Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2001 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research is a study of the promise of land in the Old Testament. Special emphasis is given to
what theological-ethical implications the nature, conditions, and purpose of the promise of land
entail - what it meant to the Israelites and what it means to us today. The scope of this thesis is
the Old Testament in its final form (here the 39 books of the Protestant Bible). However, the
study is mainly based on the narratives and prophetic literature, as the promise of land is mostly
found in these texts. A careful study of the natures of the four land covenant texts of Genesis 15
and 17 (Abrahamic covenant), Exodus 19-24 (Sinaitic covenant; cf. Dt 5:6-18; 12-16),2 Samuel
7:5-29 (Davidic covenant), and Jeremiah 31:31-34 (new covenant) will show that Yahweh's
promise (gift) of land to Abraham and his descendants (the Israelites) in the Old Testament is
conditional. Possession and continual possession of the promised land will depend on the
Israelites' observance of the stipulations of the land covenants. In order to possess and
continually possess the land, the Israelites must worship Yahweh exclusively, live a holy life,
pursue righteous and justice, share the land equally among themselves, and care for the land
according to the will of the giver. Failure to observe these stipulations will result in losing the
land (exile). Israel failed and was exiled. But that was not the end. The promise of land is also
the promise of restoration (to the land) if the Israelites return to the Lord. Return, they did, and
were restored to the promised land. All these conditions apply (some of them analogously orland
metaphorically) to us today as we live on this planet earth, God's creation-gift. The purpose of
the promise of land is for blessing - both material blessing of wellbeing and spiritual blessing of
knowing and worshipping Yahweh God. This blessing is for both the Israelites and the whole
world. By promising a land to the Israelites, God wants to use the promised land and its people
as a standard measure for other lands and nations. In this way, the promise of land is not so much
a privilege as it is a responsibility. On the one hand, the promise of land gives the Israelites, for
that matter, other peoples as well, a spatial-ethnical identity, which entails the need to respect
every people's ethnic identity and their "God-given" land. On the other, the promised land is not
exclusively for the Israelites, it is a place where other peoples (aliens) may also live (Eze 47:21-
23). This inevitably challenges us to strive towards a peaceful coexistence and sharing of
resources including land regardless of color, creed, and language. The promised land, for that
matter, the whole earth, is God's collective gift to the whole humanity. Therefore every human
has a right to the land. The earth, God's creation-gift, if shared and managed according to the
will of the giver, is enough to provide a home to everyone and meet his or her needs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing bestudeer die landbelofte in die Ou Testament. Spesiale klem word gele op
die teologies-etiese implikasies ten opsigte van die aard, voorwaardes en doel van die belofte -
en die betekenenis daarvan vir die Israeliete en vir ons vandag. Die bestek van hierdie tesis is
die finale vorm van die Ou Testament (hier die 39 boeke van die Protestantse Bybel), maar die
fokus val op die verhalende en profetiese literatuur, waarin die landsbelofte meeste aangetref
word. Noukeurige analise van die aard van die vier land-verbond tekste van Genesis 15 en 17
(Abraham-verbond), Eksodus 19-24 (Sinai-verbond; vgl. Deut 5:6-18; 12-16),2 Samuel 7:5-29
(Dawid-verbond), en Jeremia 31 :31-34 (nuwe verbond) toon dat Jahwe se belofte (gawe) van
land aan Abraham en sy nakomelinge (die Israeliete) in die Ou Testament voorwaardelik is. Die
huidige en toekomstige besit van die beloofde land vereis dat die Israeliete die voorskrifte van
die landverbond nakom. Om die land te kan eien en die eienaarskap daarvan voort te sit, moet
die Israeliete Jahwe uitsluitlik aanbid, 'n gewyde lewe voer, reg en geregtigheid nastreef, die land
eweredig met mekaar dee! en omsien daama ooreenkomstig die wil van die gewer. Om te faal in
die nakom van hierdie opdragte sal veroorsaak dat die land weerhou word (eksiel). Israel het
misluk, en is in ballingskap gevoer. Dit was egter nie die finale woord nie. Die belofte van land
impliseer ook die belofte van herstel (restorasie van die land) indien die Israeliete hulle tot die
Here sou terugkeer. Dit het hulle gedoen, en die beloofde land is aan hulle terugbesorg. Hierdie
voorskrifte geld ook vandag vir ons (sommige weI analogies en/of metafories) waar ons die
planeet aarde, God se skeppingsgawe, bewoon. Die doel van die landsbelofte is seen, beide as
materiele welvaart en geestelike seen in die ken en aanbied van Jahwe God. Hierdie seen geld
vir die Israeliete soos ook vir die ganse wereld. Deur land te beloof aan die Israeliete, bepaal
God dat dit gebruik moet kan word vir alle inwoners as 'n standaardmaatstaf ook vir ander lande
en nasies. Op die manier is die beloofde land nie slegs 'n voorreg nie maar ook 'n verantwoordelikheid.
Enersyds bied die beloofde land aan die Israeliete, soos ook vir ander mense, 'n
ruimtelike etniese identiteit, wat meebring dat alle etniese identiteite en hulle "Godgegewe"
grond respek verdien. Andersyds geld die landsbelofte nie uitsluitlik vir die Israeliete nie, dit is
'n ruimte waar ook ander mense (vreemdelinge) mag woon (Eze 47:21-23). Dit stel onvermydelik
aan ons 'n uitdaging tot vreedsame naasbestaan en verdeling van hulpbronne insluitend grond,
benewens verskille in kleur, godsdiens en taal. Die beloofde land, trouens die hele aarde, is God
se kollektiewe gawe aan die hele mensdom. Daarom is elke persoon geregtig op land. Die
aarde, God se skeppings gawe, is toereikend om vir elkeen 'n tuiste te verskaf en aan sy of haar
behoeftes te voldoen, mits dit gedeel en bestuur word volgens die wil van die gewer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52558 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Fachhai, Laiu |
| Contributors | Bosman, H. L., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old and New Testament. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 126 pages : illustrations, maps |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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