Zion's Rock-Solid Foundations: An Exegetical Study of the Zion Text in Isaiah 28:16 (Oudtestamentische Studien)

This study addresses the interpretation of Isa. 28:16 in its Old Testament context, demonstrating its importance for our understanding of the role played by Zion and the so-called Zion tradition in the preaching of Isaiah. Contents ......Page 6 Foreword......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 14 1.1. Situating the issue......Page 20 1.2. Relevance......Page 21 1.3. Goals and methodology......Page 25 2.1. Introduction......Page 28 2.2. Septuagint......Page 30 2.3.1. Romans 9:32b –33 and 10:11......Page 32 2.3.2. 1 Peter 2:6......Page 36 2.3.3. Evaluation......Page 41 2.4. Judaism......Page 43 2.4.1. Qumran......Page 44 2.4.2. Targum......Page 47 2.4.3. Talmud......Page 49 2.4.4. Evaluation......Page 52 2.5.1. The Letter of Barnabas......Page 53 2.5.2. Tertullian and Cyprian......Page 56 2.5.3. Jerome and Augustine......Page 59 2.5.4. Cyril and Theodoret......Page 64 2.5.5. Evaluation......Page 66 2.6. Middle Ages......Page 67 2.7. Reformation......Page 70 2.8. Modern biblical research......Page 73 2.8.2. The new Israel......Page 75 2.8.3. The true religion of yhwh......Page 76 2.8.5. Metaphorical interpretation......Page 77 2.8.6. The existing temple / Zion......Page 78 2.9. Conclusions......Page 79 3.1. Introduction......Page 84 3.2. Colometric subdivision of Isaiah 28......Page 85 3.3. Pericope delineation within Isaiah 28......Page 92 3.4. Isaiah 28:14–22 as original unity......Page 97 3.5. Isaiah 28:14–22 as Isaianic prophecy......Page 102 3.6. Dating Isaiah 28:14–22......Page 105 3.7. Dating the reign of Hezekiah......Page 109 3.8. Hezekiah's revolt and Sennacherib's campaign......Page 113 Excursus 1: Prophetic historiography in 2 Kings 18–19......Page 120 4.1. Introduction......Page 128 4.2. Isa. 28:14–22......Page 129 4.2.1. Isa. 28:14–15: Complaint......Page 131 4.2.2. Isa. 28:16: Salvation-historical retrospective......Page 143 4.2.3. Isa. 28:17a: The benchmarks of justice......Page 163 4.2.4. Isa. 28:17b–18: Actual announcement of judgement......Page 166 4.2.5. Isa. 28:19–21: Twofold conclusion to the announcement of judgement......Page 172 4.2.6. Isa. 28:22: Exhortation......Page 182 Excursus 2: The 'covenant with death' and necromancy......Page 185 4.3.1. Isa. 28:7–8: Accusation......Page 196 4.3.2. Isa. 28:9–10: Rejoinder......Page 201 4.3.3. Isa. 28:11–13: Announcement of judgement......Page 208 4.4. Evaluation......Page 216 4.5. Isa. 28:1–6 and 28:23–29 ......Page 222 4.5.1. Isa. 28:1–6: Prophecy of judgement and promise of salvation......Page 223 4.5.2. Isa. 28:23–29: Prophetic instruction......Page 237 4.5.3. Evaluation......Page 253 5.1. Introduction......Page 262 5.2.1. Structural cohesion......Page 264 5.2.2.1. Themes......Page 268 5.2.2.2. Metaphors......Page 274 5.2.3. Evaluation......Page 276 5.3. Isaiah 28 as overture......Page 277 5.4. Isaiah 28:14–22 as key text and guide......Page 281 6.1. Introduction......Page 284 6.2. Zion in the first part of the book of Isaiah (1–39)......Page 285 6.3. Results of the exegesis of the Zion text of Isaiah 28:16......Page 294 6.4. The place of the Zion tradition in the preaching of Isaiah......Page 301 6.4.1.1. Identification of an independent Zion tradition......Page 302 6.4.1.2. The Zion tradition and the Jebusite cultic tradition......Page 318 6.4.1.3. The Zion tradition and the Ark tradition......Page 322 6.4.1.4. The Zion tradition as a specifically Israelite election tradition......Page 336 6.4.2.1. Isaiah and the Zion tradition......Page 337 6.4.2.2. Zion and Isaiah's preaching of judgement and salvation......Page 344 1. The Zion Text of Isa. 28:16 in the Septuagint, the New Testament and Judaism......Page 358 2. The Zion Text of Isa. 28:16 in the History of Interpretation......Page 359 3. The Zion Text of Isa. 28:16 in its Literary and Historical Context......Page 361 4. Exegetical Conclusions with Respect to the Zion Text of Isa. 28:16......Page 362 5. The Covenant with Death......Page 364 6. Isa. 28:14–22 in the Context of Isaiah 28 and Isaiah 28–33......Page 365 7. Zion in Isaiah 1–39......Page 366 8. Research into the Zion Tradition and its Origins......Page 367 9. Isaiah and the Zion Tradition......Page 368 10. Zion and Isaiah's Preaching of Judgement and Salvation......Page 370 Appendix: The Zion text of Isaiah 28:16 and the New Testament......Page 374 Bibliography......Page 386 Index of Authors......Page 410 Index of Biblical Texts......Page 416 No other biblical book ascribes such a prominent place to the theme of ‘Zion'as the book of Isaiah does. One of the most important statements regarding Zion is to be found in Isa. 28:16. The text speaks of the laying of a foundation stone in Zion and enjoys an important place in New Testament preaching since it is associated with the advent of Jesus Christ. The present study addresses the interpretation of Isa. 28:16 in its Old Testament context. Its significance lies in the fresh contribution it makes to our understanding of the Zion text in question and its importance for establishing the role played by Zion and the so-called Zion tradition in the preaching of Isaiah.