Ezekiel: Current Debates and Future Directions (Forschungen Zum Alten Testament)

Ezekiel studies are flourishing. The 27 essays collected in this volume were first presented in a series of special sessions under the title ""Ezekiel in International Perspective"" at the Society of Biblical Literature conferences in St Andrews and Vienna. The principal aim was to widen contact, cultivate understanding, and foster collaboration between international colleagues who, though working on the same ancient text, possess diverse points of view and operate from different methodological frames. The meetings allowed moments of introspection, providing the freedom and opportunity to reflect on questions of appropriate evidence, suitable methodology, and argumentative plausibility, by juxtaposing papers from diverse perspectives. The resulting collection is a portrait of the discipline in the present and a prospectus for future research. Contributors: Penelope Barter, Stephen L. Cook, Mark W. Elliott, Tobias Häner, Frank-Lothar Hossfeld, Paul M. Joyce, Anja Klein, Michael Konkel, Thomas Kr|ger, Jacqueline E. Lapsley, Ingrid E. Lilly, Michael A. Lyons, Tyler D. Mayfield, Christophe Nihan, Karl-Friedrich Pohlmann, Franz Sedlmeier, Daniel L. Smith-Christopher, John T. Strong, William A. Tooman, Steven S. Tuell Cover Table of Contents Acknowledgements Preface Part 1: The State of the Art Karl-Friedrich Pohlmann: Ezekiel: New Directions and Current Debates 1. Some Short Remarks about Developments in Research at Present 1.1 Holistic Interpretation – Synchronic Reading of the Text 1.2 Diachronic Approaches 1.3 A Middle Course? 1.4 Conclusions 2. Some Remarks on Papyrus 967 and its Importance 3. Some Remarks on Methodological Points 4. Ezekiel Texts and Their Relation to H / P / Holiness Code 5. Ezekiel-Texts and Trauma Studies 6. Concluding Remarks Bibliography Thomas Krüger: Ezekiel Studies: Present State and Future Outlook 1. Reading and Interpreting the Fractures of the Book of Ezekiel 1.1 The Transcendence and Immanence of God 1.2 Collective and Individual Punishment 1.3 Retributive and Creative Justice 1.4 Different Future Outlooks 2. Redaction Criticism and Beyond 3. Prophetic Editors Bibliography Part 2: Ezekiel’s Book and its Thought in Diachronic Perspective Franz Sedlmeier: The Proclamation of Salvation in the Book of Ezekiel: Restoration or Traces of ‘Eschatological’ Hope? 1. The Preliminary Observations 1.1 The Book of Ezekiel – A Work in Progress 1.2 The Book of Ezekiel as an Exilic Literature 2. Thesis 3. Unfolding the Thesis 3.1 The Message of Salvation in the Context of the Judgement Oracles: Ezekiel 1–24 3.2 The Proclamation of Redemption within the Framework of the Oracles Concerning the Foreign Nations: Ezekiel 25–32 3.3 Images of the Fullness of Salvation: Ezekiel 33–39, 40–48 4. Summary Bibliography Anja Klein: Ezekiel 6.1–7 and 36.1–15: The Idea of the Mountains in the Book of Ezekiel 1. Introduction 2. Textual Observations 2.1 Judgement for the Mountains of Israel: Ezekiel 6.1–7 2.2 Salvation for the Mountains of Israel: Ezekiel 36.1–15 2.3 The Literary Relationship 3. The Mountains and the One Mountain 3.1 The Mountains of Israel 3.2 The One and Holy Mountain 4. Theological Implications Bibliography Steven S. Tuell: The Book of Ezekiel as a Work In Progress: Indications from the Lament Over the King of Tyre (28.11–19) 1. The Lament Over the King of Tyre (28.11–19) 1.1 The King of Tyre as the Primal Human 1.2 The King of Tyre as a Cherub 1.3 “The King of Tyre”? 1.4 Ezek 28.13 and the High Priestly Breastplate 2. The High Priest as the Original Referent of 28.11–19 2.1 Eden as Zion 2.2 The Cherub 2.3 The Stones of Fire 2.4 Again, “the King of Tyre”? 