JSEM ABSTRACTS
___________________________________________________________________________
P.J. Botha
The measurement of meaning – an exercise in field semantics
Journal for Semitics 1/1 (1989) pp. 3-22
Abstract:
The eight words for Torah in Psalm 119 are presented in this article as an example of a lexical field. The associative environment of each of the eight words are compared with one another by reducing the psalm to kernel sentences and quantifying information about subject, object, modus, etc., of the verbs used in connection with each of the Torah words. The relative distances between points representing the words in the semantic space are computed by using the generalised distance formula of solid geometry. The results of this attempt at spatial differentiation between and representation of Torah words in Psalm 119 are also discussed.
___________________________________________________________________________
T.J.D. Bothma
Computerised syntactic data bases in the Semitic languages
Journal for Semitics 1/1 (1989) pp. 23-38
Abstract:
This paper deals briefly with the necessity for the development of syntactic data bases in the Semitic languages. At the hand of three examples, taken from Hebrew, Arabic and Ugaritic, it is shown that the Semitic linguist has no reliable source for syntactic research other than the text itself, but, due to its size, relevant data is not readily obtainable. Computerised syntactic data bases are proposed as a solution. The data structure of such a data base is discussed, as well as certain aspects of the analysis and retrieval programmes. The use of such data bases as research instruments and in an information system is also briefly discussed.
___________________________________________________________________________
W.T.W. Cloete
The concept of metre in Old Testament studies
Journal for Semitics 1/1 (1989) pp. 39-53
Abstract:
The paper begins with a brief overview of the variety of views among Old Testament scholars on Hebrew verse and its versification system, and of some causes of the conflict in opinion. It is claimed that all Old Testament scholars have a concept of metre, but rarely define it. The following factors are given as reasons why the concept of metre should be explicitly defined: (1) The large quantity of verse in the Hebrew Bible. (2) The foreignness of Hebrew verse. (3) The nature of the Hebrew versification system and of the evidence concerning it. After a survey of definitions of the general concept of metre from outside the field of Old Testament studies, the following working definition is formulated: Metre is a type of versification system, consisting of an abstract scheme which numerically regulates certain properties of the linguistic form of verse. This is then compared to a number of definitions given by Old Testament scholars, and the deficiencies of those definitions are pointed out. Six common misconceptions about metre among Old Testament scholars are listed and a few implications of the proposed definition for the Hebrew versification system might have syntactical as well as phonological constraints and might still qualify as a metre, at least as far as its colometrical component is concerned.
___________________________________________________________________________
P.A. Kruger
On non-verbal communication in the Baal epic
Journal for Semitics 1/1 (1989) pp. 54-69
Abstract:
This paper is concerned with the significance of certain aspects of non-verbal communication in the Baal epic. At the beginning a short definition is offered with regard to this term and then a few passages are selected from the epic to illustrate howthis mode of communication ca serve as an accompaniment or substitution for verbal communication. Passages are treated in which indicators are given pertaining to divine rank. Other passages also investigated entail KTU 1.2 I 20ff, 1.6 II 6-12 and 1.5 VI 11-22. In each of these instances a translation of the text is presented with philological notes.
___________________________________________________________________________
Hannes Olivier
Die mensbeeld in die skeppingsverhale van Genesis
Journal for Semitics 1/1 (1989) pp. 70-87
Abstract:
The
image of humans in the creation narratives of Genesis (Afrikaans)
An analysis is given of the meanings of the
two expressions characterizing man’s function in the creation narratives, viz
subdue (kbš) the earth and have dominion (rdh)
over the animals. Since kbš also seems to convey the
meaning of “to prepare (the land)” or “to cultivate (the fields)” and rdh embodies the meaning of “shepherding
(the flocks)”, it can be argued that these two expressions reflect the two
basic modes of existence in Ancient Israel, namely that of the pastoralist on
the one hand, and that of the agriculturalist on the other. This is probably
the type of scenario that one would expect reading the creation narratives. The
origin of the image of man is not to be found in or to be identified with
ancient royal ideology, but rather with that of the ancient farmers and
shepherds of
__________________________________________________________________________
G.T.M. Prinsloo
Die identifikasie van die goddelose in Habakuk: ‘n literêre benadering
Journal for Semitics 1/1 (1989) pp. 88-107
Abstract:
The
identification of the wicked in Habakkuk: a literary approach (Afrikaans)
The little book of Habakkuk is well known for the many problems it presents to the exegete. The most important problem concerns the identity of the wicked in Habakkuk. In each pericope, with the exception of 1:5-11, reference is made to the wicked. The question arises: Who is the wicked? Eight solutions to the problem, in which the term is applied to persons or groups dated between the 7th and 2nd centuries B.C., are discussed. The conclusion is drawn that none of these is entirely satisfactory, the reason being that historical solutions are sought for a primarily literary problem.
In the next section a careful literary analysis of the book is given. Attention is given to matters such as the demarcation of pericopes, the surface and deep structure of the book, as well as a short overview of the contents.
All of this leads to the conclusion that the pericopes are arranged thematically. The reference to the wicked has a literary function, not a historical one. The results of this study confirm that careful literary analysis can and indeed should aid the modern exegete in his interpretation of the Old Testament.
___________________________________________________________________________
E.J. Smit
The Tell Siran inscription. Linguistic and historical implications
Journal for Semitics 1/1 (1989) pp. 108-117
Abstract:
The Tell Siran inscription, one of the major inscriptions of the Ammonite language, is quite easily readable, and the translation is questionable in the case of two words only, viz ’šwh and w’šht, the question being whether they should be interpreted as verbs or as nouns. It seems better to explain them as nouns, following in a chain of nouns as a description of the achievements of king Amminadab mentioned in the beginning of the inscription. The striking similarity of this text with the royal achievements mentioned in Ec 2 corroborates the idea that this text sings the praise of the king with regard to his agriculturally related achievements. The paleographic data represented in the inscription as well as the historical information concerning the kings of the Ammonites points to a dating of c. 600 B.C. This inscription presents a symbol of the separate existence of the Ammonites as a nation and as a kingdom at these times.
__________________________________________________________________________
C.H.J. van der
Merwe
The vague term “emphasis”
Journal for Semitics 1/1 (1989) pp. 118-132
Abstract:
The problem addressed concerns the shortcomings of the undefined, as well as psychologically defined, uses of the term “emphasis” for the description of word/syntagm order, pendens constructions and some particles in Old Hebrew. In the light of the recent debate in theoretical linguistics, the narrower term “focus” is preferred, which term operates on the semantic level and the definition of which provides a verifiable theoretical framework for the description of the above-mentioned constructions.
___________________________________________________________________________
H.F. van Rooy
The structure of the Aramaic treaties of Sefire
Journal for Semitics 1/1 (1989) pp. 133-139
Abstract:
The problem of the structure of the Aramaic treaties of Sefire remains unanswered in existing studies dealing with these treaties. This paper submits a hypothesis constructed on especially the content and placement of I Sefire C and II Sefire C and the design of III Sefire. The probable structure of these treaties is: introduction, list of gods, curses, document clause and stipulations.
___________________________________________________________________________
H.J. Dreyer
Frank Charles Fensham – in memoriam
Journal for Semitics 1/2 (1989) pp. 145-155
Abstract:
On 26 July 1989 Charles Fensham suddenly passed away. His untimely death is deeply mourned by his colleagues, friends and students. In this tribute to Charles Fensham a survey is given of his own contributions toward the study of Ugaritic.
___________________________________________________________________________
F.C. Fensham
Ugaritic
Studies and
Journal for Semitics 1/2 (1989) pp. 156-173
Abstract:
The aim of this article is to give a broad survey of Ugaritic studies as it developed through the years and to summarize the South Arican contribution to it. It must immediately be clear that it is impossible to do real justice to the numerous studies on Ugaritic since 1930. Ugaritic studies from its beginnings has been a fertile field of research. Even up to the present time it is still very much alive with several Ugaritic institutes, and various courses in Ugaritic are offered at a number of universities. It is thus out of the question to give a full survey of this vast field. We are only going to touch on various interesting results of Ugaritic research and try to sketch their development.
___________________________________________________________________________
A.F. Conradie
The so-called standard titulary of the Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 B.C.) inscriptions
Journal for Semitics 1/2 (1989) pp. 174-192
Abstract:
The so-called standard titulary of
Ashurnasirpal is focussed upon in this study. Brinkman’s terminological
description “standard titulary” is replaced with “summary of conquered
territories” as used by Schramm. All the extant inscriptions, especially those
from other provenances than
___________________________________________________________________________
J. Cook
Toepassings op die gerekenariseerde databasis van die Bybelse Dooie See-rolle
Journal for Semitics 1/2 (1989) pp. 193-203
Abstract:
Applications
of the coputerised data base of the
The aim of the paper is to introduce the
newly formulated project (which has the published Qumran Biblical Scrolls as
subject matter) to the scientific world. The CATSS data base was used as point
of departure for the development of the
___________________________________________________________________________
Izak Cornelius
The
garden in the iconography of the Ancient Near East: a study of selected
material from
Journal for Semitics 1/2 (1989) pp. 204-228
Abstract:
This study discusses a selection of
iconographic material depicting Egyptian gardens in the
___________________________________________________________________________
J.H. Hunter
The irony of meaning: intertextuality in Hebrew poetical texts
Journal for Semitics 1/2 (1989) pp. 229-243
Abstract:
The deconstructionist understanding of texts strongly alludes to the disseminative effect which is the logical consequence of its view of textuality. However, while agreement prevails about the distribution of meaning through different texts, another side of the intertextual coin is emphasized by certain deconstructionist exponents who argue for the importance of the individuality or originality of expression in separate works. These two sides of intertextuality should probably be upheld together to do justice to the creative abilities of individual authors in texts.
Hebrew (i.e. biblical) poetical texts supply excellent examples of intertextuality. They borrow material from different traditions and refashion these in their poetical phrasing to fit the purposes of their individual authors. When interpreting these texts, the interpreter should take into account the intertextual borrowing in the text and also study the individual phrasing of the text to find meaning in the individual text.
__________________________________________________________________________
L.M. Muntingh
Problems
in connection with verbal forms in the Amarna letters from
Journal for Semitics 1/2 (1989) pp. 244-256
Abstract:
Long ago Albright and later his student,
Moran, pointed out that in various instances the scribe of cAbdi-Heba of
___________________________________________________________________________
H.W. Nel
Die Levitiese stede: kultiese sentra of staatsadministratiewe setels?
Journal for Semitics 1/2 (1989) pp. 257-271
Abstract:
The
Levitical cities: cultic centres or administrative seats of the state?
(Afrikaans)
The premise of this paper is that the Levitical cities should not be regarded as cultic centres, but they should rather be looked upon as legislative and judiciary centres/seats manned by non-priestly Levitical civil servants. These Levites also provided for the cultic needs of the surrounding Israelite tribes. Most of the problems regarding the Levitical cities can be accounted for should this hypothesis be accepted. The Josian reform is then no longer a religious reform only, but it forms in fact a crucial element in the abolition of the power of the non-priestly Levites in the state organisation. Ezechiel’s denunciation of these Levites is not due to their maladministration of the cult, but rather to their mismanagement of state affairs. Because the Josian reform caused large-scale unemployment in the ranks of the non-priestly Levites, it became one of the prime reasons for their unwillingness to return from exile.
___________________________________________________________________________
D.N. Pienaar
Die stad Jerigo en die boek Josua
Journal for Semitics 1/2 (1989) pp. 272-286
Abstract:
The
city
Discoveries made during archaeological
excavations are silent witnesses of a distant past. Often these witnesses are
relevant for Biblical Studies, but almost as often the interpretation thereof
is quite relative. The excavations at
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
A
re-interpretation of a
Journal for Semitics 1/2 (1989) pp. 287-298
Abstract:
The aim of this study is of a dual nature:
i. The re-interpretation of the existing transliteration and translation of this document, using recent supporting evidence and related studies by contemporary scholars.
ii. Using
the results of the reinterpretation to corroborate, elucidate and supplement
what has already been stated by scholars regarding the socio-economic structure
of ancient
The following matters were considered:
i. Interest paid and the rate of interest
ii. The use of epitheta with names of lenders, borrowers and witnesses.
iii. The months in which loans are more frequent and possible reasons for this.
iv. The reasons for specifying the day on which a loan was made.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.C. Lübbe
Hebrew lexicography: A new approach
Journal for Semitics 2/1 (1990) pp. 1-15
Abstract:
From surveys describing the development of Hebrew lexicography, from the first known Hebrew dictionary of Saadia Gaon to the most recent revisions of Koehler-Baumgartner, it appears that little has changed regarding methods of arranging the entries and determining and reflecting meaning. In our commonly known lexica words are listed alphabetically and original meanings are assigned on the strength of etymological evidence. From the original meanings additional meanings are extrapolated.
In the project, an Old Testament Dictionary of Semantic Domains, a new approach is attempted in which words of closely related meaning are grouped together (and distinguished from each other) and etymologising disregarded. To demonstrate this method of lexicography, the verb פקד is subjected to a componential analysis and eleven different meanings are proposed.
___________________________________________________________________________
M.J. Meinster
A little song for the despairing: A song of hope by Fadwa Tuqan
Journal for Semitics 2/1 (1990) pp. 16-21
Abstract:
This paper deals with a short political poem by the contemporary Palestinian poetess Fadwa Tuqan. It aims to show how the poetess manages to fuse form and theme to convey a positive message for the future. The text itself has been taken as point of departure.
__________________________________________________________________________
J.A. Naudé
Die toepasbaarheid van GB-teorie op nie-lewende
tale: Evidensie oor die interpretasie van klitiekverskynsels in Bybels Aramees
Journal for Semitics 2/1 (1990) pp. 22-43
Abstract:
The
applicability of GB-theory for dead languages: Evidence on the interpretation
of clitic constructions in Biblical Aramaic (Afrikaans)
In this study the applicability of GB-theory for the description and explanation of the syntax of a dead language is investigated. Three aspects of clitic constructions in Biblical Aramaic are investigated: the restriction by clitics on right branching of bound constructions, the presence of the dummy casemarker and coreference between a clitic and a complement. It is shown that mechanisms of GB-theory can be used for the description of clitic constructions in Biblical Aramaic and can supply illuminating explanations for clitic constructions, which were meagerly noted in the past.
