God and Violence in the Prophets

Abstract

This chapter seeks to formulate a hermeneutical framework for making sense of the numerous instances of violence in the prophetic books. Six recent proposals are introduced that are helpful in constructing a hermeneutical framework for interpreting the violence that is so central in the prophetic rhetoric. For instance, recent developments in reading the prophetic literature through the lens of trauma theory help to explain the graphic occurrence of violence. Moreover, a fruitful avenue to explore is the link between violence and identity formation, according to which violence serves as a rhetorical strategy for drawing boundaries between the self and the other. In conclusion, this chapter makes some suggestions for overcoming the legacy of violence in the prophetic rhetoric, for example resisting the violent rhetoric used by the prophets by highlighting some of the alternative metaphors for God that are also found in the prophetic books.