the centralization of the worship of yahweh according to the jewish and samaritan pentateuchs

268 Pages·2017·2.93 MB·English

THE CENTRALIZATION OF THE WORSHIP OF YAHWEH ACCORDING TO
THE JEWISH AND SAMARITAN PENTATEUCHS: A TEXTUAL AND
THEOLOGICAL STUDY
By
Bonifácio Paulo
Dissertation presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Theology
in the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University
Promoter: Prof. Louis C. Jonker
Promoter: Prof. Gideon Kotzé
December 2017
Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Declaration
I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own
original work and have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it at any university
for obtaining any degree.
Signature: ……………………………………………
Date: December 2017
Copyright © 2017 Stellenbosch University
All rights reserved
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Abstract
The aim of the present study is, firstly, to understand the theological implications of the
phenomenon of centralization of worship in Deuteronomy 12 according to the Jewish and
Samaritan Pentateuchs; secondly, to investigate the different wording between the two
readings and the possible factors that contributed to their development; and thirdly, given
these different sectarian readings, to understand what might be the place of the Samaritan
Pentateuch in the enterprise of Bible translation. To address these objectives, the researcher
chose to use an integrated method, which gives him the freedom to bring different
approaches, such as historical-scientific, textual/literary, and theological, into conversation. It
is through this method that the outcome of this study is outlined as follows: From a historical-
scientific viewpoint, it is most likely that the origin of ancient Israel is to be placed in the
context of the Mediterranean region in the Iron Age I period. Furthermore, despite their
belligerent relations, both Judean and Samaritan populaces are likely to be genetically related
and, therefore, from the same ancestral origins. Theologically, the centralization of worship
had, to some extent, contributed significantly to the shaping of the ideologies of the
Jerusalem temple and Davidic/Israel’s election. In response to these ideologies, the
Samaritans rejected any tradition related to Jerusalem temple and to Davidic kingship and put
an exclusive claim on the Mosaic tradition as the only authoritative script. Addressed from a
textual/literary approach, the two Pentateuchs share the same roots – the Mosaic tradition –
and the differences between them are mainly due to editorial activities, where editors acted in
favour of their respective site of worship. Lastly, with regard to the place of the Samaritan
Pentateuch in the work of Bible translation, it is noted that, despite the different emphases on
the place of worship, it has much in common not only with the Jewish Pentateuch but also
with other textual witnesses such as the Septuagint and the Dead Seas Scrolls. Moreover, like
other textual witnesses, the Samaritan Pentateuch held a significant level of authority over
ancient Israeli communities, including Qumran and the early church. If this is the case, then
the place of the Samaritan Pentateuch in the enterprise of Bible Translation needs to be
reconsidered.
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Opsomming
Die doel van die huidige studie is om eerstens die teologiese implikasies van die verskynsel
van sentralisering van aanbidding in Deuteronomium 12 volgens die Joodse en Samaritaanse
Pentateug-weergawes te verstaan; tweedens, om die bewoordings van die twee verskillende
lesings en die moontlike faktore wat tot hul ontwikkeling bygedra het, te ondersoek; en
derdens, om in die lig van hierdie verskillende sektariese lesings, te verstaan wat die plek van
die Samaritaanse Pentateug in die onderneming van Bybelvertaling kan wees. Om hierdie
doelwitte te het die navorser gekies om ‘n geïntegreerde navorsingsmetode te gebruik wat
hom die vryheid bied om verskillende benaderings, soos histories-wetenskaplike, tekstuele /
literêre en teologiese met mekaar in gesprek te bring. Nadat hierdie metode gevolg is, kan die
uitkoms van hierdie studie soos volg uiteengesit word: Vanuit ‘n histories-wetenskaplike
oogpunt is dit heel waarskynlik dat die oorsprong van antieke Israel in die konteks van die
Middellandse-Seegebied geplaas word, spesifiek in die Yster I-tydperk. Ten spyte van hul
gespanne verhoudinge, is die Judese en Samaritaanse bevolkings geneties verwant aan
mekaar en daarom van dieselfde voorvaderlike oorsprong. Teologies het die sentralisering
van aanbidding beduidend bygedra tot die vorming van die ideologieë rondom die Jerusalem-
tempel en die Dawidiese/Israel se verkiesing. In reaksie op hierdie ideologieë het die
Samaritane enige tradisie wat verband hou met die Jerusalem-tempel en Dawidiese
koningskap verwerp en ‘n eksklusiewe aanspraak gemaak op die Mosaïese tradisie as die
enigste gesaghebbende skrif. Gesien vanuit ‘n tekstuele / literêre benadering, deel die twee
Pentateug-weergawes dieselfde wortels - die Mosaïese tradisie - en die verskille tussen hulle
is hoofsaaklik te wyte aan redaksionele aktiwiteite, waar redakteurs in belang van hul
onderskeie godsdienstige faksies optree. Ten slotte, ten opsigte van die plek van die
Samaritaanse Pentateug in die projek van Bybelvertaling, word opgemerk dat dit ten spyte
van die verskillende beklemtonings op die plek van aanbidding, veel gemeen het nie net met
die Judese Pentateug nie, maar ook met ander tekstuele getuies soos die Septuagint en die
Dooie See-rolle. Daarbenewens het die Samaritaanse Pentateug, soos ander tekstuele getuies,
beduidende gesag gehad in gemeenskappe van ou Israel, insluitende die Qumrangemeenskap
en die Vroeë Kerk. As dít die geval is, moet die plek van die Samaritaanse Pentateug in die
onderneming van Bybelvertaling heroorweeg word.