3. Priesthood for Ezekiel and for His Editors 3.1 Ezekiel 7.26 3.2 Ezekiel 22.26 3.3 Ezekiel 40.44–46 3.4 Ezekiel 44.1–14 and the Priestly Editing of Chapters 40–48 4. Conclusion Bibliography Franz Sedlmeier: The Figure of David and His Importance in Ezekiel 34–37 1. Introduction 2. The Figure of David in Ezekiel 34.23–24 2.1 The Text of Ezekiel 34.23–24 2.2 The Narrative Context of Ezekiel 34.17–24 2.3 Verses 23–24 as a Continuation of Verses 17–22 2.4 On the Structure of vv. 23–24 2.5 Key Messages of the Figure of David in Ezekiel 34.23–24 2.6 Intermediate Results: Characteristics of the Coming David in 34.23–24 3. The Figure of David according to Ezekiel 37.24–25 3.1 Structure and Context of the Statements about David 3.2 David and the Unity of God’s People 4. Conclusions and Summary Bibliography Michael Konkel: The Vision of the Dry Bones (Ezek 37.1–14): Resurrection, Restoration or What? 1. The Relationship between the Vision (vv. 1–10) and its Interpretation (vv. 11–14) 2. Ezek 37.1–14 – Proof Text for the General Resurrection of the Dead? 3. Ezekiel 37.1–14 – A Text about the Restoration of Israel? 4. The Resurrection of the Dry Bones in Two Stages (v. 5–10) Bibliography Penelope Barter: The Reuse of Ezekiel 20 in the Composition of Ezekiel 36.16–32 1. Units in Ezekiel 36 2. Material Shared Between Ezekiel 20 and 36 2.1 Their / your ways and deeds – Ezek 36.17, 19, 31 // Ezek 20.43, 44 2.2 To pour out wrath – Ezek 36.18 // Ezek 20.8, 13, 21, 33, 34 2.3 To scatter among the nations and disperse throughout the lands – Ezek 36.19 // Ezek 20.23 2.4 To profane my holy name – Ezek 36.20, 21, 22, 23a // Ezek 20.39 2.5 I will sanctify myself among you in their sight / in the sight of the nations – Ezek 36.23bβ // Ezek 20.41 2.6 I will gather you from (all) the lands – Ezek 36.24 // Ezek 20.34, 41 2.7 Not good – Ezek 36.31 // Ezek 20.25 2.8 You will loathe yourselves in your own sight – Ezek 36.31 // Ezek 20.43 2.9 General Observations 3. How does Ezekiel 36.16–23bα Reuse Ezekiel 20? 4. How does Ezekiel 36.23bβ–32 Reuse Ezekiel 20? 5. Conclusions Bibliography Michael A. Lyons: Extension and Allusion: The Composition of Ezekiel 34 1. Introduction 2. The Contents of Ezekiel 34 3. The Direction of Dependence 4. The Use of Lev 26.3–13 in Ezek 34.25–30 5. Conclusion Bibliography Christophe L. Nihan: Ezekiel 34–37 and Leviticus 26: A Reevaluation 1. Ezekiel 34–37 and Leviticus 26: Introducing the Issue 2. Ezekiel 37.24–28 and Leviticus 26 3. Ezekiel 34.25–30 and Leviticus 26 4. The Relationship between Ezekiel 34 and 37 5. Toward a Model of Mutual Dependence between Ezekiel and the Holiness Legislation Bibliography Anja Klein: Salvation for Sheep and Bones: Ezek 34 and 37 as Corner Pillars of Ezekiel’s Prophecy of Salvation 1. Introduction 2. Textual Observations 2.1 The Shepherd Chapter: Ezekiel 34 2.1 The Vision of the Dry Bones and Words of Restoration 2.2 The Literary Development 3. Ezekiel 34 and 37: A Compendium of Salvation Bibliography Frank-Lothar Hossfeld †: The Gog Oracles of Ezekiel between Psalms and the Priestly Writer 1. Bernd Biberger 2. William A. Tooman 3. Christoph Rösel 4. A Modified Proposal Bibliography Michael Konkel: Ezekiel 38–39 in Current Research: Questions and Perspectives 1. Introduction 2. Ezekiel 38–39 in Recent Research 2.1 The Proposal of Walther Zimmerli (1965–1969) 2.2 The Proposal of Frank-Lothar Hossfeld (1977) 2.3 The Proposal of K.