___________________________________________________________________________
L.J. Prockter
“His yesterday and yours today” (Sir 38:22): Reflections on Ben Sira’s view of death
Journal for Semitics 2/1 (1990) pp. 44-56
Abstract:
Ben Sira’s continuity with Old Testament wisdom is well known. It is also conventional, with Hengel (1974), to label him as a resolute opponent of Hellenism, an axiom contested in this paper. On the questions of a good life, fitting manner of death, mourning and value of a good name Ben Sira conforms to Jewish tradition, although unlike his grandson and translator he disbelieves in the world to come. Ben Sira has an unusually enlightened approach to medicine: in cases of chronic sickness he values quality of life more highly than its preservation. As a monist he accepts life and death as part of God’s providential order, an idea closely akin to the Stoic notion of natural law. The conclusion is that Ben Sira is a unique figure, combining Jewish piety with the best of popular Hellenistic philosophy.
___________________________________________________________________________
E.J. Smit
The
Journal for Semitics 2/1 (1990) pp. 57-71
Abstract:
The accepted dating of the
__________________________________________________________________________
C.H.J. van der Merwe
An adequate linguistic framework for an Old Hebrew linguistic database: An attempt to formulate some criteria
Journal for Semitics 2/1 (1990) pp. 72-89
Abstract:
The adequacy of a linguistic framework is relative to a number of factors, e.g. the needs, the aims and the presuppositions of its users. In the case of Old Hebrew the realities of the old Testament text must also be taken into consideration, especially its long and complicated history and literary diversity. An adequate framework for an OH linguistic database should therefore at least be (1) as complete as possible, (2) as explicit as possible, (3) hierarchically structured, (4) flexible and expandable and (5) should allow codation and retrieval of (hypotheses regarding) sub-corpora.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.F.J. van Rensburg
Characterizing a poetic line in Young Babylonian: A metrical and grammatical approach
Journal for Semitics 2/1 (1990) pp. 90-99
Abstract:
In this article Ludlul 2:44 (BWL 40-41) is analysed by means of two complementary methods, namely a metrical (syllabic) and a grammatical (morphological and syntagmatic). The diversity within, and value of each approach is demonstrated by applying the insights contributed by various scholars.
___________________________________________________________________________
C.A.P. van Tonder
Die strukturele opbou van die Atra-hasis-epos in die tweede kolom van die eerste tablet
Journal for Semitics 2/1 (1990) pp. 100-111
Abstract:
The
structural composition of the Atra-hasis-epic
in the second column of the first tablet (Afikaans)
This paper is concerned with the structural composition of the text. The text betrays a symmetry which probably reflects an oral structure, i.e. one used in oral recitation. Attention is given in this investigation to the stylistic and structural techniques used by the poet. It appears that stylistics emphasise the semantic content of the text. To this end the poet makes use of a wide variety of chiastic parallelisms so structuring the poem in a pivotal pattern.
__________________________________________________________________________
P.S. Vermaak
Die
rol van die groot families in die
Journal for Semitics 2/1 (1990) 112-124
Abstract:
The
role of large families in the
Large, extended families played a prominent
and important role in the social and cultural life of
___________________________________________________________________________
Y. Dadoo
The short stories of Najib Mahfuz: a general survey up to 1982
Journal for Semitics 2/2 (1990) pp. 129-137
Abstract:
The literary strategies of Mahfuz, the celebrated Egyptian author and Nobel laureate for 1988, are traced vis-à-vis short narrative fiction over the four decades during which his works have been published. In the premodernistic phase of the thirties, many traditional narrative features occur. Some motifs, techniques and themes found here are exploited more profitably later.
The sixties represent his transitional phase. Earlier, social and metaphysical themes are embedded in conventional protrayals. Later, surrealistic models occur. The climax is reached with modernistic works first published between 1969 and 1971. Strong links with the cinema and theatre are forged in them. The quality of subsequent narratives upto 1982 deteriorates progressively. Generally, his finest works deserve the appraisal of international literary scholarship.
___________________________________________________________________________
A.A. da Silva
Ba‘al’s obsession with a palace of his own
Journal for Semitics 2/2 (1990) pp. 138-155
Abstract:
This article endeavours to find answers to
three questions about the so-called “building”-motif in the Ba‘al cycle (texts
KTU 1.1-1.4). To the first question (Why didn’t Ba‘al have a house of his own?)
the answer is given that Ba‘al, not having a house, reflects the early stage of
his integration into
___________________________________________________________________________
P.A. Kruger
Symbolic acts relating to Old Testament treaties and relationships
Journal for Semitics 2/2 (1990) pp. 156-170
Abstract:
In the Old Testament, as was the case in the other Ancient Near Eastern cultures, people most often resorted to symbolic acts to convey certain emotional, religious and juridical notions. This contribution investigates one of these modes of communication from the Old Testament juridical sphere, viz. the significance of symbolic acts in the constitution and dissolution of treaties and relationships. In this regard special attention will be given to the symbolic role of the body/parts of the body, clothing and certain symbolic activities.
___________________________________________________________________________
B.A. Nieuwoudt
Parallelle Bybeltekste op rekenaar: ‘n kragtige
navorsingshulpmiddel vir die tekskritikus
Journal for Semitics 2/2 (1990) pp. 171-190
Abstract:
Parallel
Bible texts on the computer: a powerful research aid for the text critic
(Afrikaans)
The textual critic has to contend with several practical problems when different texts of the Old Testament have to be compared with each other, specifically regarding the great volume of text to be processed and the alignment of annotations of the different texts. In a pilot project it proved possible to alleviate some of these problems by storing a number of Bible texts in separate databases, and aligning the texts to each other by linking each text to the Masoretic text on the basis of formal equivalence.
The texts in the different databases can also be annotated regarding different grammatical, semantic and text-critical criteria. These annotations can then be used in searches and print-outs.
A relational database program is used to align the texts, and to conduct searches on all the databases loaded at that stage. The searches and the output thereof can include all the fields in all the databases.
___________________________________________________________________________
S.L. Stassen
“Die eindes van die aarde” in Jes. 40:28a, 41:5a, 41:9a
Journal for Semitics 2/2 (1990) pp. 191-202
Abstract:
“The
ends of the earth” in Isaiah 40:28a, 41:5a, 41:9a (Afrikaans)
Although the phrase “ends of the earth”
occurs ten times in Isaiah 40-66, this study is restricted to only three of
these occurrences, namely Isaiah 40:28a, 41:5a and 41:9a. In these three
occurrences the noun qāsâ is used in the status
constructus form together with hā’ārεs. The object of this study is to
establish the exact meaning of this phrase within its context. Aspects
considered are the following: (a) The form-critical context; (b) the category
of the phrase, whether it refers to a cosmic, geographical or socio-political
entity; (c) the relationship in which it occurs, either to Yahweh, Israel, the
prophet, or even the heathen nations; (d) the role and function of the phrase
within its context. My conclusion is that this phrase, although it appears to
be the same in all three occurrences, each time differs, firstly semantically,
and also in its role within the context in which it is being used.
___________________________________________________________________________
A. F. Conradie
The Kurkh monolith of Ashurnasirpal II
Journal for Semitics 3/1 (1991) pp. 1-10
Abstract:
The Kurkh Monolith is considered to be one of the oldest Ashurnasirpal II monuments, perhaps a war-diary. The aim of this article is to discuss issues pertaining to its contents, i.e. the Nairi campaign, the land Habhu and redactional issues (editing breaks) regarding the inscription. Broadly speaking, the so-called 2nd Nairi campaign is a mirror-image of the one to Nirbu-Nairi in 882 B.C.
___________________________________________________________________________
M.H. Maltz
Bernard Malamud’s “The lady of the lake”: The American Jew as romantic hero?
Journal for Semitics 3/1 (1991) pp. 11-20
Abstract:
This paper analyses “The lady of the lake,” a story from Malamud’s The magic barrel, which presents the problem of Jewish identity within a highly original literary context. The focus of the paper is on the contrast between romance (shown here as illusion) and reality, on the disparity between the way that the protagonist, an American Jew, sees himself and the way that he is presented by the narrator and perceived by the reader. Romance will be considered both as a specific literary genre and in a more general sense in to order to show that, in both instances, Freeman is not the romantic hero he envisions himself to be. On the contrary, he is treated ironically and comically rather than heroically. Within the context of the literary romance, Freeman fails to live up to the prescribed code of honour. Freeman is also depicted as an alienated man who has wasted his life. And finally, he is portrayed as a Jew who denies being Jewish and, by doing so, loses the woman he loves. Freeman’s reasons for repudiating his Jewish identity and the contrasting attitudes of the American Jew and the European Jew will be analysed in the conclusion of the paper.
___________________________________________________________________________
L.M. Muntingh
The role of the scribe according to the Mari texts: A study of terminology
Journal for Semitics 3/1 (1991) pp. 21-53
Abstract:
After more than 50 years have passed since
the discovery of the Old Babylonian city of
In previous studies the ancient scribe was considered primarily as a secretary, though, as such, he became quite influential, especially when he was the secretary of a king. The numerous references in the Mari texts to scribes, by name, enable us to determine their role more specifically.
By way of introduction the following
matters are briefly discussed: the discovery of the Mari archive; the training
and social status of the scribe; the tablets and writing. The main section
begins with the terminology for “scribe” after which the role of the scribe is
determined in the light of the Mari texts, divided into three literary genres,
viz. economic and administrative texts, legal texts and letters. The legal
texts highlight the scribe’s legal position. It becomes clear that the scribe
in the
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
Morphology and morphosyntax of the verb in the Amqi Amarna letters
Journal for Semitics 3/1 (1991) pp. 54-84
Abstract:
The aim of this study is:
i. To establish the location of the region known as Amqi and to determine its relation to and to distinguish it from the region known as the Beqac.
ii. To investigate the morphology of the verb, i.e. a study of the person morphemes and the verbal stems, as used in the Amqi letters.
iii. To investigate the morphosyntax, i.e. the relationship between the formation of the verb (its morphemes) and the syntactical meaning thereof.
iv. Using the observations from ii and iii above in a comparison with the morphology and morphosyntax of the verb in the Amarna letters from other regions.
v. In conclusion, to attempt to characterise the Amqi Amarna letters with respect to the verb and to determine the stage of pidginization of creolization reached and represented by these letters.
___________________________________________________________________________
P.S. Vermaak
The relevance of administrative documents for writing ancient Mesopotamian history
Journal for Semitics 3/1 (1991) pp. 85-104
Abstract:
The royal inscriptions are mostly used as
the only real historical data in the writing of Mesopotamian history, but there
are also other documents which can justifiably be used for interpreting
historical facts, such as omen texts, royal hymns, letters, seals as well as
administrative documents. It is the aim of this article to show the relevance
of administrative documents in writing the history of ancient
___________________________________________________________________________
P.J.J. van Huÿssteen
Assyrianisms in the Emar letters
Journal for Semitics 3/2 (1991) pp. 109-121
Abstract:
Since Walter Mayer wrote his Untersuchungen zur Grammatik des Mittelassyrischen in 1971, interest has grown in Assyrianisms as opposed to morphological forms of Babylonian or Core Akkadian nature. It is especially with reference to publications such as Heuhnergard’s The Akkadian dialects of Carchemish and Ugarit (1979), and his The Akkadian of Ugarit (1989), as well as Von Soden’s article Assyriasmen im Akkadischen von Ugarit und das Problem der Verwaltungssprache im Mittannireich that the idea of searching for Assyrianisms in the Emar texts found inspiration. Although a relatively small contribution that covers a small corpus of texts, this article shows that many of the Assyrianisms encountered in the phonology and morphology of Ugarit Akkadian are also present in the Emar letters, thus indicating the close relationship of scribal traditions at these two places.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
Once
again Turam-Ili: an
Journal for Semitics 3/2 (1991) pp. 122-128
Abstract:
In 1986 Marc van de Mieroop published an enlightening article in JCS 38/1 on Turam-Ili, an Ur III merchant. Much of the material presented by him substantiates findings of the present writers research on Ur III loan documents from this period. This article considers both loans with and loans without interest in the Ur III period, and how these relate to loans from the bala system as presented by Van de Mieroop. Also considered are the sealing of documents and the person or persons by whom the document was sealed. Some minor corrections to Van de Mieroop’s article are proposed, such as more attestations elsewhere of the name Turam-Ili, as well as the names of months, such as the month ezen-dŠul-gi, which occur in the different calendars of this period. It is concluded that there are references elsewhere to a Turam-Ili who functioned in some or other capacity related to the temple administration. Cognisance is taken of the fact that other documents of the Šu-sin 3 to Ibbi-sin 3 period substantiates various details in the Turam-Ili archive and vice versa.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.H. Kroeze
Die chaos van die “genitief” in Bybelse Hebreeus
Journal for Semitics 3/2 (1991) pp. 129-143
Abstract:
The
chaos of the “genitive” in Biblical Hebrew (Afrikaans)
The first problem regarding the Biblical Hebrew “genitive” – as understood in traditional (classical) grammar – is a terminological one. If the term genitive is used to denote a surface structure case, it can not be used for Hebrew. The term “construct state” is not used consistenly. The whole construction could be called the “construct-phrase”, in which the first element is the construct state and the second the post-construct. Other workable terms are semikut, nismak, and somek.
Traditional grammar uses the same name for different categories of genitives and vice versa. Different single categories are distinguished, and the main divisions of the categories differ extensively. Only the second element is usually named, although both elements fulfil a semantic role. The linguistic levels of morphology, syntax and semantics are mixed. The separation of these probably provides the best solution for the problem of the “genitive”.
___________________________________________________________________________
H.W. Nel
And who is David?