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Acknowledgments
I would like to take a moment and acknowledge some people who made this study possible. I
am grateful to God, who pulled me out of a non-Christian family, saved my life and gave me
the privilege of serving Him, by His grace. He is the one who gave me health, wisdom,
strength and all the support I needed to finish this dissertation. Looking at my background,
this is an achievement that I never expected in my entire lifetime here on earth. But the truth
is: with God all is possible. To Him be the glory, honour and majesty!
I want to thank Prof. Louis C. Jonker and Prof. Gideon Kotze, the supervisors of this
dissertation. Prof Jonker not only supervised this study, but he also turned out to be my
personal mentor for the last five years. I met Prof Jonker at the end of 2012, when I was
preparing to write the last paper for my Post Graduate Diploma in Theology at the University
of Stellenbosch. He discussed with me the topic which would fit my Master’s program, and
he accepted the invitation to supervise my thesis. As a mentor in a real sense, Prof. Jonker
focused on my potentials, and in the final year of my master’s studies, he encouraged me to
think of moving on to the doctoral program, soon after graduation. Once again, he was
willing to supervise this dissertation. Thank you, Prof. Jonker and Prof. Kotze for your
encouragement, continual support, insightful comments, and your high academic and
leadership standards.
I want to thank my editor Nancy Loveland. Nancy walked with me on this journey for the
past six years. We started this journey in 2012 with my PGD, MTh and now this dissertation.
With English being my fourth language, there was no way I could do it without an English
specialist like her. If the time I spent in research and writing is equivalent to 100%, she might
have spent at least 30% of the total time reading my work, trying to understand and to adjust
my thoughts, correcting the grammar and so forth. Thank you, Irmã Nancy! I equally thank
Gibson Ncube who did the final editing of this dissertation. Thank you, Gibson!
I want to thank my wife, Busie, and my children Khosi, Buhle, Paula and Lindani for their
love and unmeasurable support over the past six years. They gave me all the time I needed by
putting up with my absence during research moments in the library and my tangible presence
with them when I was busy with this study. During this time we never played games or went
out for a walk or ice cream, as we did before. If we did, and they realized that my attention
was not completely with them, they quickly would come to me and say, “Daddy, we have to
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go home so that you continue with your studies.” Thank you, my wife and children! I love
you with sincere appreciation for all you have been and done for me.
I want to thank my mission Wycliffe South Africa (WSA) for the support and for allowing
me to often work part-time in the past two years. I want to thank the Summer Institute of
Linguistics (SIL) the then Mozambique branch for having invited me to serve in the ministry
of Bible Translation and having asked the Seed Company to finance my studies. Thanks to
John Iseminger, Oddmund Pettersen and Dora Carlos, the legal representatives of SIL, who
encouraged me and signed all the relevant papers for my study. Thanks to Seed Company for
financing my studies (tuition and accommodation for me and my family on the campus of the
University of Stellenbosch) during the first five years. Thanks to Brian Migliazza, the Seed
Company legal representative for my internship, who sacrificed his time to come to
Stellenbosch to meet my supervisor and give me strong encouragement.
Lastly, I want to dedicate this dissertation to the Bibleless language groups in Southern
Africa.

