Isaiah's Kingship Polemic: An Exegetical Study In Isaiah 24-27 (forschungen Zum Alten Testament, 2.reihe)

William D. Barker analyzes a wide array of possible ancient Near Eastern backgrounds to Isaiah 24-27. He finds that there is a uniquely Ugaritic background to the chapters, with evidence of a literary framework and narrative progression that has been intentionally adopted and creatively adapted from either the Ba'al Myth (KTU 1.1-1.6) itself or a shared tradition between ancient Ugarit and ancient Israel. Barker also closely examines Isaiah 24-27 in the light of the Ugaritic material and thereby contributes to the resolution of some of the historic questions about the interpretation, genre, dating, and function of Isaiah 24-27. A new epithet for the chapters is also proposed. Cover Titel Acknowledgements Table of Contents List of Tables and Figures Abbreviations Chapter 1: A Consensus without Sufficient Conclusions: Isaiah 24-27 in Recent Research A. Unity B. Historical Background and Date of Composition C. Genre D. A New Consensus for Interpreting Isaiah 24-27 E. Unresolved Issues F. Previous Investigations Concerning Ugaritic Backgrounds to Isaiah 24-27 G. The Need for Further Research Chapter 2: The Ba‘al Myth in its Ugaritic Context A. The Ba‘al Myth as Royal Legitimation B. Seasonal Interpretations of the Ba‘al Myth C. Cosmogonic Interpretations of the Ba‘al Myth D. The Ba‘al Myth as Theodicy E. Conclusions about Interpreting the Ba‘al Myth in its Ugaritic Context Chapter 3: מׇוֶת and Ancient Near Eastern Underworld Deities A. מׇוֶת in the Hebrew Bible 1. Personified or Demythologised מׇוֶת 2. Occurrences of מׇוֶת as a Locale 3. Conclusions about Personified or Demythologised מׇוֶת B. Mesopotamian Underworld Deities 1. Nergal (or Erra) 2. Ereshkigal 3. Mūtu 4. Mesopotamian Underworld Deities and the Biblical מׇוֶת 5. Mesopotamian Underworld Deities and מׇוֶת in Isaiah 25:6-8 C. Egyptian Underworld Deities 1. Osiris 2. Anubis 3. Ammut 4. Egyptian Underworld Deities and the Biblical מׇוֶת 5. Egyptian Underworld Deities and מׇוֶת in Isaiah 25:6-8 D. The Ugaritic Underworld Deity 1. The Epithets of Mot 2. Mot and the Underworld 3. Mot in Relation to the Ugaritic Pantheon 4. Mot in Conflict with Ba‘al and Others 5. The Ugaritic Underworld Deity, the Biblical מׇוֶת and Isaiah 25:6-8 E. Conclusions about מׇוֶת and Ancient Near Eastern Underworld Deities Chapter 4: Isaiah 25:6-8 and Banqueting Traditions in the Ancient Near East A. Isaiah 25:6-8 1. Isaiah 25:6-8 in the Context of Isaiah 24-27 2. Literary Features of Isaiah 25:6-8 Repetition Alliteration Lexical Rarities Purposes of the Literary Features of Isaiah 25:6-8 3. The Mountain Setting of the Banquet in Isaiah 25:6-8 4. The Menu: A Banquet of Succulent Food 5. The Menu: A Banquet of Excellent Wine Wine Production in Ancient Israel and the שְׁמׇרִים The Meaning of שְׁמׇרִים in Isaiah 25:6 The שְׁמׇרִים מִשְׁתֵּה in Isaiah 25:6 6. The Enigmatic Coverings and the Swallowing of Death 7. Comforting All Peoples: The Twofold Removal of Tears and Reproach 8. Conclusions Regarding Isaiah 25:6-8 B. Comparing Ancient Near Eastern Banqueting Practices with Isaiah 25:6-8 1. Mesopotamian Banqueting Traditions 2. Egyptian Banqueting Traditions 3. Ugaritic Banqueting Traditions The Ugaritic Banquet Theme and Isaiah 25:6-8 The Formula of Preparation and Isaiah 25:6-8 The Formula of Feasting and Isaiah 25:6-8 The Formula of Feasting and Isaiah 25:7c Conclusions about the Formula of Feasting in Isaiah 25:7c 4. General Conclusions Chapter 5: The Ugaritic Marzēaḥ and Isaiah 25:6-8 A. Defining the Marzēaḥ in Ugarit 1. Texts Referencing mrzḥ/mrz‘ 2. Common Features of the Marzēaḥ in the Ugaritic Texts 3. Some Additional Texts Possibly Involving the Marzēaḥ KTU 1.3 i 2-26 KTU 1.15 KTU 1.17 KTU 1.20 and 1.22 KTU 1.108 KTU 1.161 Conclusions About the Texts Involving the Marzēaḥ B. The Debated Funerary Nature of the Marzēaḥ 