Table Of ContentBohdan Hrobon
Ethical Dimension of Cult in the Book of Isaiah
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die
alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
Herausgegeben von
John Barton · Reinhard G. Kratz
Choon-Leong Seow · Markus Witte
Band 418
De Gruyter
Bohdan Hrobon
Ethical Dimension of Cult
in the Book of Isaiah
De Gruyter
ISBN 978-3-11-024748-0
e-ISBN 978-3-11-024749-7
ISSN 0934-2575
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Hrobon,Bohdan.
EthicaldimensionofcultinthebookofIsaiah/BohdanHrobon.
p. cm. - (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissen-
schaft,ISSN0934-2575;Bd.418)
Includesbibliographicalreferences(p. )andindex.
ISBN978-3-11-024748-0(hardcover23(cid:2)15,5:alk.paper)
1.Bible.O.T.Isaiah-Theology. 2.WorshipintheBible. 3.Ethics
intheBible. I.Title.
BS1515.6.W76H76 2010
2241.106-dc22
2010024280
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ...................................................................................... ix
Abbreviations ................................................................................................ xi
Introduction .....................................................................................................1
PART I
Chapter 1: Conception of Cult in the Prophets .......................................... 7
1.1. Introduction .................................................................................... 7
1.2. Ritual according to Priestly Tradition ....................................... 12
1.2.1. Sacrifices ........................................................................................ 13
1.2.2. Impurity and Purity ..................................................................... 17
1.2.3. Connection between Sacrifices and Impurity ........................... 19
1.3. Ritual and Pre-Exilic Prophets .................................................... 20
1.4. Documentary Theory and Pre-Exilic Cult ................................. 23
1.4.1. Fundamental Difference between First and Second Temple
Cults? ............................................................................................. 24
1.4.2. Pre-Exilic Prophets’ Ignorance of Mosaic Law? ....................... 28
1.5. Knohl / Milgrom’s Theory of P and H and Pre-Exilic Cult .... 29
1.6. Implications ................................................................................... 32
1.7. Conclusion ..................................................................................... 35
Chapter 2: Conception of Holiness in the Book of Isaiah ....................... 37
2.1. Introduction .................................................................................. 37
2.2. Holiness and Purity...................................................................... 38
2.3. Holiness as a Cultic Notion ......................................................... 39
2.4. Holiness as an Ethical Notion? ................................................... 41
2.5. Holiness in the Book of Isaiah .................................................... 45
2.5.1. Holiness in PI ................................................................................ 46
2.5.2. Holiness in DI ............................................................................... 49
2.5.3. Holiness in TI ................................................................................ 51
2.6. Conclusion ..................................................................................... 52
vi Table of Contents
Chapter 3: Conception of the Land in the Book of Isaiah ....................... 53
3.1. Introduction .................................................................................. 53
3.2. Cultic Conception of the Land in the Law ................................ 53
3.3. Examples of Cultic Conception of the Land in the Prophets . 55
3.3.1. Hosea.............................................................................................. 56
3.3.2. Jeremiah ......................................................................................... 57
3.3.3. Ezekiel ............................................................................................ 60
3.4. Land in the Book of Isaiah ........................................................... 61
3.5. Conclusion ..................................................................................... 70
Conclusion of Part I ..................................................................................... 72
PART II
Chapter 4: Cult and Ethics in Isaiah 1:10-17 ............................................. 75
4.1. Introduction .................................................................................. 75
4.2. Historical Background of Isa 1:10-17 ......................................... 76
4.3. Literary Genre of Isa 1:10-17 ....................................................... 81
4.4. Structural Analysis and Text-Critical Issues of Isa 1:10-17 ..... 85
4.4.1. Stanza I (v. 10) ............................................................................... 89
4.4.2. Stanza II (v. 11) ............................................................................. 89
4.4.3. Stanza III (vv. 12-13) ..................................................................... 90
4.4.4. Stanza IV (vv. 14-15) .................................................................. 100
4.4.5. Stanza V (vv. 16-17) .................................................................... 101
4.5. Functional Analysis of Isa 1:10-17 ............................................ 103
4.5.1. Audible Structure (Surface Reading) ....................................... 107
4.5.1.1. Introduction of the Conflict (v. 10) ........................................... 107
4.5.1.2. Illustration I of the Conflict (vv. 11 – 13b) ............................... 108
4.5.1.3. Reason I for the Conflict (v. 13c) .............................................. 108
4.5.1.4. Illustration II of the Conflict (vv. 14 – 15b) ............................. 108
4.5.1.5. Reason II for the Conflict (v. 15c) ............................................. 109
4.5.1.6. Solution to the Conflict (vv. 16-17) ........................................... 109
4.5.2. Readable Structure (Close Reading) ........................................ 109
4.5.2.1. Call to Instruction (v. 10) ........................................................... 110
4.5.2.2. Sacrifices I and II (A - A’, vv. 11 and 16-17) ............................ 110
4.5.2.3. Offerings I and II (B - B’, vv. 12-13a and 15) ........................... 111
4.5.2.4. Festivals I and II (C - C’, vv. 13b and 14) ................................. 111
4.5.2.5. Clash (X, v. 13c) .......................................................................... 112
4.6. Translation of Isa 1:10-17 ........................................................... 112
4.7. Conclusion ................................................................................... 113
Table of Contents vii
Chapter 5: Cult and Ethics in Isaiah 43:22-28 ......................................... 117
5.1. Introduction ................................................................................ 117
5.2. Historical Background of Isa 43:22-28 ..................................... 117
5.3. Literary Genre of Isa 43:22-28 ................................................... 120
5.4. Structural Analysis and Text-Critical Issues of Isa 43:22-28 . 123
5.4.1. Correlation of Cola 22aA and 22aB .......................................... 125
Excursus: The Case for Consecutive yKi .................................................. 128
5.4.2. Structure of Verse 25 .................................................................. 130
5.4.3. Structure of Verse 26 .................................................................. 133