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Table of Contents
Declaration .............................................................................................................................................. ii
Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. iii
Opsomming ............................................................................................................................................ iv
Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................... v
List of Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................. 1
CHAPTER 1 ........................................................................................................................................... 3
GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 3
1.1. Introduction to the Topic.................................................................................................................. 3
1.2. Field of Study and Research Problem .............................................................................................. 5
1.3. Objectives and Research Questions ............................................................................................... 10
1.3.1. The Origin of the Judean and Samaritan communities ........................................................... 11
1.3.2. Development of Different Readings ....................................................................................... 12
1.3.2.1. Factors that Influenced the Choosing of Places of Worship ............................................ 12
1.3.2.2. How the Different Wording Developed ........................................................................... 12
1.3.2.3. Different Wording and Readings in Relation to Different Ideleologies .......................... 13
1.3.3. Textual Relationship of the Two Pentateuchs ..................................................................... 13
1.3.3.1. The Similarities between the two Textual Representatives ............................................. 13
1.3.3.2. The Differences between the two Textual Representatives ............................................. 14
1.3.3.3. The Role of the Samaritan Pentateuch ............................................................................. 15
1.4. Research Methodology .................................................................................................................. 15
1.5. Theories of Bible Translation ........................................................................................................ 17
1.5.1. Formal Equivalence Theory .................................................................................................... 18
1.5.2. Dynamic Equivalence Theory ................................................................................................. 20
1.5.3. Functional Theory ................................................................................................................... 23
1.6. Case Study ..................................................................................................................................... 26
1.6.1. Deuteronomy 12 – The Unknown Worship Centre ................................................................ 26
1.6.2. 1Kings 8 – The Revealed Worship Centre .............................................................................. 27
1.7. Definitions...................................................................................................................................... 27
1.7.1. A Text in the Context of this Study ........................................................................................ 27
1.7.2. An Original Hebrew Text ....................................................................................................... 29
1.7.3. The Issue of Multiple Readings of the Hebrew Text .............................................................. 31
1.8. Preliminary Explorations on Centralization of Worship ................................................................ 35
1.8.1. Jerusalem versus Shechem ...................................................................................................... 35
1.8.1.1. Is Jerusalem the Worship Centre? .................................................................................... 35
1.8.1.2. Is Shechem the Worship Centre? ..................................................................................... 36
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1.8.2. Each Community Justifies its Individual Worship Centre ...................................................... 40
1.9. Potential Impact ............................................................................................................................. 42
1.10. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 44
CHAPTER 2 ......................................................................................................................................... 45
THE ORIGINS OF ISRAEL AND OF THE BIBLICAL SAMARITANS .......................................... 45
2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 45
2.2. The Quest for the Origins of Israel ................................................................................................ 48
2.2.1. Common Name ....................................................................................................................... 49
2.2.2. Common Ancestry .................................................................................................................. 51
2.2.2.1. Abrahamic ........................................................................................................................ 51
2.2.2.2. Mosaic .............................................................................................................................. 52
2.2.2.3. Davidic ............................................................................................................................. 53
2.2.3. Shared Historical Memories.................................................................................................... 54
2.2.4. Homeland ................................................................................................................................ 56
2.2.4.1. Military Conquest ............................................................................................................ 58
2.2.4.2. Peaceful Infiltration.......................................................................................................... 60
2.2.4.3. Peasant Revolt .................................................................................................................. 60
2.2.4.4. An Alternative Model ...................................................................................................... 62
2.3. Israel from Tribal Alliance to Monarchy ....................................................................................... 66
2.3.1. Pre-monarchic Period .............................................................................................................. 66
2.3.2. The Monarchic Period ............................................................................................................. 71
2.3.3. The Divided Monarchy ........................................................................................................... 76
2.3.3.1. The Northern Kingdom of Israel ...................................................................................... 79
2.3.3.2. The Southern Kingdom of Judah ..................................................................................... 82
2.4. The Biblical Samaritan Community .............................................................................................. 85
2.4.1. Terminology ............................................................................................................................ 86
2.4.2. The Samaritan Perspective ...................................................................................................... 87
2.4.3. The Anti-Samaritan Perspective ............................................................................................. 89
2.4.4. The Historical-Scientific Perspective ...................................................................................... 91
2.5. The Relationship between the Samaritans and Judeans from the 6th Century B.C.E. to the 1st
Century C.E........................................................................................................................................... 95
2.6. Similarities and Differences between Judeans and Samaritans ..................................................... 99
2.6.1. Differences .............................................................................................................................. 99
2.6.1.1. Judah against Joseph ........................................................................................................ 99
2.6.1.2. Jerusalem against Shiloh/Shechem .................................................................................. 99
2.6.1.3. David against Moses ...................................................................................................... 100