1. The Rpum and the Marzēaḥ 2. Conclusions on the Funerary Aspect of the Marzēaḥ C. The Marzēaḥ Tradition in Isaiah 24-27 1. Archaeology and the Marzēaḥ in Israel 2. The Marzēaḥ in Isaiah 25:6-8 The Marzēaḥ as a Feasting and Drinking Institution Meeting in a Private Home (or Temple in the Case of a Deity) A Formal Leader and Divine Patron A Limited Social Group Funerary Occasion Considerations LXX Amos 6, LXX Isaiah 25:6-8 and the Marzēaḥ 3. Conclusions about the Marzēaḥ and Isaiah 25:6-8 4. The Marzēaḥ and Isaiah 25:9-12 5. The Marzēaḥ in Moab 6. The Marzēaḥ and Isaiah 27:2-6 D. Conclusions Chapter 6: Leviathan Traditions in the Ancient Near East and Isaiah 27:1 A. Dragons and Serpents in Mesopotamia 1. The Tell Asmar Cylinder Seal The Identity of the Dragon in the Tell Asmar Cylinder Seal The Identity of the Warrior in the Tell Asmar Cylinder Seal The Slain Heroes and the Seven-headed Beast of the Ninğirsu Myths The Identity of the Two Auxiliary Figures in the Tell Asmar Cylinder Seal Conclusions about the Tell Asmar Cylinder Seal 2. Tišpak, Nergal and Serpents of the Ocean 3. Tiamat and Her Monstrous Hordes 4. Syncretism with Leviathan in Hellenised and Talmudic Mesopotamia 5. Conclusions about Leviathan in Mesopotamia B. Meḥen and Apophis (or ‘Apep) in Egypt 1. Meḥen and Apophis in the Pyramid Texts 2. Meḥen and Apophis in the Coffin Texts 3. Meḥen and Apophis in the New Kingdom 4. Meḥen and Apophis after the New Kingdom 5. Conclusions about Meḥen and Apophis C. Litan in Ugarit 1. Parallels between KTU 1.5 i 1-3 and Isaiah 27:1 2. Differences between KTU 1.5 i 1-3 and Isaiah 27:1 3. Conclusions about Isaiah 27:1 and KTU 1.5 i 1-3 4. More on the Translation of KTU 1.5 i 1-8 ktmḫṣ. ltn. bṯn. brḥ (KTU 1.5 i 1) tkly. bṯn.‘qltn. [[š]] (KTU 1.5 i 2) šlyṭ. d. šb‘t. rašm (KTU 1.5 i 3) The Meaning of šlyṭ The Referent of šlyṭ in KTU 1.5 i 3 tṯkḥ. ttrp. šmm. krs (KTU 1.5 i 4) Litan, Meḥen and Apophis Litan, Job 3:8 and Job 26:13 KTU 1.5 i 4 in the Light of Egypt, Job 3:8 and Job 26:13 5. KTU 1.5 i 5-8 6. Litan and the Tell Asmar Cylinder Seal 7. Conclusions about Litan in Ugarit D. Isaiah’s Leviathan in the Light of the Ancient Near East Excursus: Cultural and Religious Influence Involving Egypt and Ugarit A. Egypt and Ugarit in Diplomacy and Trade B. Evidence of Egyptian Influence in the Ba‘al-Mot Myth C. Evidence of Ugaritic Influence in Plutarch’s De Iside et Osiride D. Conclusions about Ugaritic-Egyptian Influence Chapter 7: Lexical Evidence of the Ugaritic Background to Isaiah 24-27 A. Ugaritic Word Pairs Occurring in Isaiah 24-27 B. Conclusions Chapter 8: Additional Evidence of a Shared Tradition in KTU 1.1–1.6 and Isaiah 24-27 A. KTU 1.4 vii–viii and Isaiah 24:1–25:8 B. The Ugaritic Background to Isaiah 26:1-21 C. The Ugaritic Background to Isaiah 27:2-13 D. Isaiah 24-27 and Yamm in the Ba‘al Myth E. Conclusions Chapter 9: Isaiah 28: Its Integration and Continuity with Isaiah 24-27 A. Lexical Evidence B. The Deir ‘Allā Inscriptions and Isaiah 28:20 C. The Covenant with Death D. Isaiah 28 and the Marzēaḥ E. Conclusions Chapter 10: Isaiah 24-27: Isaiah’s Kingship Polemic A. Summary B. The Process of Influence and the Question of Dating the Chapters C. Implications Bibliography Index of Sources Index of Names Index of Subjects A consensus without sufficient conclusions : Isaiah 24-27 in recent research The Ba'al myth in its Ugaritic context [mvt] and Ancient Near Eastern underworld deities Isaiah 25:6-8 and banqueting traditions in the Ancient Near East The Ugaritic Marzēaḥ and Isaiah 25:6-8 Leviathan traditions in the Ancient Near East and Isaiah 27:1 Excursus : Cultural and religious influence involving Egypt and Ugarit Lexical evidence of the Ugaritic background to Isaiah 24-27 Additional evidence of a shared tradition in KTU 1.1-1.6 and Isaiah 24-27 Isaiah 28 : its integration and continuity with Isaiah 24-27 Isaiah 24-27 : Isaiah's kingship polemic.