-F. Pohlmann (1992) 2.4 The Proposal of Anja Klein (2008) 2.5 The Proposal of Bernd Biberger (2010) 3. Perspectives 4. Summary Bibliography Ingrid E. Lilly: ‘Like the Vision’: Temple Tours, Comparative Genre, and Scribal Composition in Ezekiel 43 1. Genre as Literary and Cultural Competency 2. Genre and Textual Evidence I: Like the Vision of Glory 3. Genre and Textual Evidence II: Prostration, Priestly Piety, and Guided Visions 4. Genre and Textual Evidence III: The Laws and Architecture of the Temple Vision 5. Comparative Genre Analysis as Evidence for Scribal Composition 6. Genre Analysis and Text-Critical Study in Ezekiel 7. Genre Analysis and Scribal Composition in Ezekiel Bibliography Part 3: Ezekiel’s Book and its Thought in Synchronic Perspective Tyler D. Mayfield: Literary Structure and Formulas in Ezekiel 34–37 1. Ezekiel 34–37 within the Literary Context of the Book of Ezekiel: Chronological and Prophetic Word Formulas 1.1 Chronological Formulas 1.2 Prophetic Word Formulas 2. Structuring Ezekiel 34–37: Messenger Formula Bibliography John T. Strong: Cosmic Re-Creation and Ezekiel’s Vocabulary 1. Ezekiel and Creation 2. The Theocratic Triad and Ezekiel 2.1‎ ‏בן־אדם – Ezekiel as the Primal Human 2.2 ‎אדמת ישראל – Israel as Primal Soil 2.3 ‎אדני יהוה – Sovereign Lord Yahweh 3. Final Thoughts and Reflections Bibliography John T. Strong: The Conquest of the Land and Yahweh’s Honor before the Nations in Ezekiel 1. The Theological Framework of Israel’s First Conquest 2. The Historical Situation Facing Ezekiel 3. The Next Conquest According to Ezekiel Bibliography Tobias Häner: Reading Ezekiel 36.16–38 in Light of the Book: Observations on the Remembrance and Shame after Restoration (36.31–32) in a Synchronic Perspective 1. The Position of 36.31–32 in the Salvation Oracle 36.16–38 2. References to Previous Sections of the Book within 36.17–30 2.1 Similarities to 36.17–19 and 24.13–14 2.2 The Phrase “It is not for your Sake that I will Act” (36. 22 and 32) and the Background of the Parallels between Ezekiel 20 and 36.17–21 3. Parallels to 36.31–32 in Ezekiel 3.1 Ezekiel 36.31–32 against the Background of Ezekiel 16 3.2 Ezekiel 36.31–32 in the Light of 20. 40–44 3.3 Parallels Between 36.31–32 and 6.8–10 3.4 Shame after Restoration in 39.26 and 43.10–11 4. Shame after Restoration in Ezekiel 5. Conclusion Bibliography Stephen L. Cook: Burgeoning Holiness: Fecundity Let Loose in Ezekiel 34–36 1. Ezekiel 36.16–38 2. Ezekiel 34.20–31 Bibliography Stephen L. Cook: Ezekiel’s Recovery of Premonarchic, Tribal Israel Bibliography Part 4: Trauma and its Effects Jacqueline E. Lapsley: The Proliferation of Grotesque Bodies in Ezekiel: The Case of Ezekiel 23 1. Level 1: Grotesque Human Bodies 2. Level II: Temple Body Profaned 3. Level III: Symbolic Feminization 4. Piercing and Pain 5. Piercing, the Profane, and the Grotesque Bibliography Daniel L. Smith-Christopher: Deconstructing Terror in Ezekiel: The ‘Valley of Bones’ Vision as Response to Trauma 1. Ezekiel 37.1–14 in Recent Scholarship 2. Ezekiel 37.1–14 as a Response to Imperial Terror: The Military Context of the Vision 3. Two Preliminary Observations 4. Three “Contexts” for Re-reading Ezekiel 37.1–14 5. Trauma and the Imperial Context of Ezekiel 5.1 The Hand of Yahweh 5.2 Bones, Skin, and Flesh 5.3 God’s chariot? 5.4 A Massacre Reversed? 6. The Context of Mesopotamian Conquest 7. Ezekiel and Trauma Studies 8. Preliminary Conclusions Bibliography Part 5: Ezekiel’s Afterlife: Interpretation and Reception Michael A. Lyons: Who Takes the Initiative? Reading Ezekiel in the Second Temple Period and Late Antiquity 1. Introduction 2. The Outlook of Ezekiel 3. Evidence from Second Temple Period Judaism and Early Christianity 3.1 1QHodayot, the Gospel of John, and the Epistle to Titus 3.2 4Q504 “Words of the Luminaries” 4. Evidence from Jewish and Christian Writings in Late Antiquity 4.1 Sifra 4.2 Targum Jonathan on Ezekiel 4.3 Augustine 4.4 John Cassian 4.5 Theodoret of Cyrus 5. Conclusion