عنوان

Textual patterning in biblical Hebrew narrative:

TLpq303920055

انگلیسی

Textual patterning in biblical Hebrew narrative:

[Thesis]

J. P. Tanner

A case study in Judges 6-8

H. A. Liebowitz

The University of Texas at Austin

1990

293

Ph.D.

The University of Texas at Austin

1990

A synchronic investigation of the Hebrew narrative material in Judges 6-8 (the Gideon narrative) yielded clear evidence of textual patterning, i.e., the control of words and motifs in such a way as to form symmetrically arranged patterns in the text. This type of approach to Hebrew narrative, an aspect of rhetorical criticism, has needed a more carefully refined methodology which this dissertation has sought to provide. The choice of Judges 6-8 for the application of this methodology stemmed from the proposal of D. W. Gooding that the entire book of Judges was skillfully crafted in a symmetrical introversion pattern with the Gideon narrative as the central focal point. The investigation resulted in the discovery that the Gideon narrative was composed of five main sections that had been carefully constructed in a symmetrical introversion pattern of the type usdA\ B\ C\ B\sp\prime\ A\sp\primeusd. The textual patterning, in this case, existed at the macro-level, with pairing of words, phrases and motifs between the various episodes and episode clusters of the narrative, and with thematic parallels between the major sections of the narrative. The symmetrical arrangement of the Gideon narrative in an introversion pattern suggested that element "C" (Judges 6:33-7:18) was the focal point of the narrative. Further study of this unit was carried out to see what significance it held for the narrative as a whole. The center section, rather than emphasizing the deliverance from the Midianite enemy, documents the shift in Gideon from fear to faith as he struggles to believe the promise of God to him. Correspondingly, the Hebrew text of Judges 6:33-7:18 was patterned in a concentric symmetry (usdA\ B\ C\ C\sp\prime\ B\sp\prime\ A\sp\primeusd) which reflected the reversal taking place within Gideon. Finally, the theological implications of these structural observations were made for both the Gideon narrative and the book as a whole. The textual patterning of the Gideon narrative is carefully composed in a symmetrical introversion so as to highlight Gideon's struggle in faith to come to grips with God and His word. As a major theological concern of the book, it is thus placed dead center in Judges to underscore its importance.

Bible

biblical Hebrew

Gideon narrative

Philosophy, religion and theology

Religion

Theology

H. A. Liebowitz

J. P. Tanner

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y