Rolf Rendtorff is interested above all in the process by which the Pentateuch reached the form in which it now lies before us. He concludes that the classic Documentary Hypothesis has been tried in the fire and found wanting, and traces briefly the scholarly path that led him to this conclusion. His approach has been met with strong disagreement, cautious agreement, and, in some quarters, relief and readiness to look for other ways than that of the documentary hypothesis to explain the formation of the Pentateuch. It is certain, however, that scholars of the Pentateuch cannot ignore Rendtorff's important volume.
God's covenant with Israel is one of the most important themes of Old Testament scholarship: 'I will be your God, you shall be my people'. Yet this has only rarely been the focus of a comprehensive study.Professor Rendtorff explores the different ways the covenant formula is used in the Bible, its structural and theological functions, the connections between covenant and election.An important contribution to a canonical interpretation of the Hebrew Bible.
The Old Testament is a collection of writings which came into being over a period of more than a thousand years in the history of the people of Israel and which reflect the life of the people in this period. Therefore, there is a reciprocal relationship between the writings or "books" of the Old Testament and the life of Israel in its history. The understanding of the texts presupposes insights into the historical context and the development of the life of Israelite society, while at the same time the texts themselves are the most important, indeed for the most part the only, source for it. This "Introduction" attempts to take account of this reciprocal relationship. The first part deals with the history of Israel. However, its approach differs from most accounts of this history. It takes the Old Testament texts themselves as a starting point and first of all outlines the picture of historical developments and associations which the texts present. An attempt is then made, on this basis, to reconstruct historical developments by introducing material from outside the Bible. This method of working leads to close connections between the second and third parts, because it has to take account of the nature and original purpose of the texts and their function within the biblical books as they are now. The second part attempts to present the texts collected in the Old Testament as expressions of the life of Israel. The third part discusses the books of the Old Testament in their present form.
This book is a methodologically oriented case study. It focuses on the relationship between a text's explicit statement and the inexplicit conceptual presuppositions beneath its surface, which are operative in it and govern it. The methodological focus has programmatic implications for the theory of exegesis and, hence, for the understanding not only of all biblical texts but of all oral and written language. It highlights the need for a readjustment of the exegetical method, especially in biblical exegesis. The format of a case study, rather than of an abstract methodological discussion, is important for demonstrating the control by the text of the hypothetical reconstruction of its inexplicit concept. While meant to be exemplary for the applied approach, the selection of Leviticus 1:1-9 yields specific results about this text, which in significant ways differ from and exceed currently available studies. These results affect, among others, the difference between ritual text and ritual act and between a text's individuality and typicality, a reconsideration of redaction, structure, intention or function, and of genre and setting, and an explanation of the semantic system which is the conceptual matrix for the text's prescriptions. And they contribute, positively as well as critically, to studies in fields such as anthropology and semiotics, especially sociology and psychology of religion, structuralism, ontology and of course, to studies in ancient Israel's cultic laws and theology.
The Old Testament is a collection of writings which came into being over a period of more than a thousand years in the history of the people of Israel and which reflect the life of the people in this period. Therefore, there is a reciprocal relationship between the writings or "books" of the Old Testament and the life of Israel in its history. The understanding of the texts presupposes insights into the historical context and the development of the life of Israelite society, while at the same time the texts themselves are the most important, indeed for the most part the only, source for it. This "Introduction" attempts to take account of this reciprocal relationship. The first part deals with the history of Israel. However, its approach differs from most accounts of this history. It takes the Old Testament texts themselves as a starting point and first of all outlines the picture of historical developments and associations which the texts present. An attempt is then made, on this basis, to reconstruct historical developments by introducing material from outside the Bible. This method of working leads to close connections between the second and third parts, because it has to take account of the nature and original purpose of the texts and their function within the biblical books as they are now. The second part attempts to present the texts collected in the Old Testament as expressions of the life of Israel. The third part discusses the books of the Old Testament in their present form.