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2.6.1.4. The Biblical Canon ........................................................................................................ 101
2.6.2. Similarities ............................................................................................................................ 101
2.6.2.1. Yahwism ........................................................................................................................ 101
2.6.2.2. Torah (the Pentateuch) ................................................................................................... 102
2.6.2.3. Priesthood ...................................................................................................................... 102
2.6.2.4. Sabbath ........................................................................................................................... 103
2.7. The Parting of the Ways .............................................................................................................. 103
2.8. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 104
CHAPTER 3 ....................................................................................................................................... 107
DEUTERONOMY 12 AND THE PHENOMENON OF CENTRALIZATION OF WORSHIP:
LITERARY AND TEXTUAL ANALYSES ...................................................................................... 107
3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 107
3.2. The Book of Deuteronomy and its Growth and Expansion ......................................................... 109
3.2.1. The Origin and Scope of the Earliest Version of the Book of Deuteronomy ....................... 110
3.2.2. Assyrian/Pre-exilic Editions ................................................................................................. 113
3.2.3. Babylonian/Exilic Editions ................................................................................................... 115
3.2.4. Persian/Postexilic Editions .................................................................................................... 118
3.3. Textual and Literary Analyses of Deuteronomy 12 ..................................................................... 121
3.3.1. Difference in Orthography .................................................................................................... 133
3.3.2. Morphology........................................................................................................................... 133
3.3.3. Different verbs, Stem formation and Interchange of Word Order ........................................ 133
3.3.4. Pluses and minuses ............................................................................................................... 134
3.3.5. Singular versus Plural Forms ................................................................................................ 135
3.3.6. Qatal versus Yiqtol of the Verb רחב (choose) ....................................................................... 136
3.3.6.1. Position 1: The Qatal is More Original .......................................................................... 137
3.3.6.2. Position 2. The Yiqtol is More Original......................................................................... 138
3.4. The Factors for the Editorial Changes ......................................................................................... 139
3.5. Other Literary Issues of Deuteronomy 12 .................................................................................... 142
3.5.1. Genre ..................................................................................................................................... 142
3.5.2. Central Theme ....................................................................................................................... 144
3.5.3. Structure and Internal Coherence .......................................................................................... 145
3.6. Intertextuality of Deuteronomy 12 ............................................................................................... 150
3.6.1. Deuteronomy 12 in relation to Deuteronomy 1-11 ............................................................... 150
3.6.2. Deuteronomy 12 in Relation to Deuteronomy 13-26 ............................................................ 154
3.6.3. Deuteronomy 12 in Relation to 1 Kings 8 ............................................................................ 155
3.6.4. Deuteronomy 12 in Relation to Covenant and Holiness Codes ............................................ 157
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3.7. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 161
CHAPTER 4 ....................................................................................................................................... 163
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW AND THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
CENTRALIZATION OF WORSHIP ................................................................................................. 163
4.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 163
4.2. Religion and Worship until the Exile: An Overview ................................................................... 165
4.2.1. Religion in the Family/clan Context ..................................................................................... 167
4.2.2. Religion in the Tribal System ............................................................................................... 170
4.2.3. Religion in the Monarchic Context ....................................................................................... 172
4.2.4. Religion in the Exilic Period ................................................................................................. 175
4.2.4.1. The People in the Land .................................................................................................. 175
4.2.4.2. In the Exile ..................................................................................................................... 176
4.2.4.3. In the Diaspora (Egypt) .................................................................................................. 177
4.2.5. Summary ............................................................................................................................... 178
4.3. Worship in the Context of the Persian Period .............................................................................. 179
4.3.1. Social situation ...................................................................................................................... 184
4.3.2. Economic Conditions ............................................................................................................ 186
4.3.3. Religious Situation ................................................................................................................ 187
4.4. The Rise of Judaism ..................................................................................................................... 188
4.4.1. The Archaemenid Period ...................................................................................................... 191
4.4.2. Hellenization and the Seleucid Dynasty ............................................................................... 192
4.4.3. The Hasmonean State ........................................................................................................... 194
4.5. Samaria and the Rise of Samaritanism ........................................................................................ 195
4.6. The Diaspora ................................................................................................................................ 200
4.7. Key Ideologies that Shaped both Judaism and Samaritanism ...................................................... 203
4.7.1. The Ideology of the Temple of Jerusalem ............................................................................ 203
4.7.2. The Ideology of Election: The Davidic Dynasty .................................................................. 204
4.8. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 205
CHAPTER 5 ....................................................................................................................................... 208
THE PLACE OF THE SAMARITAN PENTATEUCH IN BIBLICAL STUDIES AND IN THE
ENTERPRISE OF BIBLE TRANSLATION ..................................................................................... 208
5.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 208
5.2. Translations of the Samaritan Pentateuch .................................................................................... 210
5.2.1. Conquest ............................................................................................................................... 210
5.2.2. Diaspora ................................................................................................................................ 211
5.2.3. The Targum of the Samaritan Pentateuch ............................................................................. 213
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