History & Geography

Abstract

History & Geography Christopher T. Begg 844. [Isaiah 1–39; Hosea] Shawn Zelig Aster, "Israelite Embassies to Assyria in the First Half of the Eighth Century," Bib 97 (2016) 175-98. A. argues that under Jeroboam II the kingdom of Israel sent ambassadors on an annual basis to the Assyrian empire, and explores the implications of these contacts for the interpretation of Isaiah 1–39 and Hosea. These diplomatic contacts are based on points raised by F. M. Fales regarding the Nimrud Wine List 4 (ND 6212) ("A Fresh Look at the Nimrud Wine Lists," Drinking in Ancient Societies: History and Culture of Drinks in the Ancient near East—Papers of a Symposium Held in Rome May 17-19, 1990 [ed. L. Milano; Padova, 1994] 361-80), whose importance for biblical studies has hitherto not been recognized. The recipients of the wine rations in this list are to be identified as ambassadors of vassal kingdoms, among them Samaria, who visited Assyria to pay tribute. [Adapted from published abstract—J.M.H.]. 845. [Revenge of Akkad; Nahum] Peter R. Bedford, "Assyria's Demise as Recompense: A Note on Narratives of Resistance in Babylonia and Judah," Revolt and Resistance, 55-75 [see #1178]. Babylonia and Judah both suffered much at the hands of their Assyrian imperial overlords, and both developed "narratives of resistance" in the face of Assyria's oppression that featured the theme of "talonic recompense" to be exacted from Assyria for wrongs committed. However, this theme is developed in rather different ways in the materials studied by B., i.e., the "Revenge of Akkad" and other texts associated with Nabopolassar of Babylon and the biblical Book of Nahum. Comparing the two corpora, B. concludes (p. 75): "Talonic recompense might satisfy Nabopolassar's and Nahum's sense of justice, but the political motivations and outcomes for each were very different. Nabopolassar's texts reflect a successful rebellion that sought to develop its political advantage into an empire, quashing Assyria along the way. Nahum represents the voice of the subaltern who savours the demise of Assyria as an act of recompense but who does not [End Page 258] obtain political power or even release from subjugation. These texts serve different political communities and promote competing political interests—Nabopolassar in the service of royal legitimation and the expanding state; Nahum in the service of the legitimation of Yhwh's rule and to promote an identity disconnected from political power. Both the Nabopolassar texts, especially the "Revenge of Akkad," and Nahum draw on the trope of recompense to articulate a legal framework to characterize the harms done by Assyria and to sanction the retaliation in response. Both make use of the demise of Assyria to develop a "narrative of resistance" that serves to "highlight the terrible injustices of the current regime and create a sense of shared identity and righteousness among the opposition" (so J. A. Goldstone). That these narratives are so different obviously reflects the social location of their writing, but it also reflects the shared cultural importance of the talonic principle of recompense and the creative ways in which it could be applied to suit these writers' needs." See also ##852, 855.—C.T.B. 846. [Numbers 20–21, etc.] David Ben-Gad HaCohen, "Biblical Criticism from a Geographer's Perspective: 'Transjordan' as a Test Case," Formation of the Pentateuch, 687-709 [see #1181]. There are three extant depictions in the Bible of the route of the journey that led the Israelites to the war with Sihon, in Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Judges. The route includes a list of toponyms and events common to the three depictions. Since this is a journey record, it can be compared to parallel journey records. Such a comparison clearly shows that the toponym list of the Sihon journey is distinct from the P list appearing in Numbers 33, portions of which are also to be found in Numbers 20-21. The Sihon journey account likewise differs from the list of toponyms leading to the peak of Pisgah. These differences among the lists suffice to demonstrate their different authorships in different documents. Despite the difficulties of locating the...