Under the guidelines of the FOTL series, the primary task of this commentary is not to reconstruct the historical growth of the book of Numbers itself. In this commentary, the growth process is presupposed in principle, but referred to in specifics with restraint. The form-critical interpretation reveals the active involvement of many generations of Israelite narrators and writers in the ongoing adaptation of their most important ancient story, and their conceptualization of its significance for their own and for future generations. - Publisher.
This book is a methodologically oriented case study. It focuses on the relationship between a text's explicit statement and the inexplicit conceptual presuppositions beneath its surface, which are operative in it and govern it. The methodological focus has programmatic implications for the theory of exegesis and, hence, for the understanding not only of all biblical texts but of all oral and written language. It highlights the need for a readjustment of the exegetical method, especially in biblical exegesis. The format of a case study, rather than of an abstract methodological discussion, is important for demonstrating the control by the text of the hypothetical reconstruction of its inexplicit concept. While meant to be exemplary for the applied approach, the selection of Leviticus 1:1-9 yields specific results about this text, which in significant ways differ from and exceed currently available studies. These results affect, among others, the difference between ritual text and ritual act and between a text's individuality and typicality, a reconsideration of redaction, structure, intention or function, and of genre and setting, and an explanation of the semantic system which is the conceptual matrix for the text's prescriptions. And they contribute, positively as well as critically, to studies in fields such as anthropology and semiotics, especially sociology and psychology of religion, structuralism, ontology and of course, to studies in ancient Israel's cultic laws and theology.
This prodigious work offers a broad selection of essays that present Knierim's distinct method for the discipline of Old Testament studies. One subject deals with the implications of his method for New Testament studies.
Rolf Rendtorff is interested above all in the process by which the Pentateuch reached the form in which it now lies before us. He concludes that the classic Documentary Hypothesis has been tried in the fire and found wanting, and traces briefly the scholarly path that led him to this conclusion. His approach has been met with strong disagreement, cautious agreement, and, in some quarters, relief and readiness to look for other ways than that of the documentary hypothesis to explain the formation of the Pentateuch. It is certain, however, that scholars of the Pentateuch cannot ignore Rendtorff's important volume.
This two-volume work in biblical studies is a commemorative presentation to Simon John DeVries, noted Old Testament Scholar. Volume one offers a series of essays on issues in Hebrew bible studies. The topics addressed include the nature of Yahweh as God of Israel, a reexamination of the Exodus tradition, the Priestly code and practices, prophets and revelation, biblical poetry, issues in biblical linguistics, dramatic narrative in Hebrew Bible tradition and Yahweh's deliverance as redemption in Israel.
This work by Nancy deClaisse-Walford, Rolf Jacobson, and Beth Tanner is the most complete and detailed one-volume commentary available on the Psalms. Significantly, the volume reflects the combined insights of three superior (younger) biblical scholars. DeClaisse-Walford, Jacobson, and Tanner offer a succinct introduction to the Psalter, a new translation of all the psalms that takes special account of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and individual entries on each psalm unit. Throughout the book they draw on state-of-the-art research on the canonical shape and shaping of the Psalter and evidence a nuanced attention to the poetic nature of the psalms.
Suddenly There is God plunges us into the key stories of biblical characters who find themselves caught up in the divine-human drama. With unique insight, it relates these stories directly to the distinct stages of our own lives: being created, falling from grace, leaving the childhood ark, hearing God's call, gaining freedom, embracing covenant, praying the psalms, learning forgiveness, choosing love, and expecting resurrection. The scenes unfold before our eyes like a riveting play or film, as we discover with astonishment how closely the progression of Old and New Testament stories reflects our own spiritual journey. Packed with historical content and written with dramatic intensity, Suddenly There is God suggests contemplative ways for us to nurture an ardent expectation of encountering God. By identifying with the biblical characters--their conflicts, difficult choices, and realizations--we recognize how divine presence continually breaks into our own life story. This book is a valuable resource for clergy, students, and spiritual seekers who long to experience the drama of sacred Scripture as deeply personal revelation.
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