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The shepherd metaphor is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to kings or leaders of the Israelite community. It belongs to the larger group of pastoral metaphors which are used to convey ideas about governance and politics. This is especially apparent in how the Hebrew prophets have utilized pastoral imagery in their rhetoric about politics. Specifically, the imagery occurs in Micah 2:12-13; 5:1- 5; 7:14-20; Isaiah 40:9-11; 44:24-45:7; 56:9-12; 63:7-14; Jeremiah 3:15-20; 10:19- 21; 22:18-23; 23:1-8; 25:30-38; 31:10-14; Ezekiel 34 and Zechariah chs. 10, 11, 13. This study is an analysis of these passages. It investigates the political processes depicted in the text and describes the political ideas that they express. In order to show that pastoral metaphors are powerful rhetorical devices for revealing political ideas, Chapter 1 provides a survey of metaphorical theories that are relevant to the exegesis of the shepherd texts. Particularly useful is Janet Soskice’ notion of ‘metaphorical modeling’ which leads to the overarching metaphorical assumption in the use of pastoral metaphors, that ‘Political governance is shepherding.’ New meanings are created by mapping out the structures of shepherding onto the domain of governance. Secondly, the chapter also examines the sociological background of pastoral metaphors in their wider Mesopotamian context to show that the shepherd metaphor is a political metaphor. Lastly, it explores ideas in political theology that might enhance the exegesis of the text from the perspective of politics. Particularly, the study draws upon the conceptions in political theology proposed by Oliver O’Donovan, Walter Brueggeman and Dale Launderville, who all base their theories on the notion of the ‘authority’ of God. O’Donovan suggests four organizing concepts for doing political theology, namely, salvation, judgment, possession, and praise. On the other hand, Brueggeman intimates a reading that uses the ‘politics of Yahweh vs. politics of Pharaoh’ as a paradigm. As for Launderville, he explores the idea of authority through the notion of legitimation by the gods and by the people. Each of the subsequent chapters (2-6) will offer a detailed exegetical analysis of the prophetic books containing shepherd texts. These close readings result in variety of political implications based on the interactions of three main players, Yahweh who is the owner of the flock and sometimes also portrayed as the Great Shepherd, the human shepherd, and the flock. The web of relationship and interaction of these three players affirms the centrality of the ‘authority of God’ in the politics of the shepherd texts. Moreover, five aspects of politics arise and consistently thread their way across the five chapters. Primary among these is [1] the different manifestations of the dynamics of relations of power between different entities such as: Yahweh, the Great Shepherd and the supreme king of the flock, the human shepherd-rulers who are considered as vicegerents and are under the jurisdiction of the Great Shepherd, and the flock who are subordinate to both the Great Shepherd and the human shepherd-rulers. Consequent to this notion are the following ideas: [2] the need for the human-shepherd to be attentive to divine sanction; [3] the human-shepherd as the chief redistributor of material and symbolic goods in the community; [4] the shepherd-leader, whether referring to Yahweh or to the human shepherds, as the centralizing symbol in the community; and [5] justice as a central aspect of governance within the shepherding-governance framework.

Text in Afrikaans / In hierdie studie word veral gewerk met twee begrippe naamlik Teologie en Ideologie. Ideologie word gedefinieer as ’n potensieel gevaarlike stel samehangende idees van hoe ’n bepaalde samelewing onder alle omstandighede en tye gestruktureer behoort te word en wat nie teenstand duld nie. Teologie word gedefinieer as nadenke oor God, sy persoon, verhouding en optrede teenoor mense. Teologie is egter nie immuun teen ideologiese invloede nie. Hierdie punt word geïllustreer uit die geskiedenis van die Judeërs aan die einde van die monargale tydperk aan die hand van twee teksgedeeltes naamlik 2 Samuel 7:1-16 en Jeremia 7:1-15. Teenoor die vaste geloof in die Dawids- en Sionstradisies, wat in besonder verwoord word in 2 Samuel 7:1-16, wat die volk onder alle omstandighede en te alle tye teen vyande sal beskerm, word die stem van die Jeremia gehoor. Jeremia pleit vir ’n terugkeer na die basiese waarhede van die Jahwistiese geloof naamlik omgee, liefde en regverdigheid en geregtigheid teenoor alle mense. Die verwerping van Jeremia se boodskap en die vasklou aan die twee ideologies gekleurde tradisies, lei direk tot die Babiloniese ballingskap wat byna die einde van die Judeërs beteken het. Ook vir die Christelike kerk is die versmelting van ideologie en teologie altyd ’n wesentlike gevaar. This study focused on two important concepts namely Theology and Ideology. Ideology is defined as a potentially dangerous set of integrated ideas according to which a certain society is supposed to be structured at all times and situations and no opposition is tolerated. Theology is defined as thoughts about God, his person, relations and acts towards people. Theology can very easily and unknowingly display certain aspects of Ideology. This point is illustrated from the history of the Judean people at the end of the Monarchical period from two texts namely 2 Samuel 7:1-16 and Jeremiah 7:1-15. Against the firm belief in the David- and Ziontraditions, which is expressed in 2 Samuel 7:1-16, which protected the Judeans against any threat and any enemy, we hear the voice of the prophet Jeremiah. Particularly in Jeremiah 7:1-15 the prophet Jeremiah is pleading for a return to the basic principals of the Yahwistic religion namely, care, love and justice to all people. The rejection of the message of Jeremiah and the choice for the two ideologically coloured traditions has led to the Babylonian exile that almost caused the end of the Judeans. This blending of ideology and theology is also potentially a big threat to the Christian church. / This study focused on two important concepts namely Theology and Ideology. Ideology is defined as a potentially dangerous set of integrated ideas according to which a certain society is supposed to be structured at all times and situations and no opposition is tolerated. Theology is defined as thoughts about God, his person, relations and acts towards people. Theology can very easily and unknowingly display certain aspects of Ideology. This point is illustrated from the history of the Judean people at the end of the Monarchical period from two texts namely 2 Samuel 7:1-16 and Jeremiah 7:1-15. Against the firm belief in the David- and Ziontraditions, which is expressed in 2 Samuel 7:1-16, which protected the Judeans against any threat and any enemy, we hear the voice of the prophet Jeremiah. Particularly in Jeremiah 7:1-15 the prophet Jeremiah is pleading for a return to the basic principals of the Yahwistic religion namely, care, love and justice to all people. The rejection of the message of Jeremiah and the choice for the two ideologically coloured traditions has led to the Babylonian exile that almost caused the end of the Judeans. This blending of ideology and theology is also potentially a big threat to the Christian church. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D.Th. (Old Testament)

