This diploma thesis focuses on the character of the biblical Moses and his presentation in extrabiblical sources. It attempts to analyse the oldest extra-biblical sources, with regard to their autors, historic background, and literary and contemporary context. They are then compared with the Old Testament tradition and on the basis of common motives and topics it tries to find or refute their interconnection and clarify their influence in the formation of the picture of Moses. Besides these sources, it also deals with their interpretation by contemporary researchers, compares these approaches with the quest for the historical Moses, the problems related to the interpretation of Mosess life and his role relating to the xodus.

This dissertation focuses on how the theme of the image of God (Gen 1 :26-27) is seen and developed in the Pentateuch. The image of God in man (Gen 1 :26-27) has been interpreted in various ways. Predominant opinions have changed over time from the Early Jewish interpretation to the present period. Today there is a wider range of opinion regarding the image of God than ever. This dissertation follows a biblical-theological approach from a Reformed tradition of Genesis 1 :26-27, thus starting with an examination of 1 :26-27 in the context of Genesis 1 where the key words, pronouns and the Ancient Near Eastern concept of the image of God are examined. Genesis 1 :26-27 is examined in the context of Genesis 2-11 and we discover that the image of God in Genesis 1:26-27 is both moral and relational in perspective: it involves moral likeness to God and a relationship between God and man like that between parent and child. The theme of the image of God is traced in both narrative and legal material of the law; certain features of the law suggest that defining God-likeness is at least one goal of the law. Some laws are based on moral God-likeness and others are not based on inherent morality. but on the relational aspect of sonship. The theme image of God is also seen in the New Testament, where Christ is the perfect expression of the image of God. He is the Son of God and morally, he is like the Father. Through his death on the cross, believers are individually adopted in God's family and they become his children. They are to be morally like him. Through sanctification, the Church is being renewed into the image of God. Believers are called to be like Christ. They are to imitate Christ's moral-likeness and submission to the Father. / Thesis (M.A. (Old Testament))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

D.Litt. et Phil. / This thesis combines Targum studies with Judaic studies. First, secondary sources were examined and independent research was done to ascertain the historical process that took place in the compilation of extant Pentateuchal Targums (Fragment Targum [Recension P, MS Paris 110], Neofiti 1, Onqelos and Pseudo-Jonathan). Second, a framework for evaluating Jewish exegetical practices within the age of formative Judaism was established with the scrutiny of midrashic texts on Genesis 1: 26-27. Third, individual targumic renderings of Genesis 1: 26-27 were compared with the Hebrew Masoretic text and each other and then juxtaposed with midrashic literature dating from the age of formative Judaism. Last, the outcome of the second and third step was correlated with findings regarding the historical process that took place in the compilation of the Targums, as established in step one. The findings of the summative stage were also juxtaposed with the linguistic characterizations of the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon Project (CAL) of Michael Sokoloff and his colleagues.The thesis can report the following findings: (1) Within the age of formative Judaism pharisaic sages and priest sages assimilated into a new group of Jewish leadership known as ‘rabbis’. Under the direction of these scholars, Pentateuchal Targums were collectively and purposefully redacted for use in liturgical, educational or halakhic contexts. This finding counters the alternative view that priestly groups remained distinct from rabbinic circles until the fourth century C.E. and that priests alone were responsible for the compilation of Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. (2) The analysis of midrashic literature revealed different modes of exegesis used by Tannaim and Amoraim, thus providing information on the time and context wherein midrashic passages were compiled. When midrashic passages were then juxtaposed with individual renderings of Genesis 1: 26-27, it became possible to obtain more specific information on the dating and purpose for which extant Pentateuchal Targums were compiled. (3) The comparison of targumic renderings of Genesis 1: 26-27 with the Hebrew Masoretic Text and each other challenges the assumption that all extant Targums were compiled for the Synagogue. In Fragment Targum and Neofiti 1, haggadic rendering goes together with the popular Aramaic dialect used in Synagogue services, while the use of Standard Literary Aramaic employed in the context of halakhic decision-making characterizes the literal rendering of Targum Onqelos. The use of different dialects in Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (PJ) in conjunction with an expansive rendering of Genesis 1: 26-27, which concurs with rhetorical arguments of Palestinian Amoraim in the Palestinian Talmud and Genesis Rabbah, may be an indication that PJ was used for educational purposes.