Journal for Semitics 3/2 (1991) pp. 144-155
Abstract:
Despite the numerous traditions that can be discerned in 1 and 2 Chronicles, the Chronicler never mentions any particular tradition, nor does he attempt to explain how he understood the congruity or parallelism between traditions. This paper will, therefore, attempt to point out how the Chronicler, by employing a particular tradition (namely that of Nehemiah), succeeded in combining and reinterpreting the histories of David and Nehemiah in order to sanctify and legitimate the restoration of the old Southern Kingdom. As a result the Chronicler activated or set in motion a particular pattern of thought concerning Davidic kingship and post-exilic secular leadership within the minds of the people of the former kingdom of the South, who found themselves in the throes of restoration. His representation and interpretive use of history allowed him to create and establish a new concept of the Davidic tradition. From this point David would be looked upon as the perfect, infallible king and statesman, the secular leader and the state builder par excellence. Although the deeds of the David of the Chronicler at times resemble those of the David of the Deuteronomist, there is a remarkable further resemblance that cannot be discarded as mere coincidence. This is as between the Chronicler’s presentation of David as the first true pre-exilic leader and king, the mighty and fearless warrior, the wise statesman and state builder, and that of Nehemiah the great post-exilic statesman, the dynamic builder and restorer of post-exilic Judah the Chronicler at no point in time, however, mentions Nehemiah by name.
___________________________________________________________________________
I. Swart
In search of the meaning of hamas: studying an Old Testament word in context
Journal for Semitics 3/2 (1991) pp. 156-166
Abstract:
The Hebrew word hamas in the Old Testament is most frequently translated as “violence”. However, this translation often does not do justice to the context in which the word is used. The virtually constant translation of hamas as “violence” in literature pertaining to the Old Testament, translations of the Bible and Hebrew lexicons is an example of the incorrect method of determining meaning and translation, whereby a single meaning is consistently allocated to a word. This method is based on the concept that a word has a so-called “original” meaning (“Grundbedeutung”) out of which all the meanings of the word are derived. A synchronic study of hamas shows that this word, because of its diversity of contexts, requires a much more nuanced translation. One of the problems of translating hamas as “violence” is this concepts modern-day connotation with physical force. However, the word hamas in the Old Testament also appears in the context of sin and injustice against God and one’s fellow-man, judicial affairs, structural violence and the theodicy problem.
___________________________________________________________________________
C.H.J van der
Merwe
Applied linguistics and the
teaching of Biblical Hebrew: not a bag of tricks, but a confrontation with
basics in teaching a foreign language
Journal for Semitics 3/2 (1991) pp.
167-187
Abstract:
Applied
linguistics does not provide a quick solution for problems encountered in the
teaching of Biblical Hebrew (BH) to theological students. It indicates, rather,
that most of the problems can only be addressed if proper scientific procedures
are followed. For this reason the aim of a particular BH course is defined as
explicitly as possible in the light of our view concerning the exact content of
the knowledge of BH. In this definition the needs and attitudes of the
learners, as well as the state of the art of the description of BH are also
taken into account. Hypotheses concerning procedures required to accomplish the
above-mentioned aim, and which take relevant findings in the field of foreign
language teaching into account, are then formulated.
___________________________________________________________________________
P.J.
Botha
The rhetoric function of
polarity in one of Ephrem the Syrian’s hymns on the Church
Journal for Semitics 3/2 (1991) pp.
188-201
Abstract:
___________________________________________________________________________
N.
Kolber
Zelda’s poetry – with an
emphasis on her love poetry
Journal for Semitics 3/2 (1991) pp.
202-209
Abstract:
Zelda
Shneorson-Mishkovski, a modern poetess from a religious background, born 1914
in the
___________________________________________________________________________
G.T.M. Prinsloo
Poetic conventions in an Old-Babylonian hymn to Ištar
Journal for Semitics 4/1 (1992) pp. 1-21
Abstract:
A general shortcoming in analyses of Akkadian texts is the tendency to restrict such undertakings to translations and philological notes. Only rarely is sufficient attention paid to detailed literary analysis of these texts. This shortcoming is especially apparent in the case of poetic texts. It is generally accepted that a number of specialised techniques, which play a major role in the interpretation, occur in poems. However, comprehensive analyses of poetic techniques in Akkadian poems are virtually non-existent. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive poetic analysis of an Old-Babylonian hymn to Ištar. Close attention is paid to the function of various poetic techniques on different levels of the text. The conclusion is reached that the interplay between these techniques should be taken into account when the poem is interpreted. The creating of patterns is found to be the dominant textual strategy in the poem.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
To pay or not to pay interest in ancient Nippur
Journal for Semitics 4/1 (1992) pp. 22-34
Abstract:
Owen (1982:4) expressed the hope that with
the aid of his publication of the NATN texts, scholars would be able to better
understand the complexity of the socio-economic history of
___________________________________________________________________________
H.J.M. van Deventer and P.J.J. van Huÿssteen
The orthography and phonology of the Akkadian texts from Hatti found at Ugarit
Journal for Semitics 4/1 (1992) pp. 35-50
Abstract:
In this article the Akkadian dialect of Hatti is studied, as it is manifested in the Akkadian texts unearthed
at
___________________________________________________________________________
P.S. Vermaak
Die posisie van die tempel in Mesopotamië
Journal for Semitics 4/1 (1992) pp. 51-80
Abstract:
The
position of the temple in
The structure of society in ancient
___________________________________________________________________________
P.A. Kruger
Yahweh and the gods in Hosea
Journal for Semitics 4/1 (1992) pp. 81-97
Abstract:
This contribution investigates (i) the
function of the polemics against the gods in the book of Hosea, (ii) the
polemical terms used and (iii) the spectrum of religious worship attacked. It
concludes that religious life in Hosea’s day was practised on three levels:
that of the family, region and state, of which the second and third levels were
heavily syncretized. To drive his message home in these circumstances, the
prophet employs the following rhetorical strategy: (a) He presents a
schematized view of
___________________________________________________________________________
H.W. Nel
Die Kronis se perspektief van God in 1 en 2
Kronieke
Journal for Semitics 4/1 (1992) pp. 98-113
Abstract:
The
Chronicler’s perspective of God in 1 and 2 Chronicles (Afrikaans)
The premise of this paper is that the author of 1 and 2 Chronicles (hereafter referred to as “the Chronicler”) based his perception of the quintessence of God on his understanding of certain traditions in the Old Testament. He could, therefore, be described as a traditionalist who interpreted and adapted well-known traditions concerning the history of Israel, especially that of the Southern Kingdom and the Davidic dynasty to portray his view of one people, one land, ruled by one God – in other words, a theocracy which he regarded as the only polity that could effect a complete restoration of all levels of society.
According to this hypothesis, the Chronicler regarded a theocracy as consisting of two core or main components: the God who rules his people and the people ruled by their God. The people as the changeable component of this theocratic relationship, while God, on the other hand, is the unchangeable component, the universal creator and ruler, God of the sabbath, the covenant and of his chosen people.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
Verbless sentences in the Amqi Amarna letters
Journal for Semitics 4/2 (1992) pp. 117-129
Abstract:
In this paper the aim is to describe the use of word orders, whether in the normal SPC (Subject-Predicate-Complement) word order or in deviations from it, in the verbless sentences found in the Amqi Amarna letters. This is an area of syntax which to date and to my knowledge has only been explored for the Byblos Amarna letters.
Finley’s study of word order in Syrian Akkadian (1979) and John Huehnergard’s study On verbless clauses in Akkadian (1986) are used as bases for the study.
The variations in word order in verbless sentences are analysed according to the different types of sentence, whether equational, locative or existential sentences, or the use of išu and bašu, and syntax of yānu/iánu.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.A. Burger
Amos: A historical-geographical view
Journal for Semitics 4/2 (1992) pp. 130-150
Abstract:
Different methods are used to span the gap
between texts and their historical settings. It is the intention of this
article to underline the importance of an indispensable tool in this respect,
namely historical geography. This perspective will be applied, by considering
the historical-geographical role of the border region of Tekoa, in the life of
the prophet Amos. In this day and age of interdisciplinary contact, much more
use should be made of historical-geographical information on
___________________________________________________________________________
J.A. Loader
Ruth 2:7 – An old crux
Journal for Semitics 4/2 (1992) pp. 151-159
Abstract:
The highly problematic text of Ruth 2:7 is discussed in the light of several solutions proposed recently as well as older contributions. In particular, attention is paid to the last four words of the verse, of which, it is maintained, some possible but improbable solutions have until now been offered. An argument is put forward that the consonantal text as well as the vowels of the Masoretic Text are to be retained, and that these words are to be read as two nominal sentences. An endeavour is made to base the solution of what is usually regarded as a text-critical problem on linguistic considerations as well as on the literary context of the verse, the passage and the narrative as a whole.
___________________________________________________________________________
S.L. Stassen
Die rol van Egipte, Kus en Seba in Jesaja 43:3 en
45:14
Journal for Semitics 4/2 (1992) pp. 160-180
Abstract:
The
role of
Although the nations, for example the gwym (“nations”), l’mym (“people”), ‘yym
(“islands”) and names such as “Babylon” and “Chaldeans”, are very prominent in
Deutero-Isaiah, the combination of the names “Egypt”, “Cush” and “Seba” occurs
only twice, namely in Isaiah 43:3 and 45:14. For these specific nations
Deutero-Isaiah had a special role in mind, although there is a slight
difference in the way that these names are applied in these two cases. On both
occasions the names refer to the tradition that they represent of wealth,
splendour and honour. In Isaiah 43:3 this tradition is used to emphasize the
worth and splendour of
__________________________________________________________________________
C.H.J. van der
Merwe
Pragmatics and the translation value of gam
Journal for Semitics 4/2 (1992) pp. 181-199
Abstract:
Gam nearly always immediately precedes its syntactic domain and its syntactic characteristics often provide clues for identifying its domain. Although the syntactic and semantic classes of gam provided a point of departure for its pragmatic interpretation and some of these correlate with the classes from a pragmatic point of view, the insights of pragmatics rendered some of the author’s earlier syntactic and semantic distinctions superfluous. From a pragmatic point of view gam may be described as a lexical means for minimizing the processing cost of an utterance by demarcating the particular set of assumptions that an utterance should be connected to. The contextual effects of the utterance containing gam may be (1) the stronger confirmation of an existing assumption or newly established assumption, (2) the confirmation of a possible implicature of an established or a newly established assumption or (3) the confirmation of the commitment of a speaker to or confrontation of a hearer with his role in a reciprocal, corresponding or resultative process.
___________________________________________________________________________
W.C. van Wyk (jr)
The syntax of אשר in Biblical Hebrew investigated anew
Journal for Semitics 4/2 (1992) pp. 200-209
Abstract:
In a recent article Roger Schwarzschild advance his so-called nominal hypothesis on the use of rשa, arguing that rשa never ceased to be categorized as a noun in the syntactic component of the grammar of Biblical Hebrew. In the present article Schwarzschild’s arguments are critically reviewed. Additional texts from the Hebrew Old Testament are also brought into consideration and other questions relevant to the syntactic use of rשa are addressed.
___________________________________________________________________________
P.J.J. van Huÿssteen
The genitive construction in the Emar testaments
Journal for Semitics 5/1 (1993) 1-17
Abstract:
By comparing the different ways by which the Emar testaments express a genitive relationship, with those practices revealed in the Akkadian of Ugarit and Carchemish, this article wishes to reveal that at Emar “ša N2” as a part of “N1 ša N2” can, apart from being an attribute, also be a predicate. “N1 ša N2” could thus mean either “N1 the one of N2” or “N1 is/will be the one of N2”
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
Morphology and morphosyntax of the noun in the Amqi Amarna letters
Journal for Semitics 5/1 (1993) pp. 18-56
Abstract:
In the Amqi Amarna letters, nouns are written either in Sumerian logograms or in syllabograms. The logograms display a few inconsistencies and the syllabograms reflect a orthographic variety. Of the logograms fifty percent give no formal indication of gender or number. Identifiable masculine and feminine forms comply with standard Akkadian practice. Three cases, with different functions, are identifiable. The nominative signifies a predicative relationship, the accusative an adverbial relationship and the genitive an attributive relationship.
The various features of the noun suggest that the so-called “Amarna jargon” was a pidgin that never quite became a creole. The logograms suggest the influence of Akkadian scribal practices and the use of syllabograms appears to be a development from Old Babylonian.
___________________________________________________________________________
F.E. Deist
The
implied message of the reference to
Journal for Semitics 5/1 (1993) pp. 57-67
Abstract
The article explores the possible
implications of the reference in Jeremiah 7:12 to
___________________________________________________________________________
J.H. Kroeze
Underlying syntactic relations in construct phrases of Biblical Hebrew
Journal for Semitics 5/1 (1993) pp. 68-88
Abstract:
After a brief survey of the problems concerning the traditional way of explaining “genitives” in Biblical Hebrew, the author offers a possible solution from a syntactic point of view. A verifiable method, called syntactic back-transformation, is used to explain and classify postconstructs or “genitives”. In a syntactic back-transformation the construct state and postconstruct are converted to an antecedent and relative clause. Subsequently, the relative clause is converted to a principal clause (the kernel sentence). The morphological parts of speech are retained in this transformational process. Syntactic back-transformational rules are formulated by comparing the construct phrase with the kernel sentence. These rules describe from which elements in the kernel the postconstruct and the construct state develop. The following major classes of postconstructs are distinguished in terms of these rules: the noun phrase1 postconstruct, noun phrase2 postconstruct, copula-predicate postconstruct, preposition-verb postconstruct and adjunctive postconstruct.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.C. Lübbe
The use of syntactic data in dictionaries of Classical Hebrew
Journal for Semitics 5/1 (1993) pp. 89-96
Abstract:
It seems to be generally accepted that form
and meaning are inseparable elements of language. Consequently questions of
relevance are not asked regarding the inclusion of grammatical information in
the lemmas of Old Testament dictionaries. Indeed not only are entries in these
dictionaries loaded with grammatical information, but the format of the lemmas
is commonly dictated by grammatical considerations. This is a strange state of
affairs when it is remembered that the dictionary plays a central role in the
translation process, which process involves essentially the transfer of meaning
rather than form, from a source langauge to a receptor language. The relevance
of this grammatical information is tested by examining the entry of can in the
commonly known Old Testament dictionary of
___________________________________________________________________________
H.F. van Rooy
The Hebrew and Syriac versions of Psalm 154
Journal for Semitics 5/1 (1993) pp. 97-109
Abstract:
The Hebrew version from
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
A proposed reinterpretation of Psalm 29 based on a stylistic-exegetical analysis
Journal for Semitics 5/2 (1993) pp. 111-122
Abstract:
It is an accepted fact that poetry is structurally different from prose narrative, even in the Hebrew Old Testament. The psalms of the Old Testament are regarded as poems and adhere to a poetic language, which has as a unique feature so-called parallelism, apart from other stylistic devices.