Bibliography Mark W. Elliott: The Contribution of the History of Ezekiel Interpretation and the Tradition of ‘Reformed’ Exegesis, with Particular Reference to Ezekiel 21.25–27 (30–32) 1. Reception History and History of Interpretation 2. Reformation / Renaissance Commentary: Ezekiel 21.32 (EV 27) as a Test Case 3. Enlightenment to Present-Day Consensus on Ezekiel 21.25–27 (30–32) 4. The Reformation Theological Tradition in Recent Times Bibliography Paul M. Joyce: Reception and Interpretation in Ezekiel 1. Introduction to the Reception History of Ezekiel 2. History of Interpretation 3. Impact and Imagination 4. Cross-cultural comparative study Bibliography Daniel L. Smith-Christopher: Ezekiel as José Posada: An Experiment in Cultural Exegesis 1. Ezekiel 37.1–14 in Recent Scholarship 2. Toward a “Mexican Reading” of Ezekiel 37? Bones of the Bible 3. Day of the Dead and Colonial Suffering? 4. Calaveras (Skulls) and Social Commentary 5. José Posada as Mexican Prophet of Bones 6. Ezekiel and Posada as Artisans of the Dead: Bones in the Bible Bibliography Part 6: Reappraisal William A. Tooman: Literary Unity, Empirical Models, and the Compatibility of Synchronic and Diachronic Reading 1. The ‘Unity’ of Ezekiel 36.16–38 1.1 Structure of Ezekiel 36.16–38 2. Empirical Models and the Question of ‘Unity’ 3. Implications Bibliography Contributors Index of Ancient Sources Hebrew Bible Ancient Near Eastern Literature Second Temple Jewish Literature New Testament Classical Greek Literature Church Fathers Rabbinic Literature Index of Modern Authors Subject Index Untersuchungen zu Ezechiel florieren. Die 27 Aufsätze, die in diesem Band versammelt sind, wurden erstmals bei zwei Symposien zum Thema »Ezechiel aus internationaler Perspektive« bei Society of Biblical Literature-Konferenzen in St. Andrews und Wien präsentiert. Das grundsätzliche Ziel war, Kontakte zu erweitern, Verständnis zu fördern und die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Kollegen zu unterstützen, die, obwohl sie am selben antiken Text arbeiten, verschiedene Blickwinkel einnehmen und in unterschiedlichen methodologischen Feldern arbeiten. Die Treffen erlaubten eine gewisse Selbstprüfung und boten den Freiraum und die Gelegenheit, Fragen zu geeigneten Anhaltspunkten, angemessener Methodologie und argumentativer Plausibilität zu reflektieren, indem sie Vorträge aus verschiedenen Perspektiven nebeneinanderstellten. Das Ergebnis ist ein Portrait des gegenwärtigen Forschungsstands und ein Ausblick auf die Zukunft des Fachs.InhaltsübersichtPart 1: The State of the Art Karl-Friedrich Pohlmann: Ezekiel: New Directions and Current Debates - Thomas Krüger: Ezekiel Studies: Present State and Future Outlook Part 2: Ezekiel's Book and its Thought in Diachronic Perspective Franz Sedlmeier: The Proclamation of Salvation in the Book of Ezekiel: Restoration or Traces of 'Eschatological' Hope? - Anja Klein: Ezekiel 6.1-7 and 36.1-15: The Idea of the Mountains in the Book of Ezekiel - Steven S. Tuell: The Book of Ezekiel as a Work In Progress: Indications from the Lament Over the King of Tyre (28.11-19) - Franz Sedlmeier: The Figure of David and His Importance in Ezekiel 34-37 - Michael Konkel: The Vision of the Dry Bones (Ezek 37.1-14): Resurrection, Restoration or What? - Penelope Barter: The Reuse of Ezekiel 20 in the Composition of Ezekiel 36.16-32 - Michael A. Lyons: Extension and Allusion: The Composition of Ezekiel 34 - Christophe Nihan: Ezekiel 34-37 and Leviticus 26: A Reevaluation - Anja Klein: Salvation for Sheep and Bones: Ezek 34 and 37 as Corner Pillars of Ezekiel's Prophecy of Salvation - Frank-Lothar Hossfeld: The Gog Oracles of Ezekiel, between Psalms and the Priestly Writer - Michael Konkel: Ezek 38-39 in Current Research: Questions and Perspectives - Ingrid E. Lilly: 'Like the Vision': Temple Tours, Comparative Genre, and Scribal Composition in Ezekiel 43 Part 3: Ezekiel's Book and its Thought in Synchronic Perspective Tyler D. Mayfield: Literary Structure and Formulas in Ezekiel 34-37 - John T. Strong: Cosmic Re-Creation and Ezekiel's Vocabulary - John T. Strong: The Conquest of the Land and Yahweh's Honor before the Nations in Ezekiel - Tobias Häner: Reading Ezekiel 36.16-38 in Light of the Book: Observations on the Remembrance and Shame after Restoration (36.31-32) in a Synchronic Perspective - Stephen L. Cook: Burgeoning Holiness: Fecundity Let Loose in Ezekiel 34-36 - Stephen L. Cook: Ezekiel's Recovery of Premonarchic, Tribal Israel Part 4: Trauma and its Effects Jacqueline E. Lapsley: The Proliferation of Grotesque Bodies in Ezekiel: The Case of Ezekiel 23 - Daniel L. Smith-Christopher: Deconstructing Terror in Ezekiel: The 'Valley of Bones' Vision as Response to Trauma Part 5: Ezekiel's Afterlife: Interpretation and Reception Michael A. Lyons: Who Takes the Initiative? Reading Ezekiel in the Second Temple Period and Late Antiquity - Mark W. Elliott: The Contribution of the History of Ezekiel-Interpretation and the Tradition of 'Reformed' Exegesis, with Particular Reference to Ezekiel 21.25-27 (30-32) - Paul M. Joyce: Reception and Interpretation in Ezekiel - Daniel L. Smith-Christopher: Ezekiel as José Posada: An Experiment in Cultural Exegesis of the Bible Part 6: Reappraisal William A. Tooman: Literary Unity, Empirical Models, and the Compatibility of Synchronic and Diachronic Reading Ezekiel studies are flourishing. The 27 essays collected in this volume were first presented in a series of special sessions under the title Ezekiel in International Perspective at the Society of Biblical Literature conferences in St Andrews and Vienna. The principal aim was to widen contact, cultivate understanding, and foster collaboration between international colleagues who, though working on the same ancient text, possess diverse points of view and operate from different methodological frames. The meetings allowed moments of introspection, providing the freedom and opportunity to reflect on questions of appropriate evidence, suitable methodology, and argumentative plausibility, by juxtaposing papers from diverse perspectives. The resulting collection is a portrait of the discipline in the present and a prospectus for future research. Contributors:Penelope Barter, Stephen L. Cook, Mark W. Elliott, Tobias Haner, Frank-Lothar Hossfeld, Paul M. Joyce, Anja Klein, Michael Konkel, Thomas Kruger, Jacqueline E. Lapsley, Ingrid E. Lilly, Michael A. Lyons, Tyler D. Mayfield, Christophe Nihan, Karl-Friedrich Pohlmann, Franz Sedlmeier, Daniel L. Smith-Christopher, John T. Strong, William A. Tooman, Steven S. Tuell Ezekiel studies are flourishing. The 27 essays collected in this volume were first presented at two symposia on the theme'Ezekiel in International Perspective'at the Society of Biblical Literature conferences in St Andrews and Vienna. The principal aim was to widen contact, cultivate understanding, and foster collaboration between international colleagues who, though working on the same ancient text, possess diverse points of view and operate from different methodological frames. The meetings allowed moments of introspection, providing the freedom and opportunity to reflect on questions of appropriate evidence, suitable methodology, and argumentative plausibility by juxtaposing papers from diverse perspectives. The resulting collection is a portrait of the discipline in the present and a prospectus for future research.