Major Prophets

Abstract

Major Prophets Christopher T. Begg, Joseph E. Jensen, Thomas Hieke, Fred W. Guyette, and Martin Kessler 1006. [Isaiah] Valerie Briegeman, "'I Will Make Boys Their Princes': A Womanist Reading of Children in the Book of Isaiah," Womanist Interpretations, 311-27 [see #1176]. In this essay, B. adds to a growing body of literature on children in the world of the Bible with a discussion of how, in the Book of Isaiah, Israel is symbolically portrayed as a wayward child who needs punishment for correction. In this connection, B. highlights the danger of a literal reading of the text that may lead contemporary readers to conclude that the Bible condones child abuse. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 1007. [Isaiah] Hallvard Hagelia, "Divine Election in the Book of Isaiah," Studies in Isaiah, 67-95 [see #1262]. In this survey I seek to demonstrate that divine election is a central theme in the Book of Isaiah. Election is expressed there sometimes with certain particular terms, but very often in other ways as well, i.e., without recourse to specific election terminology. Election theology is found throughout the book, in all three of its main parts, and is connected with other central Isaianic theological themes, e.g., creation theology. The theme is mostly used in a positive sense, being elected, but also sometimes negatively, of non-election. Those elected in Isaiah include Abraham, David, the promised land, the people itself, Jerusalem, the Remnant, and even non-Israelites, who are all somehow divinely elected, or better, appointed. The election theme in the Book of Isaiah is colored by the different editorial and historical stages of the book's development represented by eighth-century Proto-, sixth-century Deutero-, and fifth-century Trito-Isaiah, which relates the theme to the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem and the temple, even as it seems to downplay the promise of the land now that the people are back in that promised land. Overall, the election theme contributes to the theological and literary coherence of the Book of Isaiah. Even though specific election terminology is not equally distributed throughout the book, with such terminology being more prominent in Deutero- and Trito- than in Proto-Isaiah, election theology itself is clearly present in all three segments of the book. [Adapted from author's summary and conclusion, pp. 94-95—C.T.B.] 1008. [Isaiah] Knut Holter, "Some Interpretative Experiences with Isaiah in Africa," Studies in Isaiah, 181-99 [see #1262]. In this essay, H. explores how the Book of Isaiah is understood and applied by translators, pastors, and preachers, as well as academic scholars in an African context. He starts with an examination of the translation of the song of the seraphs in Isa 6:3 into the Malagasy language as a case that illustrates how chosen words from the target language become embued with a new meaning in the context of a Bible translation. Turning next to popular interpretations of the Bible, he discusses two English Bible translations that come with notes reflecting an African perspective, i.e., the Roman Catholic The African Bible [End Page 314] and the Prayer and Deliverance Bible. Of these, the former, he finds, reflects a Roman Catholic interpretative strategy of inculturation with a positive stance toward African traditional religion as well as socio-critical concerns. The latter translation, for its part, features 190 pages of study notes and a 160-page postscript by Dr. Daniel Olukoya (Nigeria) and is influenced by Pentecostalism and a focus on spiritual warfare and the power of God. In a comparative study of the two Bibles, H. examines how various texts of the Book of Isaiah are interpreted in each as referring to prostitution and witchcraft. He concludes that the two Bible translations reflect a tendency to read the Bible "both out of" and "into" (p. 195) traditional African religious and cultural experiences and concerns. In his consideration of African Hebrew Bible exegesis, H. surveys doctoral dissertations, monographs, articles and anthologies concerning the Book of Isaiah. He concludes that some of these studies focus on parallels between the Book of Isaiah and Africa, whereas others fail to acknowledge the context of...