Consequently the techniques required to interpret Old Testament poetry are quite differnt from those required for the prose sections.
In Psalm 29 a number of Canaanite elements are detected, which display considerable agreement with Ugaritic poetry. Furthermore, Psalm 29, being a poem, has a number of its own stylistic devices. With this in mind, the poetic structure of Psalm 29 is investigated, together with an exegetical analysis of its text.
The following stylistic devices were found for:
(1) Form – parallelism and metre
(2) Sound – rhyme, assonance, alliteration, onomatopoeia
(3) Sense – hendiadys, synecdoche, metonymy, merismus, hyperbole, metaphor, simile, antithesis, personification, apostrophe.
Using the results of this investigation and by emending certain sections of this psalm, an attempt is made to present a more regular and rounded form of this psalm with regards to its metre and parallelism.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.F.J. van Rensburg
“When the Lord focuses upon Himself”: Jeremiah 1:15a in perspective
Journal for Semitics 5/2 (1993) pp. 123-137
Abstract:
Jeremiah 1:15a (ki hinneni qore’ le[…) refers to a kind of statement which is typical in the book of Jeremiah. The exact (or ‘original’) context, however, is difficult to determine. Linking up the formula with alternative surrounding clauses, leads to a variety of translations. In addition to the traditional causal (“for”) function ascribed to ki, renderings such as “that”, “indeed” and “when/if” remain theoretical possibilities. The particle (cum pronominal suffix) hinneni must be interpreted within its conversational context, and focuses upon the First Person Speaker in the course of making an announcement (“look [=‘Aufmerksamkeitserreger’] I…”; “indeed I…”), or portrays Him as present (“now I…”; “here I…”). A third environment (context of realization) is suggested by the particle (and preposition) qore’ le[… (“call”, “summon”, “invite” etc), the content of which may be fulfilled simultaneously with the utterance, or may express an intention pertaining to the near future.
___________________________________________________________________________
J. Cook
The dawning of a new era in the study of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Journal for Semitics 5/2 (1993) pp. 138-152
Abstract
The past two years have witnessed dramatic changes in the area of research into the Dead Sea Scrolls. These changes are observed on all levels to the extent that one can indeed speak of the dawning of a new era. In the wake of these changes and the consistent primary research that has been done over the past four-and-a-half decades, it is not scientifically correct to speak of the “scandal” of the scrolls. It is nevertheless clear that the controlling bodies have erred in keeping the material from the willing researcher for too long. Fortunately corrective steps have been taken, which should make the dawning era even brighter for the serious researcher.
___________________________________________________________________________
P J Hartin
Galilee in the first century C.E.
Journal for Semitics 5/2 (1993) pp. 153-169
Abstract:
___________________________________________________________________________
J. Sherman
Ways of dying in Isaac Bashevis Singer’s: The Magician of Lublin
Journal for Semitics 5/2 (1993) pp. 170-185
Abstract:
In The
Magician of Lublin (1960), Singer explores the degree to which worldly life
can become spiritual death. His chief character, Yasha Mazur, a secularised
Jew, seeks the material rewards of fame and money. Living in egoistical
self-absorption and heedless of the burden of the Covenant, Yasha is driven to
the brink of self-destruction. Shocked back into a sense of Jewish identity,
Yasha immures himself in a penitential cell to avoid the world’s temptations.
Yet the novel does not unequivocally endorse his radical choice. Both before
and after this “return”, Yasha remains selfishly cut off from a recognition of
the Talmudic precept that “all
___________________________________________________________________________
M.H. Maltz
The Jewish view of women: gender-based and gender biased
Journal for Semitics 5/2 (1993) pp. 186-199
Abstract:
This article is intended as an introduction to some of the problems that emerge when Judaism is analysed critically from a feminist perspective (with particular reference to issues addressed by Jewish feminists). It will be argued that Judaism is fundamentally patriarchal, that its attitudes are androcentric, and that the traditional Jewish view of women tends to be both gender-based and gender-biased.
The article will discuss briefly the image of woman in the Bible and in Jewish legend, the role assigned to her in Jewish life as wife and mother, and the gendering of sexual identity. The focus of the article will be on the disparate religious obligations imposed on men and women in the synagogue – as exemplified by women not being counted for the prayer quorum and by the Bat Mitzvah ceremony. It will be concluded that such disparity serves (both covertly and overtly) to preserve male hegemony and to reinforce the sub-ordinate status of women in Judaism.
___________________________________________________________________________
M.J. Meinster
A
short study of the image of
Journal for Semitics 5/2 (1993) pp. 200-222
Abstract:
This paper investigates the use of
religious metaphors in selected poetry by Nizar Qabbani, Fadwa Tuqan and Yehuda
Amichai. All poems were written after 1967 and
___________________________________________________________________________
P.J. Nel
The
conception of righteousness and the Mesopotamian gods
Journal for Semitics 6/1 (1994) pp. 1-14
Abstract:
The conception of righteousness is one of the most basic constructs of the cosmological and religious orientation of Mesopotamian culture. It is essential for the understanding of all major institutions of society as well as for human behaviour. The investigation focuses on Mesopotamian literature, and more specifically on the contextual occurrences of the lexemes mīšarum and ešēru in order to synthesize some of their connotations and denotations pertaining to the overriding thought structure.
The study is limited to the perception of righteousness that presupposes the realm and function of the gods. It is argued that the thought structure underlying the conception of righteousness is essentially linked to sun mythologems, in particular to the role of Šamaš. The gods do not only act as guardians of righteousness, but the mīšarum is also perceived as a norm for their own power.
___________________________________________________________________________
P.S. Vermaak
Die rol van die tempel binne die Mesopotamiese gemeenskap
Journal for Semitics 6/1 (1994) pp. 15-33
Abstract:
The
role of the temple in the Mesopotamian society (Afrikaans)
This article outlines the broad spectrum of
the temple’s activities in
___________________________________________________________________________
D.N. Pienaar
Journal for Semitics 6/1 (1994) pp. 34-45
Abstract:
The decline of the world powers of the
ancient Near East enabled smaller nations to develop to such an extent that
towards the beginning of the tenth century they were fulfilling major roles in
the Syro-Palestinian region. The ensuing gradual growth of Aram-Damascus under
Ben-Hadad I posed a constant threat to the Omrides. After Elah was murdered
The favourable
relations which the later allies of Omri,
Ahab
successfully created and maintained a balance of power with
___________________________________________________________________________
E.J. Smit
So how did Jehoiakim die?
Journal for Semitics 6/1 (1994) pp. 46-56
Abstract:
The article explores the information about
the death of king Jehoiakim in three different sources, namely the books of
Kings, Chronicles and Jeremiah. It seems that the writer of Kings has no real
interest in describing the death of Jehoiakim, his attention being focused on
Jehoiakim’s successor, Jehoiachin. The writer of Chronicles in his description
hurries over these historical events to emphasize the doom of
___________________________________________________________________________
S.L. Stassen
Marriage (and related) metaphors in Isaiah 54:1-17
Journal for Semitics 6/1 (1994) pp. 57-73
Abstract:
Very often, when Deutero-Isaiah uses
different metaphors in the same context, the metaphors do not relate to each
other. The prophet has a tendency to compile them as if threading beads on a
string, in order to increase the emotional effect on the reader (e.g. Is
49:14ff). In Isaiah 54:1-17, however, the correspondence between the different
metaphors is remarkable. Although different metaphors are used, they all correspond
to teach other in a logical manner, and actually build up towards a climax
whereby
___________________________________________________________________________
J.A. Naudé
The verbless clause with pleonastic pronoun in Biblical Aramaic
Journal for Semitics 6/1 (1994) pp. 74-93
Abstract:
The aim of this article is to determine the status and interpretation of pleonastic pronouns in verbless clauses of Biblical Aramaic. The hypotheses that the pleonastic pronoun can be construed as part of the sentence predicate (the so-called copula) or as a resumptive pronoun in a left-dislocation construction are considered and rejected. According to the conditions of Chomsky’s minimalist programme for linguistic theory, it is argued that the pleonastic pronoun has the status of a pronominal clitic which is the phonological realization of unattached agreement features. The pronominal clitic is obligatory in verbless clauses with determined (referring) noun phrases in predicate positions where the pronominal clitic fulfils the role of a theta-role assigner. Pronominal clitic insertion might best be construed as a type of last-resort strategy, when theta-role assignment fails to yield a grammatical output. Thus, the pronominal clitic is never freely generated. A pronominal clitic is necessary for the syntactic interpretation of certain verbless clauses and must be interpreted as such.
___________________________________________________________________________
M.J. Meinster
Emotional language in poems of enmification
Journal for Semitics 6/1 (1994) pp. 94-112
Abstract:
Fadwa Tuqan addressed two poems to children. One was published in 1969 and is addressed to two Palestinian children, the other was written a year later to a Jewish child. This paper aims at comparing the above-mentioned modern Arabic poems against the background of the social function of poetry and the emotional language of enmification.
J.P. van der Westhuizen
Word order variation of the verbal sentences in Amqi Akkadian
Journal for Semitics 6/2 (1994) pp. 117-153
Abstract:
The ongoing internal and external turmoil
in Syria-Palestine during the late bronze age was the reason for the
correspondence between the vassals of this area and their sovereign, the
pharaoh of
One such trend is the word order, and the variation thereof, in verbal sentences. This variation in word order was to effect some special emphasis of the appropriate element in the specific sentence. The variation in word order was brought about by certain (emphasizing) words and constructions such as anuma, šanita, inuma, and amurmi; subject fronting and object fronting; parallel sentence arrangement and chiastic sentence arrangement.
Yet, even this word order and the variation thereof are not consistent.
The investigation of word order and its variation in the verbal sentences of the Amqi Amarna letters shows that these letters – even those with identical content – must have been written by different scribes. This leads to the conclusion that each vassal must have had more than one scribe to cope with all his correspondence.
___________________________________________________________________________
A.A. da Silva
A comparison between the avenging angel of 1 Ch 21 and analogous “angel-like” figures in the Ugaritic Ba’al cycle
Journal for Semitics 6/2 (1994) pp. 154-169
Abstract:
The aim of this article is to prove that
the avenging angel of 1 Chronicles 21:15-19 is a survival of an old
mythological motif. This goal is achieved, first, by proving through a
comparison of the characteristics and functions of Old Testament angels with
those of the angel-like figures in the myths of
___________________________________________________________________________
J.C. Lübbe
Old Testament translation and lexicographical practice
Journal for Semitics 6/2 (1994) pp. 170-179
Abstract:
From the earliest translations of the Old Testament to the most modern, the primary aim of the translators has been clarity and accuracy of translation. The development of Old Testament lexicography does not reflect the same primary concern, however. The concern of Old Testament dictionaries of more recent generations reflects rather a concern with diachronic matters of the vocabulary of Classical Hebrew. How has such a conflict of interests apparently affected modern translations?
___________________________________________________________________________
W. C. van Wyk
Partisipiale relatiefsinne in Esra, Nehemia en Kronieke
Journal for Semitics 6/2 (1994) pp. 180-191
Abstract:
Participial
relative clauses in Ezra, Nehemiah and Chronicles (Afrikaans)
Although it is common knowledge that participles are often used to introduce relative clauses in Biblical Hebrew, these participial relative clauses have not yet been syntactically analysed and compared to other relative clauses. The present article sets out to analyse participial relative clauses in Ezra, Nehemiah and Chronicles, and comes to the conclusion that these clauses are subject to only one syntactical restriction not applicable to other relative clauses: the subject of a participial relative clause is always identical with the antecedent thereof. Apart from this restriction no syntactical reasons can be given for the choice of a particular relative construction in a specific context.
___________________________________________________________________________
H.F. van Rooy
The origin of the Syriac apocryphal Psalm 153
Journal for Semitics 6/2 (1994) pp. 192-200
Abstract:
A survey is given of research on the Syriac
apocryphal Psalm 153. As is the case with Psalm 152 a Hebrew Vorlage of this psalm does not form part
of the Psalms Scroll from
___________________________________________________________________________
T.J.D. Bothma
The use of information technology in studying biblical languages
Journal for Semitics 6/2 (1994) pp. 201-230
Abstract:
Computer technology is applied extensively to biblical studies and many programs are available for all different categories of people interested in the Bible. This paper argues that text databases which offer additional features, such as links to morphological analyses or lexica, should influence the teaching of biblical languages. However, linguistic information in these databases is at present very limited and should be expanded to include the full spectrum of linguistic knowledge. Linguistic databases, developed specifically for researchers, should be integrated with concordance software, online grammars, etc., as well as cultural-historical material, to create a comprehensive biblical information system. Existing information should be included in such a system, but in converting paper documents to electronic publications, value should be added to the products by means of creating sophisticated methods of access and by integrating the material with other sources. Problems of compatibility and standardization are also briefly addressed.
J.P. van der Westhuizen
Word
order variation of verbal sentences in selected
Journal for Semitics 7/1 (1995) pp. 1-15
Abstract:
The reason for the correspondence between
the vassals of
The word order and the variation thereof in verbal sentences is one such trend. This word order variation was for the sake of emphasizing the appropriate element in a sentence. The use of certain (emphasizing) words such as anuma, šanita, intima, allu and lu as well as constructions such as subject fronting and attributive relative clauses brought about a variation in word order.
However, even this recognizable word order and the variation thereof are not altogether consistent.
The investigation of word order and its variation in the verbal sentences of the Gezer Amarna letters show that these letters – even those dealing with the same subject matter – must have been written by different scribes. Apparently whenever a new vassal takes office in a vassal state, he appoints his own scribe (or scribes).
