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The offering aspect of Israel's cultic observance in the book of Malachi

This study looks into Malachi’s emphasis on the offering aspect of the cult within
Israel’s prophetic heritage. Malachi presents a different attitude toward offerings than his
pre-exilic predecessors who spoke harshly against the cult focusing on religion’s ethical
and spiritual aspects.
The thesis of this study argues that pre-exilic anti-cultic statements do not
diminish or reject the cult per se but a corrupted form of it conditioned historically and
religiously. Malachi’s post-exilic pro-cultic emphasis presents a different context in
which criticism of the cult’s corrupted usage takes place while remaining positive toward
the cult itself. The key to understanding properly both anti- and pro-cultic attacks on
different aspects of the cult is the covenantal relationship with Yahweh.
Malachi’s positive attitude toward offerings balances the anti-cultic prophetic
heritage of Israel showing that there was never a rejection of the cult, only
misunderstandings and misuses of it. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M. Th. (Old Testament)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/3197
Date02 1900
CreatorsWickham, Andrew Daniel
ContributorsVan Heerden, Schalk Willem, Turkanik, Andrzej (Dr.)
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeDissertation
Format1 online resource (xi, 256 leaves)

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