Heaven for Elijah? (European Studies in Theology, Philosophy and History of Religions, 30)

How it is possible that the story about Elisha's succession in 2 Kings 2:1-18 is now remembered as the story about Elijah's ascent? The inter textual answer is provided by the contrast between the number of references about the human heavenly ascension in the Hebrew Bible, and the popularity of this theme in the Ancient Near East. However, in this dissertation we focus on the more direct intra textual approach. We analyze the construction of the narrative in order to discern the features of style, structure, and symbolism which emphasize Elijah's ascent, rather than Elisha's succession. As a result, we can identify the proto-symbol of the narrative (Gilgal) which is interpreted by three elements (whirlwind, chariotry, and rolled mantle) referring to Elijah's ascent. Cover Series Information Copyright Information Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Bibliography Bibles Grammar General Introduction 1. Heavenly Ascent in the Ancient Near East 2. Biblical and Post-Biblical Perspectives 3. Question and its Status 3.1 Our Question 3.2 Status Quaestionis 4. Text and Codices 4.1 Masoretic Text 4.2 Non-Masoretic Texts 5. Methodology and Chapters 5.1 Examined Strata 5.2 Methodology 5.3 Chapters Chapter I. From Hebrew to English 1. Translation of the Masoretic Text of 2Kgs 2:1–18 2. Notes on the Adopted Translation and Textual Choices 2.1 Translation of בסערה השׁמים (2Kgs 2:1a, 11b) 2.1.1 Reflecting the Grammar Ambiguity 2.1.2 Identifying the “Missing” Elements 2.1.3 The Reason of Omitting he 2.1.4 Translation 2.2 Translation of אם־אעזבך חי־יהוה וחי־נפשׁך (2Kgs 2:2aβ; 4aβ; 6aβ) 2.2.1 Morphology and Syntax 2.2.2 The meaning of the formula 2.3 Translation of אף־הוא (2Kgs 2:14) 2.4 Ketiv/Qere Variant: (הגיאות) [הגאיות] (2Kgs 2:16aβ) 3. Chapter Conclusions Chapter II. From Redaction to Structure 1. Redactional Setting 1.1 Redaction of the Elijah–Elisha Cycles 1.2 Redaction of the Narrative: Classical Proposals 1.3 Other Historical-Critical Investigations on the Narrative 1.3.1 Rofé’s proposal 1.3.2 Łach’s proposal 1.3.3 Hergesel’s proposal 1.3.4 McKenzie’s proposals 1.3.5 Otto’s proposal 1.4 Section Conclusions 2. Structural Setting 2.1 Chiastic Structures of the Narrative 2.1.1 Lundbom’s Chiasm 2.1.2 Hobbs’ Chiasm 2.1.3 Long’s Chiasm 2.1.4 Cohn’s Chiasm 2.1.5 Brodie’s Parallelisms 2.2 Non-Chiastic Structures 2.2.1 Satterthwaite’s Proposal 2.2.2 Long’s Proposal 2.2.3 DeVries’s Proposal 2.3 Close Reading with the Narratology Criteria 2.3.1 Macro-Narrative 2.3.2 Narrative Sequence 2.3.3 Micro-Narrative 2.3.4 Scenes 2.4 Section Conclusions 3. Chapter Conclusions Chapter III. The First Scene: vv.1–6 1. Verbal Structures 1.1 Narrator Verbs 1.1.1 Time Verbal Structures 1.1.2 Space Verbs 1.1.3 Speech Verbs 1.2 Character Verbs 1.2.1 Elijah’s Verbs 1.2.2 Elisha’s Verbs (I) 1.2.3 Sons of Prophets’ Verbs 1.2.4 Elisha’s Verbs (II) 1.3 Incidents and Quasi-Incidents 1.4 Section Conclusions 2. Narrative Techniques 2.1 Prolepsis in v. 1a 2.1.1 Proleptic Resumés Framework 2.1.2 Proleptic Titles Framework 2.1.3 Sui Temporis Phenomenon 2.1.4 Section Conclusions 2.2 Repetitions in vv. 1–6 2.2.1 The Four Speeches of the Narrator 2.2.2 The Three Requests of Elijah 2.2.3 The Three Answers of Elisha 2.2.4 The Two Speeches of the Narrator 2.2.5 The