___________________________________________________________________________
P.S. Vermaak
The mother goddess and her games/gaming connection: an iconographic study
Journal for Semitics 7/1 (1995) pp. 16-39
Abstract:
It is not unknown for the mother goddess to be associated within a playing context in several cultures of the ancient Near East. However, the precise nature of this association is as yet unclear. This article proposes that the mother goddess may not only be connected within the gaming/games culture, but may also be related to a specific board game, namely the shield board game or the game of fifty-eight holes, also called the game of dogs and jackals. The evidence will be provided from iconographic material from all over the Ancient Near East. Reference will also be made to some textual evidence.
___________________________________________________________________________
O. Betz
The
Servant tradition of Isaiah in the
Journal for Semitics 7/1 (1995) pp. 40-56
Abstract:
Since many copies of the book of Isaiah
were found at
___________________________________________________________________________
H. Efthimiadis
Woman to womyn: countering patriarchal stereotypes in the book of Ruth
Journal for Semitics 7/1 (1995) pp. 57-78
Abstract:
When analysing the book of Ruth traditional scholarship has all too often depicted and extolled the characters of Ruth and Boaz in accordance with patriarchal gender stereotypes. The present study will attempt to overrun (in Derridean terms) or subvert such traditionally venerated interpretations by positing alternative translations for key verses in Ruth 2 and re-writing (again a Derridean concept) them into their immediate context. Finally it will suggest possible means in which wo/men can empower themselves to overcome traditional gender-stereotyping with special reference to the example of Ruth as womyn.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.A. Loader
The question of a tiqqun in Job 32:3
Journal for Semitics 7/1 (1995) pp. 79-86
Abstract:
This article considers the various logical
possibilities created by the claim that a μyrpμ ÷wqt exists in Job 32:3. On the
grounds of evidence provided by the versions, the meaning of the text and
differences of opinion in the tiqqun tradition itself, it is concluded that the
text does not contain a tiqqun. However, the important thing is to consider why
it was felt necessary to claim the presence of a tiqqun. It is argued that
tensions in the Masoretic text rather than concerns over the orthodoxy of
formulations prompted the tradition of a tiqqun. Far from “protecting” God
against blasphemy, the tiqqun tradition can be interpreted – at least in this
case – as the critical use of tradition. As part of the introduction to the
Elihu speeches, it invites a critical reading of the entire Elihu corpus within
the Book of Job while being at the same time an example of critical reflection
on the tradition within which it operates.
___________________________________________________________________________
R.S.
Mahadin and Y. Bader
Emphasis assimilation spread in
Arabic and feature geometry of emphatic consonants
Journal for Semitics 7/1 (1995) pp.
87-113
Abstract:
This
paper discusses the assimilation of emphasis-spread in Arabic, using a
multitiered, non-linear autosegmental model. The discussion underscores the
superiority of such a model over a traditional, linear approach. For Arabic, a
modified version of feature-organization is adopted for consonants with
secondary articulation, specifically back consonants in general and
emphatic/pharyngealized consonants in particular. The feature Retracted Tongue
Root [RTR] is adopted for emphatic consonants, /t / d / s and z. The examples discussed largely support the stipulations
of the Obligatory Contour Principle and the notion of underspecification. It is
shown that while a traditional, linear analysis of assimilatory spread of
emphasis in Arabic violates the principles of the Obligatory Contour Principle,
a non-linear, autosegmental approach is compatible with its constraints.
Pinhas Artzi
A Canaanite-Babylonian caravan venture: a note on EA 255 and 256
Journal for Semitics 7/2 (1995) pp. 118-124
Abstract:
The best possible reading of the sign-group opening EA 256:20 as GÁN.BA was already proposed by Knudtzon (1907-1915:816). Now Rainey (1989/90:70) not only reaffirms this reading, but translates it correctly. The present author, his suppositions corroborated, comments on the probable significance of this new understanding: a caravan-venture promoted between the “House of Labaja” and the “Emporium” of a Babylonian merchant.
___________________________________________________________________________
Shlomo Izre’el
Amarna tablets in the collection of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow
Journal for Semitics 7/2 (1995) pp. 125-161
Abstract:
Among the smaller collections of Amarna
tablets dispersed over the globe, one which consists of three tablets belonged
– at the time of the publication of Knudtzon’s classic edition of these tablets
– to the Russian Egyptologist Vladimir Golenischeff in
Abbreviations:
PM =
___________________________________________________________________________
L.M. Muntingh
An Amarna letter (EA 162) from a pharaoh to Aziru of Amurru in light of recent research
Journal for Semitics 7/2 (1995) pp. 162-195
Abstract:
By the middle of the second millennium B.C.
Akkadian had spread from the homeland Babylonia-Assyria to neighbouring
countries in the Near East and
The need for restricted dialect studies in Peripheral Akkadian has been recognized for some time. One limited corpus of peripheral texts belonging to Western Peripheral Akkadian is the small group of letters written in cuneiform by Egyptian scribes in the 14th century B.C. and discovered in 1887 in the royal archive at Tell el Amarna.
The longest of these Egyptian letters and one which is unique in style and content, namely EA 162, can be regarded as representative of the Akkadian (or rather Middle Babylonian) dialect used by the Egyptian scribes. After a brief survey of Amarna linguistic research, some characteristics of Egyptian epistolography will be pointed out. The focus will specifically be on EA 162: its writing and language, lexicon, verbal system, tenses and modes, historical background and rhetorical form, and the important question of successful communication by means of translation.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
The situation in Syro-Palestine prior to the Exodus conquest/settlement as reflected in the Amarna Letters
Journal for Semitics 7/2 (1995) pp. 196-231
Abstract:
The Amarna letters – the correspondence
from the Syro-Palestine vassals to the Egyptian court/pharaoh – directly and
indirectly reveal the situation in
Matters considered are the time of the Exodus, the situation in Egypt and the pharaohs prior to and during the Amarna period and the situation in Syro-Palestine prior to the Exodus (taking note of the SA.GAZ and ‘Apiru, the Šasu and the Sutû).
All of the
foregoing will be considered in an effort to determine the conditions in
It appears that the situation in Canaan/Palestine at this stage, as reflected in the Amarna letters, was ideal for the Exodus-event.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.F.J. van Rensburg
The linguistic setting of the Young Babylonian poem Ludlul bêl nêmeqi: grammatical, stylistic and structural aspects
Journal for Semitics 7/2 (1995) pp. 232-239
Abstract:
Seen from a structural point of view, the Young Babylonian poem Ludlul bêl nêmeqi may be characterized as an anthology of thematically related texts. Both form and content vary greatly within the more-or-less 400 lines which are at present associated with the poem. It can therefore fruitfully be compared with texts from a variety of genres, e.g. ritual prayers, hymns to gods (and other beneficiaries), magic and sorcery texts as well as royal inscriptions and literature dealing with specialized subjects. The linguistic setting thus created widens and limits the scope within which Ludlul should be interpreted.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.A. Loader
Adrianus van Selms: responsum
Journal for Semitics 7/2 (1995) pp. 240-250
Abstract:
This paper responds to recent appraisal of the work of Adrianus van Selms. With reference to the submission of the necessity of cultural knowledge as intertext for interpretation, it is argued that the relevance of Van Selms for present-day scholarship lies in his use of information on Ancient Near Eastern culture for the interpretation of biblical Hebrew literature. After a sketch of his academic background, examples of his use of such material are presented. It is suggested that he cannot be adequately assessed by mere reference to his charming “artistry” and that his significance for contemporary scholarship is much more substantial.
___________________________________________________________________________
P.J. Botha
The textual strategy and intent of the Bar-Rakib inscription
Journal for Semitics 8/1 (1996) pp. 1-11
Abstract:
The late eight-century building inscription of Bar-Rakib of Sam’al is analysed on a literary and on an ideological plane. The objective is to define the way in which this text was supposed to function as a vehicle of communication. The anthropological model of honour and shame which were pivotal values in ancient Mediterranean societies, is used as an interpretative key to the text. It is argued that the primary purpose of this inscription was to memorialise the royal builder and not to commemorate a building project.
___________________________________________________________________________
C. Begg
The end of King Johoiakim: the afterlife of a problem
Journal for Semitics 8/1 (1996) pp. 12-20
Abstract:
Recently, E J Smit has surveyed the Biblical indications concerning the circumstances surrounding the end of Jehoiakim’s reign (2 Kg 24:6; 2 Chr 36:6; Jr 22:19: 36:30). Smit further proposes a historical reconstruction, according to which Jehoiakim met a violent death in the context of a Babylonian attack and was denied a proper burial. The present article extends the discussion by examining the statements of Josephus, Rabbinic tradition, and Patristic commentators concerning Jehoiakim’s end. It is noted that in this later material one finds explicit statements about Jehoiakim’s being put to death as Smit posits, but this is said nowhere in the Biblical witnesses.
__________________________________________________________________________
J.A. Loader
Learning in the indicative
Journal for Semitics 8/1 (1996) pp. 21-33
Abstract:
The distinction between wisdom admonitions and wisdom sayings, as emphasised by Westermann, is examined. This is a seminal aspect of his study, which has long been overlooked but has recently become prominent and influential. In this light his views on the so-called imperative and indicative sayings and their life-setting are critically discussed. It is concluded that indicative wisdom sayings as much as admonitions imply an educational situation.
___________________________________________________________________________
W.C. van Wyk
The enemies in Ezra 1-6: interaction between text and reader
Journal for Semitics 8/1 (1996) pp. 34-48
Abstract:
In literary theory nowadays it is widely accepted that the interaction between text and reader is not entirely predictable. This dictum also applies to Biblical texts and motivates the present attempt to explain the reception of a Biblical text (Ezra 1-6) by modern commentators. The article focuses on the narrative’s presentation of the conflict about the building efforts of the Jews (Ezra 4-5) and subsequently analyses the interpretation of modern commentators. The reluctance of modern commentators to follow the narrative in their assessment of the conflict is explained by factors inherent in the text and in a modern readership with its own values.
___________________________________________________________________________
D. Büchner
Midrash. A bibliographical essay
Journal for Semitics 8/1 (1996) pp.49-78
Abstract:
The intention of this essay is to define
and introduce the empirical study of midrash by providing a survey of
methodological discussions of midrash as a genre, where the study has come from
and some of the new approaches. Judging by the number of introductions and
monographs that are still being produced on the topic as a whole, it is obvious
that midrashic studies are alive and well. The article also wishes to point out
that a basic knowledge of midrash is necessary for students who enter upon any
field of Judaism, from Rabbinics to
___________________________________________________________________________
M.A.H. Maltz
The dynamics of intertextuality: The Akedah and other Biblical allusions in Henry Abramovitch’s Psalm of the Jealous God and Matti Megged’s The Akedah
Journal for Semitics 8/1 (1996) pp. 79-95
Abstract:
In modern Jewish poetry the Akedah motif and other Biblical allusions have a complex and frequently subversive function. This function is clarified when considered in terms of intertextuality, a term taken from contemporary literary theory. In this paper, the two contemporary Israeli poems by Abramovitch and Megged selected for analysis illustrate what may be termed the process of intertextual transformation, a process which affects the reader’s interpretation of both the poetic and the Biblical texts.
___________________________________________________________________________
H. Olivier
The
relationship between landscape resources and human occupation in
Journal for Semitics 8/1 (1996) pp. 96-110
Abstract:
The author envisages that a much better
understanding of the interaction between landscape resources and human
occupation can be attained by studying the remarks in this regard by the early
nineteenth century travellers to
___________________________________________________________________________
G.J. Brooke
From
“Assembly of supreme holiness for Aaron” to “Sanctuary of Adam”: The
laicization of temple ideology in the
Journal for Semitics 8/2 (1996) pp. 119-145
Abstract:
The overall purpose of this paper is to consider afresh some of the temple imagery used in the scrolls found at Qumran, more especially in those compositions which have been associated with a community, movement, or sect, part of which lived at Qumran during the two hundred years or so before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the Romans (70 CE). As the argument develops, it will become clear that it has implications for the history and significance of the temple itself in the period discussed.
___________________________________________________________________________
P.R. Davies
The
Judaism(s) of the Dead Sea Scrolls: The
Journal for Semitics 8/2 (1996) pp. 146-169
Abstract:
While descriptions of the “beliefs of the
This essay is an
attempt to approach such a task. It deals primarily with the Judaisms of the D
(
___________________________________________________________________________
H. Eshel
A
history of the
Journal for Semitics 8/2 (1996) pp. 170-209
Abstract:
Of the 800 scrolls discovered at
___________________________________________________________________________
J.C. Lübbe
The significance of the tribal divisions in the Dead Sea Scrolls
Journal for Semitics 8/2 (1996) pp. 210-222
Abstract:
The overall structure of the
___________________________________________________________________________
H. Koorevaar
Who or what may not be made? The structure and meaning of Exodus 20:23
Journal for Semitics 8/2 (1996) pp.
223-255
Abstract:
This article propose that:
1) The correct position of the 'atnach in Exodus 20:23 is under the word yt=a.
2) ta must not be understood as a preposition ("with"), but as a nota accusativi (marker of the direct object). One must read ytI=ao rather than yTI=ai. The consonants all remain unchanged. Yhwh thus says the following in Exodus 20:23a: "You shall not make me; a god of silver, or a god of gold you shall not make for yourself."
The following chiasm is thus created:
.μk,‰l; Wc[}t' al¿ … bh;z:
yhel¿awE ¹s,k, yhel¿aÔ
… I … ytia¿ … ÷Wc[}t' al¿
It
becomes clear by means of this chiasm that it is forbidden to represent Yhwh by
means of a silver or golden image. That is precisely what
Exodus 20:23 is the essence of
the Book of the Covenant (Ex 20:22-23; 33) and rightly stands as the foundation
at the beginning. Together with the law concerning altars (20:24-26), 20:23
forms an important bridgehead within “The Mount Sinai Pericope” (Ex 19-34). A
line can thus be seen to extend from the first and second commandments
(20:2-6), through the prohibition of Yhwh images with the law concerning altars
(20:22-26), via the mention of “the house of Yhwh” in 23:19, to the instructions
concerning the building of the Sanctuary in 25:8-9.
