh 9:6-37. I argue that Israel's ownership of the land is the thematic axis that binds the two parts of the prayer in Nehemiah 9: the historical survey (vv. 6-31) and the description of the current generation (vv. 32-37). The discussion of this confessional prayer underscores the strong connection between Abraham and the land and shows how its author rewrites history in order to create a continuous connection between the people and the land. Although Abraham is central in other exilic- and restoration-generation texts, and in the dispute over the land between the locals and the returnees, his role in Nehemiah 9 differs. There Abraham represents the aspiration of a circle among the returnees for restored hegemony over the land, in opposition to the prevailing ideology of Ezra-Nehemiah, which supported the Persian regime.
ISSN:2163-2529
Contains:Enthalten in: The catholic biblical quarterly
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1353/cbq.2022.0002