Julius Wellhausen is known as the father of the Classical form of the source hypothesis. The purpose of this thesis is to examine Wellhausen‘s life, his greatest works and his influences on the study of the Pentateuch, including observing the process that paved the way for him to become the bearer of this title. Lastly, whether his source hypothesis has any relevance with the study of the Pentateuch in this day and age will also be answered. In the first chapter the role of Old Testament, critics like Spinoza, Simon, Astruc, De Wette, Hupfeld, Reuss, Kuenen and Graf will be examined. They all played a part in establishing the source hypothesis to which Wellhausen gave its final form. The era of the Enlightenment got momentum in the beginning of the nineteenth century. This movement also played a major role in creating the environment in which a critical examination of the Bible and its sources could be done. Wellhausen was influenced by this new way of thinking and was helped by the findings of other Old Testament critics that preceded him. In chapter two, his student life and the role of his teacher Heinrich Ewald will be examined. One of Wellhausen‘s aims was to write a history of Israel. To execute this he required sources. In chapter three, the first chapter (Genesis) of his book, Die Composition des Hexateuchs will be examined to get an idea of the method he used in the recognition, grouping and dating of the sources. The sources he identified in Genesis were the Yahwist, Elohist, Jehovist and Q (book of the four covenants and later called the Priestly source). Wellhausen used these sources to construct a history of Israel. In Chapter four an examination of his Geschichte Israels up to the beginning of the Christian era will be done. His greatest work was most certainly, his Prolegomena zur Geschichte Israels and in chapter five this masterpiece will be examined with special emphasis on the first part, namely Geschichte des Kultus. After Wellhausen has compared the different sources with each other, he came to certain conclusions. During the religion of Israel there was a development that can be traced from the earlier sources of the Yahwist(J), Elohist(E) to Deuteronomy(D) and finally to the Priestly Source(P). Early sources indicate that the worship of Israel was a spontaneous and free willing act. There were no rules regarding the place of worship, sacrifice, the sacred feasts and the clergy. In Deuteronomy this have now changed and laws were introduced regarding these aspects which the Israelites should adhere to. In the Priestly Source these laws are now assumed. From the outcome of these findings, it was clear for Wellhausen that the Priestly Source is the youngest of the sources. Therefore P should be dated in the exile or post-exilic period. Chapter six is a summary of Wellhausen‘s source hypothesis and how his source hypothesis assisted other scholars during their own research and findings. This study will close with a modern view on his source hypothesis and its relevance for today. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Old Testament Studies / unrestricted

The composition of Joshua 3 and 4 forms the main focus of this study. Although Joshua 3 and 4 have been the subject of many studies, there have been no satisfactory explanation of the many contradictions and incoherence in these chapters. Apart form the literary problems regarding the composition of Joshua 3 and 4, some challenging historical questions arise from the study of these chapters. Therefore, this literary study of Joshua 3 and 4 will not also involve some broader literary questions like the position of the book of Joshua in the Canon, but it will also attempt to answer historical questions about Israel`s past. My hypothesis is that that the final text of Joshua 3 and 4 is the result of several redactions. The original narrative of the Jordan crossing forms the main part of these chapters. This original deuteronomistic narrative was originally part of a Deuteronomistic History that encompassed Deuteronomy, Joshua, and some parts of 1 and 2 Samuel as well as the books of 1 and 2 Kings. The Deuteronomistic History originated in the exile, and was the subject of major editing up to the Persian era. Joshua 3 and 4 reflects the process of the formation of the Pentateuch. The original deuteronomistic narrative of the Jordan crossing was subsequently supplemented by a post-priestly narrative which enhanced the miracle of the crossing. This supplement probably took place when the priestly composition (Ex-Num) was joined to the deuteronomistic composition (Deut-2 Kon) as part of an compromise between rival priestly groups. The book of Deuteronomy was eventually incorporated in the foregoing books (Ex-Num) to form a Pentateuch. As a result of this process, the book of Joshua was cut off from Deuteronomy and became a post-Deuteronomic book. This explains not only the affinities and differences between Joshua and Deuteronomy, but also the peculiar position of the book of Joshua in the Canon. The narrative of the twelve memorial stones (Joshua 4) forms part of an etiological formula, found throughout Joshua 1-12. These etiological reference points reflects the lists of the returning exiles and the builders of the Jerusalem`s walls in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Furthermore, these etiological references reflects the borders of the post-exilic Israel. Joshua 4 is the post-exilic Israel`s way of interpreting the pre-exilic conquest narratives in Joshua 1-12 in order to make sense of their present situation. There are also references to the post-deuteronomistic emphasis on many sanctuaries (which probably served to legitimize the Samaritan Temple at Mount Gerizim. The book of Joshua is not to be classified as history. This study enhances the hypothesis that the book of Joshua embodies the ideology of post-exilic Judaism. In its final form, the book probably served as an attempt to bring a compromise between rival priesthoods and rival ideologies. Although the book had pre-exilic (deuteronomistic) origins, it was subsequently edited to function in a post-exilic context when the people of Israel were facing a new future with new possibilities. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Old Testament Studies / unrestricted

