Literary Structure and Setting in Ezekiel (Forschungen Zum Alten Testament 2.Reihe)

Historically, form critical studies of prophetic literature have answered mainly historical questions. However, scholars recently have begun to address literary topics as well. This study of the book of Ezekiel addresses two such topics-literary structure and literary setting-in order to read Ezekiel as a deliberate work of literature, a prophetic composition with a highly-structured form and an intentional placement of units. Mayfield provides a discussion of the role of literary markers in structure and proposes a literary structure of the book based on two formulas: the chronological formula, which divides the book into 13 macrounits, and the prophetic word formula. Then, the author argues for contextual readings of selected Ezekiel passages using literary structure to highlight literary settings. One of these contextual readings presents the unlikely macrounits, Ezek 24-25 and Ezek 32:17-33:20, as transitional units within the book. Cover Preface Contents Chapter One Introduction 1.1. The Problem 1.1.1. Literary Structure8 1.1.2. Using Literary Structure to Read Contextually 1.2. Thesis 1.3. Methodology 1.4. History of Scholarship 1.4.1. Minority Reports 1.4.2. Majority Report 1.5. Overview of Book Part One Literary Structure Chapter Two Structuring Prophetic Books 2.1. The Search for a Text’s Structure 2.1.1. Preliminary Distinctions: Structure, Form, and Genre 2.1.2. Excursus: The Genre of Prophetic Book 2.1.3. Genre Structure & Text Structure 2.1.4. Conceptual Structure & Surface Structure 2.1.5. Excursus: Genre Conceptual Structure & Genre Surface Structure 2.1.6. Text Conceptual Structure & Text Surface Structure 2.1.7. Establishing the Text’s Surface Structure 2.1.8. Excursus: Multiple Structures in a Text? 2.2. An Example of Surface Structure and Conceptual Structure: Zephaniah 2.2.1. Conceptual Structure 2.2.2. Surface Structure 2.2.3. Conclusion 2.3. Surface Structure and Chronological Formulas: Haggai and Zechariah 2.3.1. The Structure of Haggai 2.3.2. The Structure of Zechariah 2.4. Chapter Summary Chapter Three Structuring Ezekiel 3.1. Formulas as Literary Features 3.2. Five Formulas Not Affecting the Structure 3.3. Chronological Statements as Primary Structural Markers 3.3.1. Chronological Statements in General 3.3.1.1. Placement in Book 3.3.1.2. The Formulas’ Parts 3.3.1.3. Chronological Sequence 3.3.1.4. Exile of King Jehoiachin as Reference Point in Formulas 3.3.1.5. Macro-Genre Considerations 3.3.1.6. The Formulas’ Literary “Reach” within the Book 3.3.1.7. Formulas’ Relation to Historical Events 3.3.1.8. Redactional Considerations 3.3.1.9. Why Use Chronological Formulas? 3.3.1.10. Summary 3.3.2. Specific Chronological Statements 3.3.2.1. Ezekiel 1:1 3.3.2.2. Ezekiel 8:1 3.3.2.3. Ezekiel 20:1 3.3.2.4. Ezekiel 24:1 3.3.2.5. Ezekiel 26:1 3.3.2.6. Ezekiel 29:1 3.3.2.7. Ezekiel 29:17 3.3.2.8. Ezekiel 30:20 3.3.2.9. Ezekiel 31:1 3.3.2.10. Ezekiel 32:1 3.3.2.11. Ezekiel 32:17 3.3.2.12. Ezekiel 33:21 3.3.2.13. Ezekiel 40:1 3.3.3. Macro-Structure of the Book of Ezekiel, First Level 3.4. Prophetic Word Formulas as Secondary Structural Markers 3.5. Excursus: Diachronic (Redactional) Considerations 3.5.1. The Diachronic Growth of the Chronological Formulas 3.5.2. A Diachronic View of the Oracles concerning the Nations 3.6. Chapter Summary Part Two Literary Setting Chapter Four Reading Contextually Within Units: Ezekiel 24–25 4.1. Contextual Reading 4.2. Ezekiel 24–25 as a Literary Unit 4.2.1. Ezekiel 24:1b–14 4.2.1.1. Translation & Critical Notes18 4.2.1.2. Structure 4.2.1.3. Genre 4.2.2. Ezekiel 24:15–27 4.2.2.1. Translation & Critical Notes 4.2.2.2. Structure 4.2.2.3. Genre 4.2.2.4. Excursus: Ezekiel’s Priestly Identity 4.2.3. Ezekiel 25: 1–17 4.2.3.1. Translation & Critical Notes 4.2.3.2. Structure 4.2.3.3. Genre 4.2.4. Reading Ezekiel 24–25 Together 