5.4.4. Progress in Verse 27 ................................................................... 134
5.4.5. Colon 28aA – A Later Addition? .............................................. 135
5.5. Functional Analysis of Isa 43:22-28 .......................................... 141
5.5.1. Stanza I: Correlation of 22 and 23-24 ....................................... 141
5.5.2. Stanza III: Correlation of 26-27 and 28 .................................... 146
5.5.3. Stanza II: Relation of 25 to Its Immediate Context ................. 147
5.6. Translation of Isa 43:22-28 ......................................................... 149
5.7. Conclusion ................................................................................... 150
Chapter 6: Cult and Ethics in Isaiah 58 ................................................... 151
6.1. Introduction ................................................................................ 151
6.1.1. Allusion in TI .............................................................................. 151
6.1.2. Eschatology in TI ........................................................................ 154
6.2. Historical Background of Isa 58 ............................................... 155
6.2.1. Date of Isa 58 ............................................................................... 155
6.2.2. Authorship of Isa 58 ................................................................... 156
6.2.3. Audience of Isa 58 ...................................................................... 158
6.3. Cultic Background of Isa 58 ...................................................... 159
6.3.1. Fasting .......................................................................................... 159
6.3.2. Sabbath......................................................................................... 161
6.3.2.1. Nature of Sabbath Observance ................................................. 161
6.3.2.2. Character of Sabbath Observance ............................................ 162
6.3.3. Role of Cult in Isa 58 .................................................................. 165
6.4. Literary Genre of Isa 58 ............................................................. 167
6.5. Structural Analysis and Text-Critical Issues of Isa 58 ........... 170
6.5.1. Isa 58:1 .......................................................................................... 173
6.5.2. Isa 58:2-3a .................................................................................... 173
6.5.3. Isa 58:3b-4 .................................................................................... 176
6.5.4. Isa 58:5 .......................................................................................... 177
6.5.5. Isa 58:6 .......................................................................................... 178
6.5.6. Isa 58:7 .......................................................................................... 179
viii Table of Contents
6.5.7. Isa 58:8-9a .................................................................................... 180
6.5.8. Isa 58:9b-10a ................................................................................ 182
6.5.9. Isa 58:10b-11 ................................................................................ 184
6.5.10. Isa 58:12 ........................................................................................ 184
6.5.11. Isa 58:13 ........................................................................................ 188
6.5.12. Isa 58:14 ........................................................................................ 190
6.6. Functional Analysis of Isa 58 .................................................... 192
6.6.1. Isa 58:1-3a .................................................................................... 192
6.6.2. Isa 58:3b-7 .................................................................................... 194
6.6.3. Protasis-Apodosis Pairs in Isa 58:6-14 ..................................... 195
6.6.4. Isa 58:13-14 .................................................................................. 197
6.7. Translation of Isa 58 ................................................................... 206
6.8. Isa 58 and Related Passages in TI ............................................. 208
6.8.1. Isa 58 and 59 ................................................................................ 208
6.8.2. Isa 58 and 56:1-8 .......................................................................... 210
6.8.3. Isa 58 and 61 ................................................................................ 212
6.8.4. Isa 58 and 66:1-4 .......................................................................... 213
6.9. Conclusion ................................................................................... 215
Conclusion................................................................................................... 217
Appendix 1: Isa 1:10-17 and Priestly Literature ..................................... 221
Appendix 2: Isa 58-59 and Non-Isaianic OT Texts ................................ 227
1. Isa 58-59 and Zech 7-8 ................................................................ 227
2. Isa 58 and Ezek 18 and 20 .......................................................... 229
3. Isa 58 and Amos 8:4-8 ................................................................ 232
4. Isa 58-59 and Joel 2 ..................................................................... 233
5. Isa 58-59 and Jonah 3.................................................................. 234
6. Isa 58-59 and Mal 2:17-3:18........................................................ 235
7. Isa 58-59 and Ps 73 ...................................................................... 236
Concluding Remark ................................................................................... 237
Bibliography................................................................................................ 239
Index of Authors ........................................................................................ 253
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank a number of people without whose help and
support this thesis would never have seen the light of day. First and
foremost my gratitude goes to my supervisor Prof. Hugh G. M.
Williamson, a scholar and a person par excellence, whose profound
insight into the book of Isaiah and personal qualities have inspired and
guided me all along. Dr. Paul Joyce, who acted as my interim
supervisor during the last two terms of my second year, was a great
encouragement to me. I have benefited also from Prof. John Barton,
who was kind enough to read parts of my thesis and made many
helpful suggestions. I am especially grateful to my good friends Dr.
Lester Meyer and Dr. Tim Edwards for proofreading and making my
arguments intelligible. For my three years of studies in Oxford, I am
particularly indebted to three institutions. The Langham Partnership
International, UK, and The Olker Foundation, USA, provided financial
and personal assistance, and the Bible School in Martin, Slovakia, who
provided release time. Many thanks go to the Bible School staff,
especially Prof. Paul Berge, Dr. Adrian Kacian, and Dr. Michal Valčo,
for working an extra load to cover for my absence. My wife, Bibiana,
has been my loving companion the whole time – I would not have
started, let alone finished this work without her. My gratitude to her
goes beyond words. The sparkling presence of our recently-born son
Martin has speeded up the completion of this thesis. I dedicate it to my
late father, Pastor Ján Bohdan Hroboň, a true hero of the Christian faith
under communist persecution, who nurtured my love of the Old
Testament.