This thesis will consider the possibility of an epistemological process described in the narratives and teaching of the Pentateuch and the Gospel of Mark. The specific nature of this epistemological process will be explored upon the priorities constrained by the texts themselves. While the epistemological objectives are not always perspicuous to the reader of the canon, error is more clearly diagnosed in these narratives. This thesis then investigates the epistemological process by looking primarily at where characters of the narratives 'get it wrong' according to the narrative's diagnosis. Primacy appears to be given in these texts to heeding the authenticated and authoritative voice first, and then enacting the authoritative guidance in order to see what is being shown; in order 'to know'. Errors occur along the same boundaries. Failure to heed the authoritative voice creates a first order of error, while failure to enact the guidance yields a second order of error. We begin at the fore of the canon working through these Pentateuchal texts as they are presented to the reader. In the first chapter, the necessity of this current study will be defended. As well, we will survey various attempts at describing a 'biblical epistemology' and their deficiencies and/or methodological shortcomings. Chapter 2 will advance the case that Genesis 2-3 actually yields sufficient epistemological categories which resemble the rest of the Pentateuchal descriptions of error in more than superficial ways. Genesis 2 is analyzed as paradigmatic for proper epistemological process while Genesis 3 is paradigmatic of error. It is upon the boundary of the authenticated voice that error is assessed in the Garden of Eden. These patterns of error are lexically and conceptually reverberated in the stories of the patriarchs and Joseph. Chapter 3 then looks at how these features discovered in Genesis are interwoven in the reader's mind as they come to the stories regarding Moses' prophetic authentication, Pharaoh's errors, and eventually Israel's own errors. The errors of Balak with Balaam in Numbers are considered as further reason to believe that this epistemological process is not reserved for Israel. Chapter 4 explores the unique connections between Israel's Deuteronomic reflections and the creation narratives of Genesis. The fifth chapter leaps to the Gospel of Mark to discern whether or not any of these patterns from the Pentateuch remain in the Gospel narrative. In the final chapter, the fruit of our theological reading is brought forward to interact with current epistemological theories (mostly in analytic philosophy). These contemporary epistemologies are found wanting to describe anything like what we found in the scriptures. Implications are then drawn for theological prolegomena and praxis.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:48:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ADEMIR_RIBEIRO_CR.pdf: 699258 bytes, checksum: 3adc53be5fd57956ab8fcd865958c121 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-09-06 / This dissertation as its objective a short analysis of the polemic discourse of Alvaro Reis, as seen in part of one of his works, The Caldaic Origins of Bible. This text was initially written as a polemic debate with José Campos Novaes, a scholar of the times. We mean to analyze the first chapter, dealing with authenticity of the first five chapter of the Bible known as Pentateuch. Since our analyses has the Bible and its relation with the protestant context, as base of the discourse, we discuss the coming of the Protestants to the country, its cultural, political and religious context, as far as it is a par of Alvaro Reis s life. The research included his functions as minister and preacher of Brazilian Presbyterian Church. Through the readings of the work mentioned above, and one of his other words, The Spiritism, both part of his polemic discourses, we found the means of his function as a polemist and his refutations. / Este trabalho tem como objetivo fazer uma breve análise do discurso polêmico, de parte de uma das obras de Álvaro Reis, intitulada, As Origens Caldaicas da Bíblia, obra originária de um debate polêmico travado com José de Campos Novaes, erudito da época. O objetivo é analisar o primeiro capítulo que trata da autenticidade dos cinco primeiros livros da Bíblia, conhecidos como Pentateuco. Como esta análise tem a Bíblia como objeto de base do discurso e seu contexto ligado ao Protestantismo, para atingir o objetivo foi necessário construir um capítulo sobre como e quando o Protestantismo foi inserido no País, e em que contexto cultural, político e religioso a Igreja Presbiteriana se estabeleceu no Brasil. E também se fez necessário um capítulo sobre a vida de Álvaro Reis, foi feito uma pesquisa de como exerceu sua função de pastor e pregador da Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil, e por meio de estudo e pesquisa em duas de suas obras, uma citada acima e a outra denominada Espiritismo, resultado de seus discursos polêmicos, verificou-se como desenvolveu sua função de polemista e como realizava suas refutações.

