Ezekiel’s Vision Accounts as Interrelated Narratives: A Redaction-Critical and Theological Study

417 Pages·2015·2.709 MB·English

by  Janina Maria Hiebel

Janina Maria Hiebel
Ezekiel’s Vision Accounts as Interrelated Narratives
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift
für die alttestamentliche
Wissenschaft
Edited by
John Barton, Ronald Hendel,
Reinhard G. Kratz and Markus Witte
Volume 475
Janina Maria Hiebel
Ezekiel’s Vision
Accounts as
Interrelated Narratives
A Redaction-Critical and Theological Study
DE GRUYTER
Scripture quotations marked “NRSV” are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-3-11-040364-0
e-ISBN (PDF) 978-3-11-040665-8
e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-040682-5
ISSN 0934-2575
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A CIP catalog record for this book has been applied for at the Library of Congress.
Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie;
detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de.
© 2015 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Printing and binding: CPI books GmbH, Leck
♾ Printed on acid-free paper
Printed in Germany
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Table of Contents
List of Tables and Charts XV
Acknowledgments XVII
Abbreviations XIX
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Ezekiel and His Visions 1
1.2 Literature Review 4
1.2.1 Redaction Criticism and the Book of Ezekiel 4
1.2.1.1 The “Ezekiel School” (Fortschreibungsmodell) 5
1.2.1.2 Conflicting Redactions 6
1.2.1.3 Holistic Interpretation 7
1.2.2 Literature on Ezekiel 1:1–3:15 8
1.2.3 Literature on Ezekiel 8–11 15
1.2.4 Literature on Ezekiel 37:1–14 20
1.2.5 Literature on Ezekiel 40–48 27
1.2.6 Literature Specifically on all Vision Accounts in Ezekiel 33
1.2.7 Summary and Aim of the Present Study 35
1.3 Defining the Basis Texts: What is a Vision Account? 38
1.4 Methodology 40
1.4.1 A Diachronic Approach 40
1.4.2 Redaction History 42
1.4.2.1 Textual Criticism and Verse Subdivision 43
1.4.2.2 Redaction Criticism 44
1.4.2.3 Analysis of the Literary Structure 45
1.4.2.4 Interrelated Redaction History 45
1.4.3 Poetics and Theology 46
1.5 Outline 48
Part I: The Interconnected Redaction History
of Ezekiel’s Vision Accounts 51
2 Ezekiel 1:1–3:15 53
2.1 Textual Criticism 53
2.1.1 General Remarks 53
2.1.2 Text-Critical Emendations of the MT 54
2.2 Redaction Criticism of Ezek 1:1–3:15 58
2.2.1 Glosses 58
VI   Table of Contents
2.2.1.1 The Secondary Date in 1:2 58
2.2.1.2 The Redactional Title in 1:3a 59
2.2.1.3 Glosses in 1:4, 1:13, and 1:23 59
2.2.1.4 The Gender Confusion in Ezek 1 60
2.2.1.5 Glosses in Ezek 2–3 62
2.2.2 The (Dis-)Unity of 2:3–3:11 and 1:4–28 63
2.2.2.1 Differences between 1:4–28 and 2:3–3:11 63
2.2.2.2 Ezekiel 1:4–2:2 as Expansion 65
2.2.2.3 The Unity of 2:3–3:11 66
2.2.2.4 Redaction in 1:1–3 67
2.2.2.5 Redaction in 3:12–15 68
2.2.3 Redaction in 1:4–28: The Wheels 69
2.2.4 Summary 71
2.3 Structure of the Original Call Narrative (2:3–3:11, 14c, 15*) 71
