Birth Annunciations in the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East: A Literary Analysis of the Forms and Functions of the Heavenly Foretelling of the Destiny of a Special Child

451 Pages·2012·22.002 MB·English

by  Scott A. Ashmon, Nili S. Fox

ANNUNCIATIONS
IN HEBREW BIBLE
ANCIENT NEAR EAST
A Literary of the Forms
~.L\nalysis
and Functions of the Heavenly Foretelling
of the Destiny of a Special Child
Scott A. Ashnlon
With a Foreword by
NiH S. Fox
The Edwin Mellen Press
LewistonoQueenston· Lampeter
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ashmon, Scott A.
Birth annunciations in the Hebrew Bible and ancient Near East: a
iiterary analysis of the forms and functions of the heavenly
foretelling of the destiny of a special child / Scott A. Ashmon ; with a
foreword by NiH S. Fox.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7734-2631-3
ISBN-lO: 0-7734-2631-0
1. Childbirth in the bible. 2. Childbirth in literature. 3. Childbirth-
Religious aspects--Judaism. 4. Cbildbirth--Middle East. 5.
Prophecy--Judaism. 6. Prophecy--Religious aspects. 7. Fate and
fatalism--Religiolls aspects. 8. Bible. O.T.--Criticism, interpretation,
etc. 9. Middle East--Religion. 1. Title.
BS680.C46A84 2012
221.6--dc23
2012024307
hoI'S serie.
A ClP catalog record for this book is available from the British
Library.
Front cover: Deutsch: Lombardei. 17. Jh.: Abraham und die drei Engel. 01 auf
Leinwand. 119 x 167 em; 17th century, Source: Nagel Auktionen
http://www.auction.dc: Author: Anonymous
Copyright © 2012 Scott A. Ashmon
All rights reserved. For information contact
The Edwin Mellen Press The Edwin Mellen Press
Box 450 Box 67
Lewiston, New York Qlleenston, Ontario
USA 14092-0450 CANADA LOS ILO
The Edwin Mellen Press, Ltd .
. Lampeter, Ceredigiol1, Wales
UNITED KINGDOM SA48 8LT
Printed in the United States of America
Dedicated to my parents.
"Train the boy according to his way;
indeed when he grows old he will not turn aside fi.-om it."
Proverbs 22:6

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract
Commendatory Foreword 11
Preface iv
Acknowledgements v
CHAPTER 1
Statement of the Problem 1
Issues to be Examined 7
Review of Prior Scholarship:
"Birth of the Hero" Folklore 7
Form Criticism 10
Background for The New Testament 18
Narrative Criticism 24
Canonical Criticism 29
Comparative Method 31
Feminist Criticism 36
CHAPTER 2
Explanation of Methodology 40
Form Criticism 40
Narrative Criticism 43
Canonical Criticism 45
Comparative Method
46
CHAPTER 3
Synchronic Examination of ANE Birth Annunciations 55
Egypt: ~~
))
The Prophecies ofNeferti 70
King Cheops and the Magicians 83
Birth-Myth of the God King for Hatshepsut 98
Birth-Myth of the God King for Amenhotep III 108
Birth-Myth of the God King for Ramesses II
Ugarit: 113
Keret 123
Aqhat 141
Hatti: Appu 149
Sumer: Shulgi
CHAPTER 4
Synchronic Examination ofHB Birth Annunciations
Genesis' Date of Composition 156
Isaac and Ishmael: 156
Genesis 15
Genesis 16 162
Genesis 17 170
Genesis 18 180
Jacob and Esau: Genesis 25 193
Samson: Judges 13 203
Solomon: 208
2 Samuel 7
1 Chronicles 22 224
Josiah: 1 Kings 13 237
Shunammite Son: 2 Kings 4 244
Immanuel: 252
Immanuel's Identity
Isaiah 7 260
266
CHAPTER 5
Comparison of ANE and HB Texts' Forms and
Functions 277
ANE Birth Annunciations:
Forms of the ANE Birth Annunciation Scenes 277
Forms of the ANE Birth Annunciations Proper 283
Functions of the ANE Birth Annunciations
Proper 290
HB Birth Annunciations:
F0l111s of the HB Birth Annunciation Scenes 297
Fonns of the HB Birth Annunciations Proper 301
Functions of the HB Birth Annunciations Proper 314
ANE and HB Birth Annunciations:
Forms of the ANE and HB Birth Annunciations
Scenes 321
F0l111S of the ANE and HB Birth r-'\nnunciations
Proper 324
Functions of the ANE and HB Birth
Annunciations Proper 328
CHAPTER 6
Examination of Diachronic Issues 331
Egypt 331
Ugarit 336
Israel 337
ANE and HB Birth Annunciations 348
CHAPTER 7
Conclusion 361
Further Issues to be Examined 368
ApPENDIX
Scene I from Deir el-Bahri 370
Scene IV from Deir el-Barhi 371
Scene I from Luxor 372
Scene IV from Luxor 373
Scene IV from Medinet Habu 373
Chart 1: Formal Elements of ANE Birth Annunciations
Proper 374
Chart 2: Fom1al Elements ofHB Birth Annunciations
Proper 376
Chart 3: Sequence of Formal Elements in Ugaritic Birth
Annunciations 378
Chart 4: Sequence of Formal Elements in HB Birth
Annunciations 379
Chart 5: Functions of ANE Birth Annunciations Proper 380
Chart 6: Functions of HB Birth Alillunciations Proper 382
BIBLIOGRAPHY 384
INDEX OF NAMES 417
INDEX OF TOPICS 428
ABSTRACT
This study eXamLTleS the forms and functions of birth
annunciation scenes in the Hebrew Bible (HB) and the l:lllcient
Near East CANE). Each annunciation scene is analyzed in its
fInal form to determine its form, functions, and date of
composition. ANE and HB annunciations are compared to
discover similarities and differences behveen their fomls and
functions. Diachronic issues of litera..ry borrowing l:llld genre
development are also addressed.
This study shows that there is no single fIxed fann or
function for ANE l:ll1d HB annunciations; rather, there are
various and repeated forms and functions. Nearly every
annunciation shares five formal elements-revelations about a
child(ren)'s future conceptionibirth, gender(s), destiny(ies), l:llld
the mother's and father's identities-and four function.s
revealing the conceptionibirth of a specific child(ren); revealing
the child(ren)'s destiny(ies); legitimating the destiny(ies); l:ll1d
asserting divine control over progeny and destiny. ANE and HB
birth annunciations generally differ in that the former mostly
legitimate a king's reign and support the high god's status while
the latter mostly constitute, reflect, advl:ll1ce, preserve, or fulfill
a covenl:ll1t l:ll1d test the faith of the annunciation's recipient.
There is no discernible literary borrowing or development
between ANE l:ll1d HB annunciations. The annunciation
seemingly arose independently in Egypt, Sumer, l:ll1d the
common cultural milieu that encompassed Hatti, U garit, and
Israel. This Cl:ll1 be attributed to each (group of) culture(s)
addressing a similar aim-proclaiming/legitimating the special
birth and destiny of a specific child(ren)-with a similar
conceptual lIlilieu-a function-oriented ontology fu'1d theistic
worldview.