This redaction-critical study interprets the reasons for judgment in Amos 2.6-16 in the literary context of each of the redactional compositions which, I argue, underlie the Amos-text. It is proposed that the Amos-text is both a theological work and a tractate of social criticism. In the earlier redactional compositions the dominant reasons for judgment concern mistreatment of the weak. In the later redactional compositions these are overshadowed, in terms of length of text, by more theological reasons for judgment; however, these strengthen, rather than weaken, the force of the older reasons for judgment. After an introductory first chapter, Chapter 2 describes and defends the methodology employed, and establishes the terminology of “composition” and “redactional composition”. Chapter 3 makes proposals concerning the compositional history of the Amos-text, attributing each unit to one of four redactional compositions. This chapter builds on the significant works of Hans W Wolff and Jörg Jeremias, following one or both of them at many points. Chapter 4 then describes the structural, linguistic and thematic coherence of each redactional composition in order to confirm the likelihood of its existence, and to note perspectives or significant themes relevant to the interpretation of the whole composition, including 2.6-16. Chapter 5 addresses two issues pertinent to the interpretation of Amos 2.6-16. Firstly, the relationship of Amos 2.8 to verses in the so-called Book of the Covenant is explored in the light of current scholarly views concerning its dating; its relationship to verses in Deuteronomy 24 is also considered. Secondly, the question of whether 2.10-12 exhibits Deuteronomistic influence is examined. Chapter 6 then conducts an exegesis of Amos 2.6-16 in each of the redactional compositions underlying the Amos-text, with particular attention paid to the reasons for judgment. The final chapter summarises the argument, draws conclusions, and notes possible areas of future study.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:514827 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Hamborg, Graham |
| Publisher | University of Nottingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/10859/ |
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