Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 527

The formation of the OT canon and its literature continues to capture the curiosity and creativity of scholars. Studies in recent decades have seen it as a matrix of supplementing prior texts, composing new texts that respond to them or include/modify their content, and a mutual editorial alignment in the direction of a unified corpus. Isaiah and the Twelve is a collection of essays presented at a colloquium in 2016 at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, which explores such developments in the two corpora as five categories: (1) Isaiah and the preexilic portions of the Twelve; (2) Isaiah and the later layers of the Twelve; (3) development of shared themes; (4) a special lecture concerning the goal of exegesis in the church; and (5) a synthetic conclusion.In the first section, Franz Sedlmeier studies connections between Hosea and Isaiah. The naming of children and other thematic connections likely show dependence on Isaiah by Hosea. These connections afford a link between the major prophets and the Twelve, suggesting editorial alignment of Hosea and intentional placement. Uwe Becker probes the social critiques of Amos and Isaiah, concluding that neither those of Isa 5 or 10 are authentic to Isaiah but are incorporations of Amos’s material. They are incomprehensible without the subsequent call narrative in chapter 6, suggesting a Sitz in Literatur instead of a Sitz im Leben. James Nogalski argues that Zion as wife/mother and as city in Isa 40–66 and Zeph 3:11–20 stem from the common Persian milieu albeit with important differences and that direct borrowing is difficult to validate, though the editors of the corpora likely had mutual awareness.In the second section, Burkard M. Zapff concludes that the redactors of the Twelve selected texts from Deutero-Isaiah and recontextualized them. The dearth of such references is due to Deutero-Isaiah’s highly situated framework. Richard J. Bautch offers a coherent reading of Zech 11 by tracing intertextual development of “the shepherds” and “breaking” from Isa 10, Neh 10, and Jer 11:1–17. James Todd Hibbard, after exploring potential connections between Zech 14 and Isa 56–66, opines that the important differences between the developments of themes do not support dependence. Christopher B. Hays furthers his thesis about the Josianic origin of Isa 24–27 by intertextual comparison with Zephaniah (excluding 3:9–20). Verbal parallels between the two are specific and impressive, reflecting the late seventh century BC and perhaps common authorship.In the third section, Joachim Eck studies reverberations of the Song of the Vineyard (Isa 5:1–7) in Isaiah (7:23–25; 27:2–6) and Micah (1:6; 7:1–7 and 8–20). Later authors use the song either to emphasize retributive (and repeated) judgment from Yhwh or the possibility of repentance and prosperity. Carol J. Dempsey argues that the portrayal of divine kingship in Isaiah and the Twelve reflects the androcentrism and approval of retributive justice of its time, which must be removed from the modern practice of leadership if the world is to avoid destruction. Archibald L. H. M. van Wieringen identifies the text-immanent reader in the Oracles against the Nations in Isaiah, Amos, and Zephaniah as a self-critique of Jerusalem. Therefore, a more functional label for these texts is “Oracles of Self- Criticism Using the Nations and Jerusalem/Zion.” Hugh Williamson traces the development of the Day of Yhwh in Isaiah and the Twelve, concluding that the progression in both corpora is adequately explained by internal developments rather than external dependency.In the fourth section, Rudolf Voderholzer argues that the church needs the benefits of the medieval fourfold hermeneutic, albeit in a modern form that recognizes the use of historical exegesis. Eck notes in the fifth section the broad agreement that the material shared between Isaiah and the Twelve does not stem from their historical personages. Such material was incorporated both by redactional activity and ongoing theological conversations.Isaiah and the Twelve offers a fine sampling of scholarly discussion of intertextuality and the growth of the biblical corpus. Explanation of texts by developments and interconnectedness within the inner-biblical tradition is a welcome trend, and the higher threshold for claims of dependency manifests a maturing methodology. Perhaps the most instructive essays are those by Bautch and van Wieringen, whose contributions most clearly offer an exegetical payout. The syntheses of Nogalski and Williamson also warrant mention, as they dialectically illuminate commonalities and differences in the expression of their respective themes.Nonetheless, issues remain. First, one notes the diverse use of terminology (reference, allusion, echo, citation, use, etc.) without established criteria despite recent refinements in the literature. Authors who describe complex textual interdependency between Isaiah and the Twelve tend to speak more of “references” (e.g., Eck), whereas the more methodologically reserved (e.g., Nogalski) favor explanations via common milieu or “echoes.” The problem of validation comes to the fore. An essay devoted to method and terminology would have helped immensely. Second, questions of dependency require relative dating of redactional layers, an enterprise boasting marked disagreement and divergent rationales. This inhibits the synthesis of any two essays. Third, Christian interpreters must always ponder the point at which criticism undermines scriptural authority. Dempsey’s feminist critique of divine kingship is an extreme case where divine retribution excludes itself from modern application forthwith. Less extreme are contentions concerning the editorial history of superscriptions or the whole book of Micah from its inception. Such aspects of criticism are not inherently un-Christian, but the requisite metaphysical preconditions and consequences must be carefully considered in each case. Finally, the plausibility/persuasiveness of theories vary greatly. Grand redactional theories have appeal but also a higher burden of proof than exegesis of discrete textual units.Isaiah and the Twelve provides an interesting conversation partner for those interested in the complex unity of scripture. Gone are the days of explaining a textual unit without recourse to the growing biblical corpus/theological milieu. Agree or disagree, interaction with the new model of redaction criticism demands a deeper appreciation of scripture’s diverse modes of expression and of the multifaceted prophetic vision that speaks to all ages

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• הכל הבל in Ecclesiastes 1

  Open Access•Jaco Gericke•HTS Teologiese Studies /…•2021

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