___________________________________________________________________________
H-V. Kieweler
Pella – die Geschichte einer Stadt
Journal for Semitics 9/1 & 2 (1997) pp. 1-38
Abstract:
Pella ist eine
der gröβten, bedeutendsten und an Funden
reichhaltigsten archäologischen Fundstätten Jordaniens. Für Archäologen ist es
eine groβe Herauforderung, dieses über ca. 1
Million Jahre hindurch Gebiet zu erforschen und die bewegte Geschichte Pellas
and Tageslicht zu bringen.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.F.J. van Rensburg
A numerical characterization of poetical lines, statistical theory and Young Babylonian application
Journal for Semitics 9/1 & 2 (1997), pp. 39-47
Abstract:
Typifying poetical lines by means of numerals (zero to nine), alone or in combination with alphabetical symbols, is usually done in a casual manner. Digits, however, have distinctive features. Nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio functions have been identified by descriptive statistics. The application of these features in the domain of poetical theory, particularly syntax, is discussed and illustrated by means of Young Babylonian (Ludlul bel nemeqi) examples.
___________________________________________________________________________
G.T.M. Prinsloo
Psalm 20 and its Aramaic parallel: A reappraisal
Journal for Semitics 9/1 & 2 (1997), pp. 48-86
Abstract:
Psalm 20 is one of the less popular psalms.
Since the discovery that the so-called Papyrus
___________________________________________________________________________
A.W. Coetzee
Syllabification and epenthesis in Tiberian Hebrew – perspectives from Optimality Theory
Journal for Semitics 9/1 & 2 (1997) pp. 87-128
Abstract:
Optimality Theory (OT) has steadily gained support since the early nineties up to the point where it can today be regarded as the most widely accepted contemporary theory of phonology. But, Tiberian Hebrew (TH) phonology has not yet been studied in detail from the perspective of OT. This paper aims to serve as a general introduction to OT for Hebraists, and offers a first and tentative explanation of TH syllabification in terms of this theory. It is also indicated how the general syllabification schema can be utilised to explain other syllabically dependent phonological phenomena such as the prediction of the sites of vowel epenthesis. This OT account of epenthesis is evaluated by comparing it to the explanations offered by traditional rule-based phonology for this phenomenon.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.A. Naudé
The syntactic status of the ethical dative in Biblical Hebrew
Journal for Semitics 9/1 & 2 (1997) pp. 129-165
Abstract:
The advantages of a controlled interpretation of grammatical constructions through a coherent linguistic framework will be illustrated in terms of an analysis of what is known as the ethical dative in Biblical Hebrew. As traditional perspectives fail to provide insight into the structure of the ethical dative, it is suggested that the mechanisms of Full Interpretation and Binding Theory, as well as the assumptions on clitic configurations within a Chomskyan principle and parameter approach in particular, may provide a framework for the analysis. In the present analysis it is submitted that in the case of the ethical dative, the preposition-pronominal suffix combination is cliticised. Such a submission finds support in the fact that the ethical dative shows typical features of clitics. It is invariably found adjacent to and dependent on another constituent (in this case a verb). It cannot be questioned or replaced by a full noun phrase. Like clitics, it occupies non-argument positions only. However, the ethical dative has to be co-referential with the overt or covert subject of the verb. Without such a co-referential reading no ethical dative interpretation is possible. This is supported by the fact that the ethical dative can only be used with transitive and intransitive verbs, but not with ergative and passive verbs that do not select a subject. According to binding principles only anaphors (i.e. reflexives and reciprocals) can be co-referential. In conclusion then, an ethical dative has to be a (reflexive) anaphoric clitic.
___________________________________________________________________________
W.C. van Wyk (jr)
Resepsieteorie en die studie van die Ou Testament in Suid-Afrika
Journal for Semitics 9/1 & 2 (1997) pp. 166-178
Abstract:
Reception
theory and the study of the Old Testament in
This article aims to survey and evaluate
the impact of reception theory on the practice of Old Testament study in
___________________________________________________________________________
R.Althann
An unrecognised repetition at 2 Samuel 15,8
Journal for Semitics 9/1 & 2 (1997) pp. 179-184
Abstract:
The phrase ynibeyviyÒ byvy in 2 Sam 15,8 seems awkward and has even been termed ‘un-Hebraic’. The ancient versions provide little help, for it is unclear what exactly their translators read. The Massoretic tradition offers a choice with qere-ketib, but commentators generally accept neither of these, preferring to follow a reading which is claimed to underlie the rendering of the LXX and some other versions. The qere in fact conforms well to standard Hebrew usage. The ketib on the other hand is almost universally rejected. An attempt has been made to explain it as a yiphil, a causative conjugation well-known in Phoenician but perhaps also to be identified in some biblical texts. The present note will, however, suggest that the literary characteristics of the verse may help to explain the use of ynibeyviyÒ byvy.
___________________________________________________________________________
P.J. Nel
Spirituality and religion: a challenge to Near Eastern Studies
Journal for Semitics 10/1 & 2 (1998-2001) pp. 1-19
Abstract:
The study of spirituality and religion has vastly increased in importance as a field of study within Near Eastern Studies (cum Semitics) compared to the status it enjoyed until quite recently. This shift of importance is a consequence of the broadening approach that can be detected in the traditional departments of Near Eastern Studies and Semitics and which is evidenced by their emphasis on cultural contextualisation and relevance to contemporary society.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
Substrate
interferences and word order variation in non-verbal sentences in the
Journal for Semitics 10/1 & 2 (1998-2001) pp. 20-42
Abstract:
The aim of this paper is to discuss
substrate interferences and describe the use of word orders in the non-verbal
sentences of the Gezer Amarna letters, whether it be in the normal SPC (Subject-Predicate-Complement)
word order or in deviations from it. To my knowledge, this is an area of syntax
which to date has only been investigated for the
___________________________________________________________________________
P.S. Vermaak
Asherah, the mother goddess and asherah, the game board
Journal for Semitics 10/1 & 2 (1998-2001) pp. 43-71
Abstract:
The premise of this article is that the cult object asherah symbolized the mother goddess Asherah and was used during the Late Bronze period for playing a specific board game which had religious significance. The goddess Asherah has to be understood within the context of the Ancient Near Eastern culture where the mother goddess and her cult objects were associated with a specific game board/ board game. The cult object asherah is connected with the ancient “board game of 58 holes” or the “shield board game” according to archaeological and iconographical evidence from all over the Ancient Near East. This interpretation helps to illuminate the background of the book of Judges.
___________________________________________________________________________
D. Volgger
Gott, Mensch und Tier in Genesis 1-3
Journal for Semitics 10/1 & 2 (1998-2001) pp. 72-97
Abstract:
God,
man and animal in Genesis 1-3 (German)
In this article the chapters of Genesis 1-3 are interpreted as a complex literary unit. At the same time diachronic considerations recede into the background. Special attention is paid to the investigation of the similarity and distinction between God, man and animal. The relationships between God and mankind, man and woman and between mankind and animals are separately analysed in the three chapters of Genesis and they are evaluated for a comprehension of the text.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.A. Loader
Exegetical erotica to Canticles 7:2-6
Journal for Semitics 10/1 & 2 (1998-2001) pp. 98-111
Abstract:
A short exegesis of the love song is given with emphasis on philological aspects. Several erotic motifs, often ignored or underplayed in versions, are discussed. A kind of methodological exercise is done in which the rigidity of the so-called ‘exegetical process’ is alleviated and possible parallels with the ‘threshing floor scene’ in the Book of Ruth are discussed.
__________________________________________________________________________
D.A. Smith
“The sin of Jehu”
Journal for Semitics 10/1 & 2 (1998-2001) pp. 112-130
Abstract:
Hosea’s scathing condemnation of Jehu,
contained in Hosea 1:4-5, is to be attributed not (as is commonly thought) to
the bloodthirsty nature of Jehu’s coup against Joram and the rest of the house
of Omri, but rather to the fact that after the coup, Jehu made an ill-conceived
alliance with
___________________________________________________________________________
A. Lamprecht
Afleiding van die ongemerkte woordorde in Bybelaramees
Journal for Semitics 10/1 & 2 (1998-2001) pp. 131-171
Abstract:
Determining
the unmarked word order in Biblical Aramaic (Afrikaans)
Scholars of Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic argue that word order of any language can only be determined by processing statistical data valid for that particular language. This approach rests on the presupposition that in most cases the type of word order represents the unmarked word order. The frequency of the marked word order may, however, depend upon the nature of the utterances and is, consequently, unreliable. Another way of determining unmarked word order is by using the mechanisms of a formal model such as the Minimalist Program (Chomsky 1992, 1994, 1998). The derivation of a word order has to take place economically/optically, with due reference to the economic principles of Shortest move, Procrastination and Greed as well as the morphological features consisting the functional characteristics viz. the strong/weak distinction in the categories of Tense and Agreement. In the past, Biblical Aramaic word order was regarded as free, mainly because there was no statistical proof of an unmarked word order in this language with its six possible word orders. The insistence on a free word order in Biblical Aramaic became extremely problematic in the light of more recent theoretical developments as well as empirical observations. In this study it is pointed out that within the Minimalist Program verb movement as well as the strength of features are adequate to explain the unmarked (as well as the various forms of marked) word order(s) in Biblical Aramaic.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
Subject fronting in the Shechem letters
Journal for Semitics 11/1 (2002) pp. 1-22
Abstract:
The characteristic difference in word order
as compared with the more standard Akkadian word order, is one of the
fundamental features of the El Amarna (EA) texts from
___________________________________________________________________________
G. de Villiers
& G.T.M. Prinsloo
Gilgamesh sees the deep: from shame to honour
Journal for Semitics 11/1 (2002) pp. 23-44
Abstract:
In this article the role played by honour and shame are examined in the epic of Gilgamesh, with particular reference to the development of the character of Gilgamesh as he matures from youth to adulthood. Bruce Malina’s model of honour and shame is discussed briefly and applied in those instances in the epic where honour and shame are an issue. The conclusion is drawn that the honour-and-shame motif undoubtedly lends moments of dramatic development to the epic, but that Gilgamesh does not conform to Malina’s so-called dyadic personality. Precisely for this reason is it possible that the character of Gilgamesh can grow.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.C. Lübbe
Idioms in the Old Testament
Journal for Semitics 11/1 (2002) pp. 45-63
Abstract:
The term “idiom” has been explained as denoting a sequence of words that usually do not admit of change and that should therefore be understood as a unit of meaning, since the meaning of the words individually will not convey the sense of the sequence as a whole. Translators of the Old Testament are frequently hampered in their work because dictionaries either fail to identify such units or to clearly delineate their extent. Furthermore, the nature and degree of variability, if any, within a so-called set expression within the Old Testament need to be gauged. Two further questions concern the manner by which such expressions should be listed in dictionaries and the convertibility of such expressions when moving from one language to another.
__________________________________________________________________________
P.J. Botha
The textual strategy and social background of Psalm 64 as keys to its interpretation
Journal for Semitics 11/1 (2002) pp. 64-82
Abstract:
Research in the Psalms has been dominated until recently by the form-critical approach. From that perspective, the reconstructed cultic setting of a psalm was usually taken as the key to its interpretation. In this article, it is proposed that the textual strategy of a psalm should be used as the key to its interpretation instead. The text should also be interpreted against its social rather than its cultic background. Psalm 64 is subjected to such an analysis. The results of this investigation are compared with those of a more traditional approach.
___________________________________________________________________________
G.T.M. Prinsloo
Reading Habakkuk 3 in its literary context: A worthwhile exercise or futile attempt?
Journal for Semitics 11/1 (2002) pp. 83-111
Abstract:
The function and interpretation of Habakkuk
3 in the context of the book is only one of the many controversial issues in
the history of the little book’s interpretation. Doubt about the originality of
the chapter is widespread. The absence of Habakkuk 3 in the Pesher Habakkuk
from
___________________________________________________________________________
J.F. van Rensburg
Intellect and/or beauty: A portrait of women in the Old Testament and extra biblical literature
Journal for Semitics 11/1 (2002) pp. 112-125
Abstract:
“Intellect” in conjunction with “beauty” is explicitly mentioned in 2 Samuel 25:3 (cf 33) in connection with Abigail. Various shades of meaning may be ascribed to these words depending upon grammatical, lexical and contextual considerations. The focus appears to be upon the lady’s intellect and her expediency with regard to David. In Proverbs beauty is frowned upon (31:30) and intellect associated with words such as “discretion” (11:2, cf. NIV), or seen as the implied ability of the immoral woman (6:24) to seduce a man. Genesis 12 refers to Sarai’s beauty. Later Jewish sources greatly elaborate on this feature, but also mention her wisdom (Genesis Apochryphon) or gift of prophecy (Exodus Rabba).
___________________________________________________________________________
J.A. Naudé
Verbless clauses containing personal pronouns in Qumran Hebrew
Journal for Semitics 11/1 (2002) pp. 126-168
Abstract:
The objective of this paper is to propose a derivation for verbless clauses containing an independent personal pronoun as subject, as well as verbless clauses containing a focus marker followed by the third person pronoun. Specifically the instances which are absent from Biblical Hebrew will be considered. It is hypothesised that these instances show the exact structure of tripartite verbless clauses with the third person pronoun, to be analysed as specificational verbless clauses. In specificational clauses with determined/referring/specificational phrases in predicate positions, a third person is obligatory as a last resort to check the features on the relevant functional heads. In predicational verbless clauses the checking is done by the NP, AP or PP predicate. The verbless clauses with an adverb (focus marker) followed by the third person pronoun show the exact structure of tripartite verbless clauses with the third person pronoun, which must be analysed as specificational verbless clauses. Verbless clauses with subject pronouns show no third person pronouns. In the case of a specificational clause, the number features on a pronominal subject identify and licence a null third person pronoun similar to the cases of a pro-drop subject (null subject) where strong (rich) features on the verb identify and licence a null subject.