4.2.4.1. General Discussion of Ezekiel 24–25 4.2.4.2. The Unit Begins with a Date 4.2.4.3. Multiple Literary Perspectives 4.2.4.4. The Separate Oracles Share Common Themes in Literary Context 4.2.4.5. Destruction of Jerusalem 4.2.4.6. Knowledge of God 4.2.4.7. Destruction for the Whole Area 4.2.4.8. This Literary Unit is Transitional 4.2.4.9. Reality and Distraction 4.3. Chapter Summary Chapter Five Reading Contextually Within Units: Ezekiel 32:17–33:20 5.1. Ezekiel 32:17–33:20 as a Literary Unit 5.1.1. Ezekiel 32:17–32 5.1.1.1. Translation & Critical Notes 5.1.1.2. Structure 5.1.1.3. Genre 5.1.2. Ezekiel 33:1–20 5.1.2.1. Translation & Critical Notes 5.1.2.2. Structure 5.1.2.3. Genre 5.1.3. Reading Ezekiel 32:17–33:20 Together 5.1.3.1. General Discussion of Ezekiel 32:17–33:20 5.1.3.2. The Date Reference Creates a Unique Literary Perspective 5.1.3.3. Summarizing Climactic Unit 5.1.3.4. Final Judgment Unit 5.1.3.5. Preparation & Purification for New Temple 5.2. Chapter Summary Chapter Six Reading Contextually Within The Book: Ezekiel 29:1–32:16 6.1. Reading the Units Separately as Introduction 6.1.1. Ezekiel 29:1–16 6.1.1.1. Synopsis 6.1.1.2. Structure 6.1.1.3. Genre 6.1.2. Ezekiel 29:17–30:19 6.1.2.1. Synopsis 6.1.2.2. Structure 6.1.2.3. Genre 6.1.3. Ezekiel 30:20–26 6.1.3.1. Synopsis 6.1.3.2. Structure 6.1.3.3. Genre 6.1.4. Ezekiel 31:1–18 6.1.4.1. Synopsis 6.1.4.2. Structure 6.1.4.3. Genre 6.1.5. Ezekiel 32:1–16 6.1.5.1. Synopsis 6.1.5.2. Structure 6.1.5.3. Genre 6.2. A Contextual Reading of the Literary Units in Ezekiel 29:1–32:16 6.2.1. The Prominence of Pharaoh 6.2.2. Chronological Disorder 6.2.3. A Literary Progression within the Oracles concerning the Nations toward the Egyptian Oracles 6.2.4. Oracles concerning the Nations Build toward Book’s Conclusion 6.3. Chapter Summary Chapter Seven Conclusion 7.1. Summary of Study 7.1.1. Summary of Methodological Theses 7.1.2. Summary of Theses related to Ezekiel 7.2. Further Study Bibliography Index of Biblical Passages Index of Authors Index of Subjects Tyler D. Mayfield Addresses The Literary Structure And Literary Setting Of The Book Of Ezekiel In Order To Read Ezekiel As A Deliberate Work Of Literature, A Prophetic Composition With A Highly-structured Form And An Intentional Placement Of Units. Introduction -- Literary Structure -- Structuring Prophetic Books -- Structuring Ezekiel -- Literary Setting -- Reading Contextually Within Units: Ezekiel 24-25 -- Reading Contextually Within Units: Ezekiel 32:17-33:20 -- Reading Contextually Within The Book: Ezekiel 29:1-32:16. Tyler D. Mayfield. Revised Thesis (ph.d.) - Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, 2009. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. HauptbeschreibungHistorically, form critical studies of prophetic literature have answered mainly historical questions. However, scholars recently have begun to address literary topics as well. This study of the book of Ezekiel addresses two such topics-literary structure and literary setting-in order to read Ezekiel as a deliberate work of literature, a prophetic composition with a highly-structured form and an intentional placement of units. Mayfield provides a discussion of the role of literary markers in structure and proposes a literary structure of the book based on two formulas: the chr Hauptbeschreibung Historically, form critical studies of prophetic literature have answered mainly historical questions. However, scholars recently have begun to address literary topics as well. This study of the book of Ezekiel addresses two such topics-literary structure and literary setting-in order to read Ezekiel as a deliberate work of literature, a prophetic composition with a highly-structured form and an intentional placement of units. Mayfield provides a discussion of the role of literary markers in structure and proposes a literary structure of the book based on two formu