Two Questions of the Sons of the Prophets 2.2.6 The Two Answers of Elisha 2.2.7 A Nonverbal Phenomenon 2.2.8 Section Conclusions 3. Plot Stages 3.1 The First Equilibrium 3.1.1 Initial Exposition Elements 3.1.2 Gradual Exposition Examples 3.1.3 Gradual Exposition Elements 3.1.4 Section Conclusions 3.2 From Equilibrium to Disequilibrium 3.2.1 Equilibrium of the Exposition 3.2.2 Perturbation in the Inciting Moment 3.2.3 Disequilibrium of the Complication 3.2.4 Section Conclusions 4. Chapter Conclusions Chapter IV. The Second Scene: vv. 7–14 1. Verbal Structures 1.1 Narrator Verbs 1.1.1 Time Verbal Structures 1.1.2 Space Verbs 1.1.3 Deed Verbs 1.1.4 Speech Verbs 1.2 Character Verbs 1.2.1 Elijah’s Verbs (I) 1.2.2 Elisha’s Verbs (I) 1.2.3 Elijah’s Verbs (II) 1.2.4 Elisha’s Nominal Expressions 1.3 Incidents 1.4 Section Conclusions 2. Narrative Techniques 2.1 Simultaneity 2.1.1 Types of Simultaneity 2.1.2 Phenomenon of v. 7 2.1.3 Phenomenon of v. 11a 2.1.5 Phenomenon of v. 12aα 2.2 Points of View 2.2.1 Points of View in Disequilibrium 2.2.2 Points of View in Re-establishment of Equilibrium 2.3 Section Conclusions 3. Plot Stages 3.1 Extended Disequilibrium 3.2 Re-establishment of the Equilibrium 3.3 Section Conclusions 4. Chapter Conclusions Chapter V. The Third Scene: vv. 15–18 1. Verbal Structures 1.1 Narrator and Character Verbs 1.1.1 Narrator Verbs in v. 15a 1.1.2 Sons of the Prophets Verb in v. 15a 1.1.3 Narrator Verbs in vv. 15b–16a 1.1.4 Sons of the Prophets Verbs in v. 16a 1.1.5 Narrator Verb in vv. 16b 1.1.6 Elisha Verb in v. 16b 1.1.7 Narrator Verbs in v. 17a 1.1.8 Elisha Verb in v. 17a 1.1.9 Narrator Verbs in v. 17b–18 1.1.10 Elisha Verbs in v. 18b 1.2 Functional Verb Groups 1.2.1 Quasi Time Verbs 1.2.2 Space Verbs 1.2.3 Deed Verbs 1.2.4 Speech Verbs 1.3 Incidents 1.4 Section Conclusions 2. Narrative Techniques 2.1 Classification of Analepsis in v. 18b 2.1.1 Formula “Didn’t I tell” 2.1.2 Phenomenon of v. 18 2.2 Functions of Analepsis vv. 18b 2.2.1 Functions of Analepses 2.2.2 Rhetorical Question 2.2.3 Negative Particles in Direct Speech 2.2.4 Functions of v. 18bβ 2.3 Section Conclusions 3. Plot Stages 3.1 End of Denouement in v. 15 3.2 Plot’s Conclusion in vv. 16–18 4. Chapter Conclusions Chapter VI. From Narrative to Symbolism 1. Itinerary Symbolism 1.1 Bethel (בית־אל) as an Allegory 1.1.1 Morphology, Syntax and Style 1.1.2 Function and Interpretation in the Narrative 1.1.3 Occurrences in HB 1.1.4 Semiotic Identification 1.2 Jericho (ירחו) as an Allegory 1.2.1 Morphology, Syntax and Style 1.2.2 Function and Interpretation in the Narrative 1.2.3 Occurrences in HB 1.2.4 Semiotic Identification 1.3 Jordan (הירדן) as a Symbol 1.3.1 Morphology, Syntax and Style 1.3.2 Function and Interpretation in the Narrative 1.3.3 Occurrences in HB 1.3.4 Semiotic Identification 1.4 Sky (שׁמים) as a Symbol 1.4.1 Morphology, Syntax and Style 1.4.2 Function and Interpretation in the Narrative 1.4.3 Occurrences in HB 1.4.4 Semiotic Identification 2. Heritage Symbolism 2.1 “Sons of” (בני) as a Symbol 2.1.1 Morphology, Syntax and Style 2.1.2 Function and Interpretation in the Narrative 2.1.3 Occurrences in HB 2.1.4 Semiotic Identification 2.2 Two (שׁנים) as a Symbol 2.2.1 Morphology, Syntax, and Style 2.2.2 Function and Interpretation in the Narrative 2.2.3 Occurrences in HB 2.2.4 Semiotic Identification 2.3 “Spirit of” (רוח) as a Symbol 