Understanding Dan: An Exegetical Study of a Biblical City, Tribe and Ancestor (JSOT Supplement)

321 Pages·2003·17.39 MB·English

by  Mark Walter Bartusch

JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
SUPPLEMENT SERIES
379
Editors
David J.A. Clines
Philip R. Davies
Executive Editor
Andrew Mein
Editorial Board
Richard J. Coggins, Alan Cooper, J. Cheryl Exum, John Goldingay,
Robert P. Gordon, Norman K. Gottwald, John Jarick,
Andrew D.H. Mayes, Carol Meyers, Patrick D. Miller
Sheffield Academic Press
A Continuum imprint
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Understanding Dan
An Exegctical Study
of a Biblical City,
Tribe and Ancestor
Mark W. Bartusch
Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
Supplement Series 379
Copyright © 2003 Sheffield Academic Press
A Continuum imprint
Published by Sheffield Academic Press Ltd
The Tower Building, 11 York Road, London SE1 7NX
15 East 26th Street, Suite 1703, New York, NY 10010
www.continuumbooks.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Typeset by Sheffield Academic Press
Printed on acid-free paper in Great Britain by Bookcraft Ltd, Midsomer Norton, Bath
ISBN 0-8264-6657-5
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Abbreviations xi
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION 1
1. Revelation 7 2
2. Irenaeus and Hippolytus 3
3. Testament of Twelve Patriarchs 5
4. Rabbinic Literature/Jewish Legends 5
5. Statement of Thesis 7
6. Review of Recent Research and Methodology 8
7. Arrangement of Chapters 20
Chapter 2
INTERPRETING DAN IN THE PENTATEUCH 22
1. The Book of Genesis 22
a. Genesis 14 22
b. Genesis 29-30 25
c. Genesis 35 and 46 31
d. Genesis 49 32
2. The Book of Exodus 42
a. Exodus 1 42
b. Exodus 31-0 42
3. The Book of Leviticus 48
a. Leviticus 24 48
4. The Book of Numbers 55
a. Numbers 1 55
b. Numbers 2 58
c. Numbers 7 60
d. Numbers 10 61
e. Numbers 13 62
f. Numbers 26 63
vi Understanding Dan
g. Numbers 34 65
5. The Book of Deuteronomy 66
a. Deuteronomy 27 66
b. Deuteronomy 33 68
c. Deuteronomy 34 74
6. Summary: Dan in the Pentateuch 75
Chapter 3
INTERPRETING DAN IN THE FORMER PROPHETS 77
1. The Book of Joshua 80
a. Joshua 13-19 81
b. Joshua 21 98
2. The Book of Judges 109
a. Judges 1 109
b. Judges 5 122
c. Judges 13-16 136
d. Judges 17-18 170
3. The Books of Samuel 202
4. The Books of Kings 204
a. 1 Kings 12 204
b. 1 Kings 15 214
c. 2 Kings 10 215
5. 'From Dan as far as Beersheba' 216
6. Summary: Dan in the Former Prophets 217
Chapter 4
INTERPRETING DAN IN THE LATTER PROPHETS 221
1. The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 221
a. Jeremiah 4 222
b. Jeremiah 8 223
2. The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel 226
a. Ezekiel 48 226
3. The Book of the Prophet Amos 230
a. Amos 8 230
Chapter 5
INTERPRETING DAN IN THE BOOKS OF CHRONICLES 243
1. 1 Chronicles 243
a. 1 Chronicles 1-9 243
Contents vii
b. 1 Chronicles 12 248
c. 1 Chronicles 27 249
2. 2 Chronicles 251
a. 2 Chronicles 2 251
b. 2 Chronicles 16 254
3. 'From Beersheba as far as Dan' 255
4. Summary: Dan in the Books of Chronicles 256
Chapter 6
CONCLUSIONS AND FINAL REMARKS 260
Bibliography 270
Index of References 287
Index of Authors 297
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many members of the Biblical Division at the Lutheran School of Theol-
ogy at Chicago have been influential on my development as a scholar and
teacher of the Church, and for each of them I am thankful. Professor of
New Testament David M. Rhoads first introduced me to new ways of
studying the Bible by using the resources of cultural anthropology and the
social sciences in a Graduate Seminar on the Gospel of Mark. David is a
gifted teacher, and I have had the privilege of being one of his teaching
assistants. Emeritus Professor of New Testament Edgar M. Krentz encour-
aged me and others at the start of our graduate program by reminding us,
in an aphorism, that if you have chosen a way that is without difficulties,
you will find that it leads nowhere. I can honestly say, on the basis of the
challenges encountered, that I am well along the way from where I was
eight years ago. Wesley J. Fuerst, now Emeritus Professor of Old Testa-
ment, is a rare individual: solid scholar, excellent teacher, and faithful ser-
vant of the Church. I thank him for his kindness, friendship, and constant
support along the way. Professor Walter L. Michel has taught (pushed?)
me to look beyond the historical interpretations of the biblical text to which
I seem naturally inclined, and for this I am grateful. Walter's Graduate
Seminar on Biblical Hebrew Poetry was one of the finest courses I took
during my graduate studies career; I intend to continue research in this
area of scholarship, convinced that close attention to the variety of poetic
devices promises the reward of deeper understanding of the biblical text.
Thanks also to Professor Theodore Hiebert of McCormick Theological
Seminary for graciously agreeing to serve on my dissertation committee.
Special thanks are due to my advisor and dissertation supervisor, Christ
Seminary-Seminex Professor of Old Testament Ralph W. Klein. His work
ethic and commitment to his students is worthy of emulation. Even during
his busy years as Academic Dean at LSTC, Ralph always had time not
only to meet with me to discuss my progress in the program, but also to
supervise independent studies and read critically whatever I submitted to