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)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/3197 |
| Date | 02 1900 |
| Creators | Wickham, Andrew Daniel |
| Contributors | Van Heerden, Schalk Willem, Turkanik, Andrzej (Dr.) |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | 1 online resource (xi, 256 leaves) |
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