2.3.1 The First Speech (2:3–8) 72
2.3.2 The Vision of the Scroll (2:9–3:3) 73
2.3.3 The Second Speech (3:4–11) and the Conclusion (3:14–15*) 74
2.3.4 The Correlation of the Speeches (2:3–8; 3:4–11) and the Focus of
the Original Call Narrative 75
2.4 Structure of the Expanded Call Vision (1:1–28*; 2:1–3:15) 77
2.4.1 The Frame (1:1–3; 3:12–15) 79
2.4.2 The Vision of the Glory (1:4–28c) 80
2.4.2.1 Language 80
2.4.2.2 Structure 81
2.4.2.3 Interpretation of the Living Beings 83
2.4.2.4 Summary 85
2.4.3 The Transition (1:28d–2:2) 86
2.4.4 Effects of the Expansion on 2:3–3:11 87
2.5 Effects of the Wheel Redaction (1:15–21) 88
2.6 The Intention(s) of Ezek 1:1–3:15 89
2.7 The “Redactional Vision Account” Ezek 3:22–27 90
3 Ezekiel 8–11 94
3.1 Textual Criticism 94
3.1.1 Text-critical Emendations of the MT 94
3.1.2 Particular Problems 96
3.2 Redaction Criticism of Ezek 8–11 99
3.2.1 The Disputation Words in 11:1–21 99
3.2.1.1 The Cauldron Word (11:1–13) 99
3.2.1.2 The Word for the Exiles (11:14–21) 101
Table of Contents   VII
3.2.2 The Partial Judgement in Ezek 9 103
3.2.3 The Cherubim Becoming Alive 104
3.2.3.1 Competing Concepts 104
3.2.3.2 First Concept: Temple Furniture 106
3.2.3.3 Second Concept: Throne Bearers 107
3.2.3.4 Third Concept: Custodian of the Fire 108
3.2.3.5 Explicit Identity Statements 108
3.2.4 The Wheels (10:9–16) 109
3.2.5 The Glory of YHWH 110
3.2.5.1 The “Glory of YHWH” and the “Glory of the God of Israel” 110
3.2.5.2 The “Likeness” of a Man (8:2a–3b) 112
3.2.6 The Original Temple Vision Account 113
3.2.7 Summary and Redaction History 116
3.3 Structure of the Original Temple Vision Account (8–11*) 118
3.3.1 The Frame (8:1–3*; 11:24–25) 119
3.3.2 Proof of Guilt (8:5–18) 120
3.3.3 Announcement of Judgement (9:1–11:23*) 122
3.3.4 Connections between 8:5–18 and 9:1–11:23* 124
3.3.5 Summary 126
3.4 S tructural Consequences of the Cherubim Redaction and the Wheel
Redaction 126
3.4.1 The First Stage of Departure and the Man Dressed in Linen
(10:1–5, 6–7) 127
3.4.2 The Description of the Wheels (10:9–13) 128
3.4.3 The Departure from the City (10:15–22; 11:22–23) 128
3.4.4 Summary 128
3.5 Consequences of the Insertion of 11:1–22:
Structure of the Present Text 129
3.5.1 Structure of the Two Disputation Words (11:1–21) 131
3.5.1.1 The First Disputation Word (11:1–13) 131
3.5.1.2 The Second Disputation Word (11:14–21) 132
3.5.2 Connections between 8:5–10:7 and 11:1–21 133
3.5.2.1 Lexematic References 133
3.5.2.2 Copied Verses 134
3.6 The Intention(s) of Ezek 8–11 136
4 Ezekiel 37:1–14 139
4.1 Textual Criticism 139
4.2 Redaction Criticism of Ezek 37:1–14 140
4.2.1 The Unity of Vision and Disputation 141
VIII   Table of Contents
4.2.1.1 The Shift in Genre 141
4.2.1.2 The Shift from Unburied to Buried Bones 142
4.2.1.3 Summary 143
4.2.2 Redaction within 37:1–10 143
4.2.2.1 A Lost Date? 143
4.2.2.2 The Use of w eqatal in 37:2a, 7a, 8a, 10a 144
4.2.2.3 Verse 2a 145
4.2.2.4 Verse 8a 146
4.2.2.5 Observations in 37:7–10 147