___________________________________________________________________________
E. Wendland
“Where
in the world can wisdom be found?” (Job
28:12). A textual and contextual survey of Job 28 in relation to its
communicative setting, ancient (ANE) and modern (
Journal for Semitics 12/1 (2003) pp. 1-33
Abstract:
Job 28 is a panoramic wisdom poem that ostensibly comes from the mouth of the book’s main protagonist, who otherwise seems on the brink of despondency. It is a surprising speech within its immediate textual setting since it expresses a comparatively optimistic ray of hope in the midst of a discourse that is otherwise bleak. The chapter is also noteworthy from a literary, compositional perspective. In Part One of this study I examine the masterful construction of this pericope, both intrinsically (in terms of itself) and extrinsically (in relation to the organization of the theodicy of Job as a whole). fter a descriptive survey of some of its most prominent tectonic features, an overview is given of its associated thematic relevance as an outstanding biblical instance of ancient Near-Eastern sapiential literature. In Part Two I consider several important implications of the preceding discourse analysis for Bible translation. First, a suggestion is made as to how such artfully constructed passages might be displayed more meaningfully using a standard printed format. I then turn to the poetics of Job 28 to illustrate how such an eloquent didactic text might be suitably contextualised in the Chichewa language-culture for a select, contemporary audience. The aim is to communicate certain crucial aspects of its sage stylistic form, theological content, and rhetorical function in a more dynamically sagacious manner in the vernacular.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
Morphology and morphosyntax of the adjective in the Gezer-Amarna letters
Journal for Semitics 12/1 (2003) pp. 34-57
Abstract:
In the ensuing discussion of the morphology
and morphosyntax of the adjective in the Gezer-Amarna letters, written in a
Peripheral Akkadian (PA) dialect – a Western Peripheral Akkadian (WPA) dialect
in the case of the
The letters to
be considered as being from
267-271 (from the vassal Milkilu to the pharaoh),
292-294 (from the vassal Adda-danu to the pharaoh),
297-300 and 378 (from the vassal Yapahu to the pharaoh).
__________________________________________________________________________
D.O. Moomo
Parameters of tense, aspect, and mood, and Biblical Hebrew: A model for determining tense, aspectual and mood languages
Journal for Semitics 12/1 (2003) pp. 58-80
Abstract:
One of the vexing questions that has long engaged scholars of Biblical Hebrew (BH) is whether the language should be classified as a tense aspectual or modal language. In this paper I argue that one of the main stumbling blocks to finding a satisfactory solution to this problem is essentially a methodological one.
I present in this discussion what I claim to be a viable alternative methodological approach to the problem. I develop cross-linguistic meta-categories of tense, aspectual and modal languages. I then apply these categories to BH. As a result I propose that BH is an aspectual language. I argue that the parameters I use have more discriminating power than most parameters previously used. I conclude the discussion by showing the correlation between aspect and tense at pragmatic level.
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Hans Volker Kieweler
Sepphoris und die Entwicklung der Synagoge in römisch-byzantinischer Zeit
Journal for Semitics 12/1 (2003) pp. 81-127
Abstract:
Sepphoris
and the development of the synagogue in the Roman-Byzantine era (German)
The once great city of
___________________________________________________________________________
J.C. Lübbe
Semantic domains, associative fields, and Hebrew lexicography
Journal for Semitics 12/1 (2003), pp.
128-142
Abstract:
Modern lexicological studies have not
yielded the desired practical results in lexicography. Yet the contributions of
certain linguists are certainly significant such as the field semantics of Jost
Trier. Recent Old Testament lexicography, however, shows an almost complete
disregard for such conceptual developments to the detriment of translators.
This is evident in many aspects of these lexicons. A very striking example is
in the failure of these lexicons to provide clear guidance as to the meaning of
the Hebrew prepositional phrase lg²r,l] (plus singular suffix), which
occurs a mere six times in the Old Testament. Of these occurrences one must be
ruled out because of textual difficulties and another is apparently the only
occurrence with a literal meaning, that is, with lg²r, denoting a body part. The remaining four occurrences are
rendered with eight different meanings in four modern translations, a clear
indication that the available dictionaries have failed to provide clear
guidance as to the meaning of the prepositional phrase. The use of semantic
fields/domains promises far better results.
___________________________________________________________________________
E. Wendland
“Where
in the world can wisdom be found?” (Job
28:12, 20) – A textual and contextual survey of Job 28 in relation to its
communicative setting, ancient (ANE) and modern (
Journal for Semitics 12/2 (2003) pp. 151-171
Abstract:
Job 28 is a panoramic wisdom poem that ostensibly comes from the mouth of the book’s main protagonist, who otherwise seems on the brink of despondency. It is a surprising speech within its immediate textual setting since it expresses a comparatively optimistic ray of hope in the midst of a discourse that is otherwise bleak. The chapter is also noteworthy from a literary, compositional perspective. In Part One of this study I examine the masterful construction of this pericope, both intrinsically (in terms of itself) and extrinsically (in relation to the organization of the theodicy of Job as a whole). After a descriptive survey of some of its most prominent tectonic features, an overview is given of its associated thematic relevance as an outstanding biblical instance of ancient Near-Eastern sapiential literature. In Part Two I consider several important implications of the preceding discourse analysis for Bible translation. First, a suggestion is made as to how such artfully constructed passages might be displayed more meaningfully using a standard printed format. I then turn to the poetics of Job 28 to illustrate how such an eloquent didactic text might be suitably contextualised in the Chichewa language-culture for a select, contemporary audience. The aim is to communicate certain crucial aspects of its sage stylistic form, theological content, and rhetorical function in a more dynamically sagacious manner in the vernacular.
___________________________________________________________________________
H.J.M. Van Deventer
More missing pieces – notes on a few Akkadian texts from Hatti
Journal for Semitics 12/2 (2003) pp. 172-196
Abstract:
In this article certain aspects of the
Akkadian dialect from Hatti are discussed as these
manifest in Akkadian texts found at
___________________________________________________________________________
S. Floor
From word order to theme in Biblical Hebrew narrative: Some perspectives from information structure
Journal for Semitics 12/2 (2003) pp. 197-236
Abstract:
Word order in Biblical Hebrew narrative is significant. The author was able to configure sentences, paragraphs, and episodes by employing either the default word order or an alternative configuration. When a configuration other than the default or canonical word order is used, the word order is marked. By “marked word order” is meant an alternative word order in relation to the default word order, normally with a specific effect and purpose in mind – something more specific and effective than what the default word order would have communicated. The purpose of this study is to determine whether these “marked” configurations do indeed communicate something more specific than the default word order and, if so, what effect this has on the wider discourse. The complexity of issues relating to word order and theme in Biblical Hebrew is such that many of the issues raised in this study are exploratory.
___________________________________________________________________________
F.P.J Snyman & J.A. Naudé
Sentence and constituent-negation in Biblical Hebrew
Journal for Semitics 12/2 (2003) pp. 237-267
Abstract:
In this paper the scope of the negative alo is discussed within the framework of the Minimalist Programme, the most recent theory within Chomskyan generative syntax. Two types of negation, i.e. sentence-negation and constituent-negation are proposed. Sentence-negation implies that alo has scope over the whole phrase that follows it. Constituent-negation implies that alo is subcategorised for a specific lexical category, hence has scope only over this category. An ad hoc proposal of Sivan & Schniedewind (1993) concerning the negative form in Ezek 18:25 is evaluated in the last part of the paper. They propose that the negative form under discussion should not be considered as a negative, but as an asseverative to be interpreted as “indeed”. This paper rejects such an ad hoc category, since the dual expression of negation (sentence and constituent-negation) solves the problematic nature of the negative form in Ezek 18:25.
___________________________________________________________________________
Gerrit J. van Steenberger
Hebrew lexicography and worldview: a survey of some lexicons
Journal for Semitics 12/2 (2003) pp. 268-313
Abstract:
This article presents a plea for the inclusion of extra-linguistic information, especially with regard to worldview, in lexicons. The need for such information becomes more apparent as the distance to be bridged in terms of time and culture increases. If Hebrew lexicons are to be relevant for Bible translators, information that enables the translator to evaluate the incongruent worldviews that have to be matched is pertinent. Against this background the article evaluates four existing Hebrew lexicons and one that is currently being developed. In a concluding section a number of recommendations for Hebrew lexicography are listed.
___________________________________________________________________________
W.S. Boshoff
& J.S. du Toit
The
African Queen”: The Queen of
Journal for Semitics 13/1 (2004) pp. 1-10
Abstract:
Despite the cursory mention afforded her in
the biblical books Kings and Chronicles, the Queen of Sheba prefigures the
establishment of a vast yet much maligned typology of female empowerment in
collective memory. Given the particular relevance of the Solomonic Period for
current debates in biblical scholarship, this article is positioned as an
introduction to a volume collected in an endeavour to provide a diverse and
representative discussion forum for South African scholars. The portrayal of
the Queen of Sheba and her association with a mythical (and sometimes real)
Die koningin van Skeba is ‘n blote
randfiguur in die bybelse boeke Konings en Kronieke. Desnieteenstaande,
figureer sy prominent in religieuse tradisies as bevestiging van ‘n
uitgebreide, dog erg negatief gelaaide tipologie van vroulike bemagtiging in
die gemeenskaplike geheue. Die Salomoniese tydperk se belang vir die akademiese
debat gee aan hierdie onderwerp sy besondere relevansie. Hierdie artikel dien
as inleiding tot ‘n volume opgedra aan die ondersoek van hierdie onderwerp
binne ‘n diverse en representatiewe forum van Suid-Afrikaanse vakgenote. Verder
word die voorstelling van die koningin van Skeba, sowel as haar assosiasie met
‘n mitiese (en soms werklike) Afrika ondersoek. In hierdie verband word veral
klem gelê op die koningin van Skeba se negatiewe voorstelling (demonisasie) in
religieuse tradisies, asook op talle permutasies van haar mitiese land van
herkoms in moderne literatuur, kuns, en kultuur.
A. Lamprecht
Solomon
and the “Queen of
Journal for Semitics 13/1 (2004) pp. 11-34
Abstract:
The story of Solomon and the “Queen of
Sheba” based on the biblical accounts in 1 Kings 10:1-13 and 2 Chronicles 9:1-12
has undergone extensive elaboration in Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Arabic, and
Persian folklore. It has become the subject of one of the most ubiquitous and
fertile cycles of legends in the Middle East. Echoes of how the “Queen of
Sheba” single-handedly conquered
Some 2800 years
after the Biblical account of the meeting of Solomon and the “Queen of Sheba”,
libraries are full of discussions, theories, suppositions, paintings, and
records of excavations. But to date no satisfactory answers or evidence
regarding the following questions have emerged: Who was this so-called queen?
Did she really exist? And if so, what was her name, and where was her home?
What did the queen want, and what did she ask for in addition to what Solomon
gave her from the royal bounty? What were the “hard questions” (1 Kings 10:1)
she came to ask Solomon? Which route did she take to
It seems obvious, though, that something in the Hebrew text must have triggered the authors of the legends to produce the vast amount of literary and artistic material referred to earlier. But what is this trigger in the Hebrew text? In this study I will show schematically how certain content words in the text create gaps in a linguistically encoded semantic representation. These content words were pragmatically enriched by the use of semantic properties and thematic relations to form a multitude of art forms, legends, and sociological theories.
___________________________________________________________________________
Willem Boshoff
The
source narrative of a legend: Two versions of the Queen of
Journal for Semitics 13/1 (2004) pp. 35-46
Abstract:
The two accounts of the narrative relating
the visit by the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon of
___________________________________________________________________________
Na’eem Jeenah
Bilqis – A Qur’ānic model for leadership and for Islamic feminists
Journal for Semitics 13/1 (2004) pp. 47-58
Abstract:
The Queen of Sheba (popularly known in Muslim tradition as Bilqis) is presented in the Qur’ān as a model woman and model leader – even before she had embraced the monotheism of Solomon. Although the Qur’ān never names the queen, she stands out as a useful archetype for the struggle for Muslim women’s rights – particularly as far as the question of leadership is concerned.
This paper will counterpose the conservative and fairly popular Muslim notion that women are not allowed to attain to leadership with the Bilqis paradigm in the Qur’ān, and argue that in Bilqis a weapon for Muslims struggling for gender justice is to be found. Further, I will argue that while the Qur’ān does not give believers specific political models for governance, in Bilqis it presents an example of governance to be aspired to. This paper will also briefly interrogate the demonisation of Bilqis in later narratives.
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Magdel le Roux
Kohenim
travelling south. The Queen of
Journal for Semitics 13/1 (2004) pp. 59-81
Abstract:
Similar to oral traditions, written
histories may exist in more than one version. The biblical story of the Queen
of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon has undergone an extensive elaboration in
different literary traditions. Compared to the Jewish and Muslim legends, a
fundamental change of atmosphere can be discerned in the Ethiopian version (Kebra Nagast). The story as recorded in
the Kebra Nagast might have had an
influence on the traditions of other African peoples. The Lemba in
___________________________________________________________________________
J.S. du Toit
Who
is “She”? Rider Haggard, the Queen of
Journal for Semitics 13/1 (2004) pp. 82-94
Abstract:
Despite cursory mention in the biblical books of Kings and Chronicles, the Queen of Sheba plays a vital role in prefiguring the establishment of a vast, yet much maligned typology of female empowerment and the female other in late nineteenth and early twentieth century literature. Testing Solomon’s wisdom placed her firmly outside the established parameters of acceptable female behaviour, while appropriating a claim to an alternate source of “wisdom”. Hence she became, in religious tradition, the exemplar of the strange woman – the female figurehead of the strange, “dark”, unknown, frightening and exhilarating African continent of nineteenth and early twentieth century explorers’ lore. Her association with a mythical, magical, sexually imbued and politically loaded colonialist portrayal of all things African in the late Victorian and early twentieth century writings of Rider Haggard is the object of inquiry in this paper. The collective “She” becomes the embodiment “of complex dynamics of colonial desire and power which lie behind the persistent need to reappropriate the libidinous spaces imputed to non-Western cultures”. She is the counter-Victoria.