This dissertation examines the complex story of Korah’s rebellion found in Numbers 16 and 17 utilizing narrative critical theory. This study is first grounded in the context of historical questions surrounding Israel’s emergence as a nation and the narrative’s potential for historical veracity. Many narrative critics do not feel the theoretical necessity to establish the connection between an autonomous text and a historical context. This study does seek to collaborate with historical research, but only as permitted by the data. Though only biblical and tangential evidence supports the historicity of the wilderness sojourn, the narrative accounts should not be repudiated because of philosophical bias or the lack of corroborative extra biblical evidence. Especially important to a literary interpretation of this narrative is the work of source critics who during their own enquiries have identified the fractures and transitions within the story. In considering the text of Numbers 16 and 17, the hermeneutical approach employed in this study carefully endorses a balanced incorporation of the theoretical constructs of the author, text, and reader in the interpretive enquiry. From this hermeneutical approach recent literary theory is applied to the texts of Numbers 16 and 17 focusing particular attention on three narrative themes. First, the narrator’s point of view is examined to determine the manner that information is relayed to the reader so as to demur the rebellion leaders. Though features of characterization are often meager in biblical narratives, there remains sufficient data in this rebellion story to support the aims of the Hebrew writers and does not undermine the reader’s engagement with the story’s participants. Finally, the three separate plotlines in this narrative sustain the dramatic effect upon the readership holding attention and judgment throughout and beyond the story. In sum, this dissertation highlights the powerful contours of this ancient narrative by appropriating the theoretical work of narrative critics. The strategies employed in the writing and editing of this story uniquely condemn the rebels and at the same time serve to elevate God’s chosen leader Moses. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Th. (Old Testament)

This dissertation examines the complex story of Korah’s rebellion found in Numbers 16 and 17 utilizing narrative critical theory. This study is first grounded in the context of historical questions surrounding Israel’s emergence as a nation and the narrative’s potential for historical veracity. Many narrative critics do not feel the theoretical necessity to establish the connection between an autonomous text and a historical context. This study does seek to collaborate with historical research, but only as permitted by the data. Though only biblical and tangential evidence supports the historicity of the wilderness sojourn, the narrative accounts should not be repudiated because of philosophical bias or the lack of corroborative extra biblical evidence. Especially important to a literary interpretation of this narrative is the work of source critics who during their own enquiries have identified the fractures and transitions within the story. In considering the text of Numbers 16 and 17, the hermeneutical approach employed in this study carefully endorses a balanced incorporation of the theoretical constructs of the author, text, and reader in the interpretive enquiry. From this hermeneutical approach recent literary theory is applied to the texts of Numbers 16 and 17 focusing particular attention on three narrative themes. First, the narrator’s point of view is examined to determine the manner that information is relayed to the reader so as to demur the rebellion leaders. Though features of characterization are often meager in biblical narratives, there remains sufficient data in this rebellion story to support the aims of the Hebrew writers and does not undermine the reader’s engagement with the story’s participants. Finally, the three separate plotlines in this narrative sustain the dramatic effect upon the readership holding attention and judgment throughout and beyond the story. In sum, this dissertation highlights the powerful contours of this ancient narrative by appropriating the theoretical work of narrative critics. The strategies employed in the writing and editing of this story uniquely condemn the rebels and at the same time serve to elevate God’s chosen leader Moses. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Th. (Old Testament)