4.2.3 Redaction within 37:11–14 151
4.2.3.1 The Sequence of 37:12, 13, 14 152
4.2.3.2 The Promise of “My Spirit” in 37:14a and 36:27 154
4.2.4 Summary and Redaction History 155
4.3 S tructure of the Original Vision Account
(37:1–14*) 155
4.3.1 The Vision: The Resurrection of the Bones (37:1–10*) 156
4.3.1.1 Visionary Part: Dead Bones (37:1–2) 156
4.3.1.2 Dialogue (37:3) 157
4.3.1.3 Prophecy: Promise of Life (37:4–6) 157
4.3.1.4 Visionary Fulfilment of the Promise (37:7–10*) 158
4.3.2 The Disputation: The Resurrection of Israel
(37:11–12, 14a–f) 159
4.3.2.1 Quote: Dead Israel (37:11) 160
4.3.2.2 Prophecy: Promise of Life (37:12, 14*) 161
4.3.3 Structural Parallels and Rhetorical Effects 162
4.3.3.1 Structural Parallels between 37:1–10* and 11–14* 162
4.3.3.2 Rhetorical Effects 164
4.4 Structure of the Present Text (37:1–14) 165
4.4.1 Structural Consequences to the Vision (37:1–10) 166
4.4.1.1 The First Prophecy and the Composition of Bodies
(37:4–6, 7–8) 166
4.4.1.2 The Second Prophecy and the Spirit (37:9–10) 166
4.4.2 Structural Consequences to the Disputation (37:11–14) 168
4.5 The Intention of 37:1–14 169
5 Ezekiel 40–48 171
5.1 Preliminary Note: Limits of the Present Study 171
5.2 Textual Criticism 172
5.3 Redaction Criticism of Ezek 40–42; 43:1–12; 44:1–6;
47:1–12 175
Table of Contents   IX
5.3.1 A Working Hypothesis 175
5.3.2 Redaction in Ezek 40–43 177
5.3.2.1 Redaction in Ezek 40–42 177
5.3.2.2 The Status of Ezek 43:1–12 182
5.3.2.3 Summary and Outline of the Original Layer 184
5.3.3 Vision Texts in Ezek 44–48 185
5.3.3.1 Redaction in, and Status of, 44:1–2; 47:1–12 185
5.3.3.2 The Redactional Vision Account Ezek 44:4–5d, 6 188
5.3.4 Summary 190
5.4 S tructure of the Original Temple Vision Account
(40:1–43:10*) 192
5.4.1 The Introduction (40:1–4*) 193
5.4.2 The Outer Wall (40:5; 42:15, 20*) 194
5.4.3 The Tour Around the Temple Area (40:6–42:20*) 194
5.4.3.1 The Outer Gates (40:6–27*) 196
5.4.3.2 The Inner Gates (40:28–47*) 197
5.4.3.3 The Temple Building (40:48–41:4) 197
5.4.4 The Return of the Glory (43:1–10*) 199
5.4.4.1 The Visionary Part (43:1–2, 4–5) 199
5.4.4.2 The Speech Part (43:6–10) 200
5.4.5 Summary 202
5.5 S tructure of the Enlarged Vision Including the River of Life
(40:1–43:10*; 44:1–2; 47:1–12*) 203
5.5.1 The Transition: Closure of the East Gate (44:1–2) 205
5.5.2 The River of Life (47:1–12*) 205
5.5.2.1 The Way Out: The Growing Water (47:1–6b) 206
5.5.2.2 The Way Back: The Explanation (47:6c–12) 207
5.5.2.3 The Effect of the Expansion 210
5.6 The Intention(s) of the Discussed Parts of Ezek 40–48 210
6 Relations among the Vision Accounts in Ezekiel 214
6.1 A Visual Overview 214
6.2 The “Original Writings” 216
6.2.1 The Call Vision (2:3–3:11*, 14c, 15*) 216
6.2.1.1 Relationship with Other Layers 216
6.2.1.2 Date 217
6.2.2 The Original First Temple Vision (8–11*) 218
6.2.3 The Two Discussion Words in Ezek 11 219
6.2.3.1 The Date of the Original Cauldron Word (11:3–4, 5c–12) 219
6.2.3.2 The Date of the Word for the Exiles (11:14–20*) 220