The present work intends to investigate the concept of blessing in the Old Testament, especially in the Pentateuch. The first part analyzes the general characteristics of the term to bless / blessing in the Hebrew Bible and looks at the etymology, the semantic field, the formulas, the gestures, rites and words of blessing. As blessing is the continuous and permanent activity of God in history, the chapter finishes with the concept of history in the ancient world. The second chapter makes an incursion into the characteristics of the ancient biblical society in the two big periods of pre-state Israel and Israel as a state. It studies the nomadic pre-history and the pre-state sedentary Israel paying particular attention to the social organization in families, clans and tribes. In the state period, it gives attention to the Deuteronomic reform and its consequences in the social and religious life of Israel. The third chapter presents the exegesis of selected texts. In the primeval history it looks at blessing in creation, and in the patriarchal history it searches for the strokes of blessing in the family and state context. It also deals with the priestly blessing in Numbers 6,22-27 with special attention to the cult, and with selected texts from Deuteronomy that connect blessing with covenant and endow it with conditionality. The last chapter presents a reflection about family religion and state religion in Israel, and studies the characteristics of blessing in both fields that interrelate not always without tensions- and articulate between them. / El presente trabajo pretende investigar el concepto de bendición en el Antiguo Testamento, especialmente en el Pentateuco. La primera parte analiza las características generales del término bendecir / bendición en la Biblia Hebrea y hace un recorrido por la etimología, el campo semántico, las fórmulas, gestos, ritos y palabras de bendición. Como la bendición es la actividad continua y permanente de Dios en la historia, el primer capítulo termina viendo el concepto de historia en el mundo antiguo. El segundo capítulo hace una incursión en las características de la sociedad bíblica antigua en los dos grandes períodos del Israel pre estatal y estatal. Estudia la prehistoria nómade y el Israel sedentario pre estatal dando particular atención a la organización social en familias, clanes y tribus. En el período estatal la atención se detiene particularmente en la reforma deuteronómica y sus implicancias en la vida social y religiosa de Israel. El tercer capítulo presenta la exégesis de textos elegidos. En la historia primordial mira la bendición en la creación, y en la historia de los patriarcas busca los trazos de la bendición en contexto familiar y estatal. Aborda también la bendición sacerdotal de Números 6,22-27 con especial referencia al culto, y textos escogidos del Deuteronomio que conectan la bendición con la alianza y la dotan de condicionalidad. El último capítulo es una reflexión teológica sobre la religión familiar y la religión estatal en Israel y estudia las características de la bendición en estos ámbitos que se interrelacionan no siempre sin tensiones- y se articulan entre sí.

This dissertation compares the family and marriage traditions of the Ashantis of Ghana and Ancient Hebrews. Some common features characterize the two societies, principal among which is the idea that having children is the key purpose of marrieage above love and intimacy. Others are the low status of the wife in the domestic context; endogamy rules based on consanguinity; and payment of bride price. However, the two traditions differ in important areas. For example, the Ashantis follow kinship system based on matrilineal descent, succession and inheritance and the girl child is preferred. The patriarchal system of the Ancient Hebrews invest all authority in the father and the male heirs is preferred. Other defining factor in Ashanti and Pentateuchcal marriage is their religion and belief systems. Much of the marriage traditions seem to be cultural references rather than religious imperatives binding on Christians today. / Old Testament & Ancient Near Eastern Studies / Thesis (M.Th.)

Asfår Asāṭīr, le « Livre des Légendes », est une réécriture araméenne du Pentateuque samaritain basée sur le targum, centrée sur Adam, Noé, Abraham et Moïse, et conclue par deux apocalypses. Sa langue est un précieux témoin de l’araméen samaritain tardif des Xè-XIè s. Ses nombreuses traditions haggadiques proviennent d’anciennes sources samaritaines, ou sont liées à la littérature juive et aux Histoires musulmanes des Prophètes ; elles révèlent un état encore fluctuant de la religion samaritaine. Beaucoup furent reçues comme canoniques par les Samaritains, qui attribuèrent l’œuvre, anonyme, à Moïse. Cette étude se propose d’établir une édition critique du texte araméen et une traduction tenant compte de ses commentaires arabes et hébreux, afin de rendre cette œuvre accessible à tout chercheur français ou européen. / Asfår Asāṭīr, the "Book of Legends", is an Aramaic rewriting of the Samaritan Pentateuch focused on Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses, and whose framework is the Targum; it ends with two Apocalypses. Its language is a rare witness of Late Samaritan Aramaic, in the 10th and 11th centuries. The text brings together traditions from ancient Samaritan sources, or related to Jewish literature and to Muslim stories of the Prophets. It shows that Samaritan religion was still in flux in the early Middle Age. Many of its haggadic traditions became canonical among Samaritans who attributed this text to Moses.This study proposes to establish a critical edition of the Aramaic text and to provide a translation taking into account its Arabic and Hebrew commentaries, so as to make this work accessible to all French or European researchers.