2.3.1 Morphology, Syntax, and Style 2.3.2 Function in the Narrative 2.3.3 Occurrences in HB 2.3.4 Semiotic Identification 2.4 Mantle (אדרת) as a Symbol 2.4.1 Morphology, Syntax, and Style 2.4.2 Function in the Narrative 2.4.3 Occurrences in HB 2.4.4 Semiotic Identification 3. Etiological Symbolism (Proto-Symbolism) 3.1 Gilgal (הגלגל) as Proto-Symbol 3.1.1 Morphology, Syntax, and Style 3.1.2 Function and Interpretation in the Narrative 3.1.3 Occurrences in HB and Meaning 3.1.4 Semiotic Identification 3.2 Whirlwind (סערה) as Allegory and Symbol 3.2.1 Morphology, Syntax and Style 3.2.2 Function in the Narrative 3.2.3 Occurrences in HB 3.2.4 Semiotic Identification 3.3 Chariotry (רכב) as Allegory and Symbol 3.3.1 Morphology, Syntax, and Style 3.3.2 Function in the Narrative 3.3.3 Occurrences in HB 3.3.4 Semiotic Identification 3.4 Further Remarks on Rolled Up (ויגלם) 4. Symbolism in LXX and Other Remarks 4.1 Greek Narrative and Its Translation 4.2 Remarks on the Style 4.3 Remarks on the Structure 4.4 Symbolism in LXX vs. MT 4.4.1 Whirlwind (συσσεισμός) in vv. 1, 11 4.4.2 Sky (οὐρανός) in vv. 1, 11 4.4.3 Gilgal (Γάλγαλα) in v. 1 4.4.4 Bethel (Βαιθηλ) in v. 2, 3 4.4.5 Sons (υἱοὶ) in vv. 3, 5, 7, 15 4.4.6 Jericho (Ιεριχω) in vv. 4, 5, 15, 18 4.4.7 Jordan (Ἰορδάνης) in v. 6, 7 13, 16 4.4.8 Two: (δύο) in v. 12; (διπλᾶ) in v. 9; (ἀμφότεροι) in vv. 6, 7, 8, 11 4.4.9 Spirit (πνεῦμα) in vv. 9, 15, 16 4.4.10 Mantle (μηλωτή) in vv. 8, 13, 14 4.4.11 Rolled Up (εἱλέω) in v. 8 4.4.12 Chariotry (ἅρμα) in vv. 11, 12 4.5 Section Conclusions 5. Chapter Conclusions Conclusions and Proposals 1. Hierarchical Complexity of the Narrative 1.1 Complexity of Style and Structure 1.2 Relation between Basic Categories 1.3 Hierarchy within the Category of Space 1.4 Hierarchy within the Category of Time 1.5 Hierarchy within the Category of Agents 2. Proto-Symbolism vs. Hierarchical Complexity 2.1 Literary Genre of 2Kgs 2:1–18 2.2 Three Etymological Traditions 2.3 Elaboration of the Traditions 2.4 Further Study Options Transliterations Hebrew Consonants– Simplified Transliteration (TCHB) Hebrew Vowels– Simplified Transliteration Greek Letters Transliteration Hebrew Terms Figures Bibliography Index of Authors Index of References Index of Subjects Series Index "How it is possible that the story about Elisha’s succession in 2 Kings 2:1-18 is now remembered as the story about Elijah’s ascent? The intertextual answer is provided by the contrast between the number of references about the human heavenly ascension in the Hebrew Bible, and the popularity of this theme in the Ancient Near East. However, in this dissertation we focus on the more direct intratextual approach. We analyze the construction of the narrative in order to discern the features of style, structure, and symbolism which emphasize Elijah’s ascent, rather than Elisha’s succession. As a result, we can identify the proto-symbol of the narrative (Gilgal) which is interpreted by three elements (whirlwind, chariotry, and rolled mantle) referring to Elijah’s ascent." --Provided by publisher This book explores the problem: How it is possible that the story about Elisha's succession in 2 Kings 2:1-18 is remembered as the story about Elijah's ascent? The approach of the author (intratextual) questions the construction of the narrative in order to identify the features of style, structure, and symbolism.