As biblical
backdrop, Sheba in Western tradition is measured against Haggard’s African
references: the rain-queen Modjadji, the white woman of Brandberg, and so
forth, with particular emphasis on Haggard’s attempts at conforming the
non-conformable “African queen” to colonialist standards in terms of physical
landscape, assigning a biblical heritage to the queen and her people, skin
colour, comparing her to Western standards of physical beauty, etc. This paper
investigates and compares Haggard’s conceptual framework for his portrayal of She in both the biblical and
post-biblical material, to that which his education and travels would have
exposed him in terms of examples of female rule in
In the
nineteenth century, European travellers in Africa set themselves three epic
tasks: to travel to the fabulous
___________________________________________________________________________
Philip J. Nel
The
Queen of
Journal for Semitics 13/1 (2004) pp. 95-105
Abstract:
This paper takes its cue from the critical framework of postcolonial discourse analysis, which is applied in this instance to the novel Di Koningin fan Skeba by S J du Toit (1898). Specifically, this article focuses on the narrative trope or icon of the Queen of Sheba as a signifier of a colonial desire to dehistoricize or displace the African indigenous space with a coherent picture that would maintain and manifest the megastory of the coloniser. The Queen of Sheba becomes the icon of colonised heroism that reinstates the connection to the prehistory and religion of the coloniser.
The text under
discussion dates from the colonial period of
___________________________________________________________________________
Jacobus A. Naudé
Faking a translation. A corpus-based translation analysis of Di Koningin fan Skeba and Di Bybel in Afrikaans
Journal for Semitics 13/1 (2004) pp. 106-120
Abstract:
Di
Koningin fan Skeba (1989) is analysed within the
framework of corpus-based translation studies. The pseudo-translations
(embedded text) are compared to the rest of the narrative text of the Di Koningin fan Skeba as well as to S J
du Toit’s Di Bybel in Afrikaans
(1889-1911). It goes to show that Di
Koningin fan Skeba creates an identity for Afrikaans as a cultural
language. This narrative is spatially and chronologically remote from
contemporary
___________________________________________________________________________
N. Danso & J. A. Naudé
Trends in colonial translation. Henry Rider Haggard’s King Solomon’s Mines in Xhosa
Journal for Semitics 13/1 (2004) pp. 121-132
Abstract:
The aim of this paper is to investigate trends in colonial translation. This is achieved by analysing within postcolonial translation studies the translation strategies used by J J R Jolobe in transferring certain cultural aspects while translating Henry Haggard’s King Solomon’s Mines into Xhosa as Imigodi kaKumkani uSolomon. The translator expunged the colonial imperialistic and racial overtones of the source text by carefully choosing a series of translation strategies, resulting in the translation meeting the linguistic, literary, social and cultural norms of the target readership. Since colonial translations mostly belong to receiving cultures with developing literatures, when they become acceptable in the target culture they play an important role in the enrichment of the receiving culture.
___________________________________________________________________________
Mogomme Masoga
How indigenous is the Bible? Challenges facing 21st century South African biblical scholarship
Journal for Semitics 13/2 (2004) pp. 139-158
Abstract:
As Catherine Odora-Hoppers and Makhale-Mahlangu (1998) argue,
By way of definition, the word indigenous refers to the root, something natural or innate (to). It is an integral part of culture. Indigenous knowledge systems refer to the combination of knowledge systems encompassing technology, social, economic and philosophical learning, or educational, legal and governance systems. It is knowledge relating to the technological, social, institutional, scientific and developmental, including those vocabularies used in the liberation struggles.
Where does this place the Bible? The text is usually regarded as archaic and believed to hold knowledge and thought systems for ethical guidance. The Biblical text is used at tertiary institutions of learning by students and professors for interpretation and analysis, and ‘academic conclusions’ are drawn about life, for life, against life, in life and out of life. This, in short, makes the Bible a contextual text that has developed diachronically and synchronically on the basis of human influences. In the course of this development, the text has had to adapt and be adapted.
The indigenous influence on and basis of the biblical text cannot be ignored. How much research done on the Biblical text takes cognisance of indigenous aspects of the Bible? This paper argues that biblical interpretation has to take into account two levels of the indigenous nature of the Bible: firstly, that of the biblical world that shaped and finally produced the biblical text and, secondly, that of the readers of the text. This paper strives to show how indigenous reading has to be revisited, and that this revisitation needs to show challenges that exist in the indigenous reading process of the text. This paper strongly argues for a shift in dealing with the biblical text, in that the voices of readers and their rights to read have to be taken into account. The current research efforts tend to use consciously and/or unconsciously, the voices and knowledge of indigenous people’s readings of the text without acknowledging the ownership of these voices and knowledge, making intellectual property rights (IPR) a central challenge for scholars. In the twenty-first century, biblical research and studies cannot remain aloof from this challenge.
The question then becomes: How has research into indigenous reading of the Bible taken account of the ownership of the indigenous people’s reading, science and knowledge of biblical texts? It is time for biblical scholarship to converse meaningfully within the debates around indigenous knowledge and science. After all, the Bible is indigenous, was produced by indigenous processes and continues to be read by the majority of indigenous people. What needs to be examined is how indigenous this text becomes for scholars and researchers of biblical studies.
___________________________________________________________________________
T.J. Makutoane and J.A. Naudé
Reanimating orality: The morality play Everyman/Elkerlijk in Southern Sotho
Journal for Semitics 13/2 (2004) pp. 159-185
Abstract:
A meagre supply of literature is available in Southern Sotho: elementary commentaries and lectionaries, books of religious stories for children, and catechisms do exist, but in limited numbers. This is an insufficient foundation for realising the moral aspect of the Southern Sotho community’s religious identity. Most members of the Southern Sotho religious community are at present illiterate. This is a trait they share with the audiences of the medieval morality plays as well as with the original audiences of biblical literature. This state of affairs prompted the authors to suggest other agents for the transfer of religious thought. One such agent is the drama. This paper illustrates how the morality play Everyman/Elkerlijk was translated into Southern Sotho to address the need for the transfer of ancient Near Eastern religious texts. Central to this article are the issues of translation and translation strategy as they pertains to this particular audience. In lieu of a new bible translation into Southern Sotho or additional religious literature in the traditional mode with little to no effect on the present state of affairs, this paper argues for other means to give voice to and convey religious ideas, means far closer in many respects to the illiterate audience from whence the Hebrew Bible originated.
___________________________________________________________________________
Jason Kalman
Building houses on the sand: the analysis of Scripture citation in the Mishnah
Journal for Semitics 13/2 (2004) pp. 186-244
Abstract:
The question of the connection between the Mishnah, the seminal text of the Oral Torah, and the more authoritative Written Law or Hebrew Bible, is as old as the Mishnah itself. This paper addresses the lack of any concerted attempt to deal with the presence and/or evident absence of biblical citations in the rich assortment of manuscripts and early printings of the Mishnah. The seriousness with which the sages took their Torah study and the seeming dependence on the Bible as the source of their authority are essential in understanding the nature of the Bible-Mishnah relationship and clearing up the ambiguous presentation of the relationship found in some scholarly works. Based solely on the use of biblical citations, the relationship seems to be one of increasing dependence, not an expanding distance between the two as some scholars have suggested. An investigation of four tractates – Berakhot, Rosh Hashanah, Sotah, and Sanhedrin – demonstrates that a significant number of their biblical citations are questionable in the light of the manuscript evidence. One hundred and thirty-seven biblical citations in the Mishnah are considered. Significant discrepancies were found between various manuscripts and early printed editions as to the presence/absence of the citations considered. This article thus reaches an important conclusion: Nearly twenty percent of the biblical citations in the Mishnah can be demonstrated to be later additions and, as such, all previous studies based on cataloguing and analysing biblical citations are unreliable.
___________________________________________________________________________
Linington, Silvia
Some
observations on the development of the religion(s) of ancient
Journal for Semitics 13/2 (2004) pp. 245-285
Abstract:
The first part of this paper examines the
importance of three archaeological finds – the Kuntillet ‘Ajrûd Inscriptions,
the tomb inscriptions of Khirbet Beit Lei, and Hebrew seals bearing personal
names – for understanding religious developments during the period of the
divided monarchy in
___________________________________________________________________________
Frances Klopper
Oë in die wildernis. Putte en fonteine in die ikonografie van die ou Nabye Ooste
Journal for Semitics 13/2 (2004) pp. 286-312
Abstract:
Eyes in the wilderness.
Wells and springs in the iconography of the ancient Near East (Afrikaans)
Due to the geography and climate of
___________________________________________________________________________
R.G. Branch
Rizpah: Catalyst in king-making. An analysis of 2 Samuel 3:6-11
Journal for Semitics 14/1 (2005) pp. 1-16
Abstract:
The biblical text defines Rizpah in terms
of her function and status as the concubine of Saul and daughter of Aiah (2 Sam
3:7). It introduces her in terms of her relationships to men. Men decide her
fate as part of the spoils of war and bandy her name about as a magnet for
testing loyalties. The mention of her name sets in motion a series of violent,
bloody events that eventually establish David as king over all
___________________________________________________________________________
C.E.J. Schneider
Marginal kingdoms: The role they played during the Omrid period
Journal for Semitics 14/1 (2005) pp. 17-39
Abstract:
In the past History, as a subject, was where one learned the names and deeds of the famous and infamous. That may be because the famous were the winners or losers of wars, or the instigators or subjugators of rebellions, or the founders of dynasties, kingdoms etc. Be that as it may, the fact is that only recently, through new approaches of archaeology especially, can we read behind the praises and condemnations in order to get “the fuller picture”. The exercise involved in such a venture is one of research into the context of the happenings, the people involved, the results, and so forth. The realisation that an understanding of history can only be (almost) complete if we look into more than just famous names or ideologies, is the result of approaches which include the contextual realities of all social problems, of all religious connotations, of all political undertones, of all economic channels and, most recent one of all, geographical settings. The realisation too, that peoples of the deserts will think, act and respond differently to those in well-watered areas, has aided in a new understanding of cultures, their rites and rituals; of wars, and why they were fought and who the winners really were, etcetera. In this paper the Omrids are approached, in like manner, to find their contextual realities.
___________________________________________________________________________
P.J. Nel
I am a worm. Metaphor in Psalm 22
Journal for Semitics 14/1 (2005) pp. 40-54
Abstract:
The metaphorical linguistic expression “I am a worm” in Ps 22 forms the focus of this paper. The expression is analysed in terms of a cognitive linguistic approach and some of the observations may even convey cognitive anthropological consequences. The worm is associated with the source domain of death which is then projected onto the target domain of suffering and anxiety. The conceptual metaphor SUFFERING IS DEATH EXPERIENCE may have given rise to the linguistic metaphorical expression: I am a worm. The worm metaphor in v. 2 should not be construed solely in terms of the immediate personal complaint (vv. 7-9), but also in terms of the subsequent personal complaint in vv. 15-16, portraying a panoramic vision of death.
___________________________________________________________________________
W.J. Wessels
Yahweh, the awesome God. Perspectives from Nahum 1
Journal for Semitics 14/1 (2005) pp. 55-73
Abstract:
In the context of the book of Nahum as a
whole, the first chapter provides a very necessary theological perspective on
the God whose actions are described in the next two chapters.
___________________________________________________________________________
R.G. Branch
Rizpah: Activist in nation-building. An analysis of 2 Samuel 21:1-14
Journal for Semitics 14/1 (2005) pp. 74-94
Abstract:
Rizpah, concubine of Saul and daughter of
Aiah, features twice in scripture. The first story, recounted in 2 Samuel 3,
takes place at the beginning of David’s reign in
___________________________________________________________________________
Alec Basson
“Hide me in the shadow of your wings”. An image-schematic notion in Psalm 17:8b
Journal for Semitics 14/1 (2005) pp. 95-111
Abstract:
The poet of Psalm 17 employs striking imagery as a means of emphasising the shelter provided by Yahweh. The expression “hide me in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 17:8b) can be regarded as an apt metaphor for divine protection. It prompts the question as to why this particular description is applied to Yahweh. This article argues that this divine representation arises from and is grounded in the everyday bodily experiences of the psalmist (notion of embodiment). This article therefore purports to illustrate that such a portrayal is the result of the cognitive organisation and utilisation of an “IN-OUT” image-schema.
___________________________________________________________________________
Y. Gitay
The role of rhetoric in the rise of leadership: The case of Judah
Journal for Semitics 14/1 (2005) pp. 112-148
Abstract:
This essay seeks to demonstrate the power of speech in changing given situations, in solving problems in the course of deep human crises, and thus creating new realities in human lives. The intention is therefore to focus of the act of human argumentation and verbal performance as the key to sound leadership.
The question addressed in this essay is how, in terms of the biblical world view, certain biblical figures, created in God’s image (possessing therefore the faculty of speech as the means of doing) utter their speeches and therefore create realities; in other words, how speech creates “new realities”. Is it the word by itself that does this, or the word in its best form of wisdom, persuasion and power?
In order to illustrate the power of speech in establishing realities, attention is given to the great novella of Joseph (Gen 37-45), which deals with severe human conflicts that take place in Jacob’s family. These escalating crises are portrayed by means of discourses which are delivered in response to acute situations. These speeches succeed in creating new realities. Furthermore, they mirror a dynamic struggle for leadership, demonstrating the merit of sound reasoning.
___________________________________________________________________________
Z. Kotzé
Conceptual metaphors for anger in the Biblical Hebrew story of the Flood
Journal for Semitics 14/1 (2005) pp. 149-164
Abstract:
The story of the Flood in the Hebrew Bible contains all the elements of the prototypical ancient Israelite concept of anger. Divine fury is commonly provoked by human wrongdoing and followed by an act of retribution – in this case, the Flood. Genesis 6:6 vividly describes God’s rage in metaphorical terms. Yet researchers have shied away from interpreting the emotion described in this verse as fury. This reluctance is partly attributable to the fact that the formalist approach to the study of Classical Hebrew has dominated most of the current research on this text.
___________________________________________________________________________
G.G. de Villiers
& G.T.M. Prinsloo
Understanding Gilgamesh: His world and his story
Journal for Semitics 14/1 (2005) pp. 165-181
Abstract:
The Epic of Gilgamesh tells a story of ancient times, a story of one man who embarks on a futile journey in search of life everlasting. However, somehow this ancient text captures modern – even post-modern – imagination. Why should a modern, highly technological society bother itself with a text that has its setting in a Sumerian city state, with a story that refers to strange gods and monsters and that is – for the most part – unreal? This question is examined in this paper by using a two-pronged approach. A source-orientated analysis looks into the world behind the epic. A discourse-orientated analysis focuses on the text itself. The conclusion is reached that in the last instance the Epic of Gilgamesh is the story of one man. His story may be the story of anybody, anywhere, any place, any time. His story is the story of human broken-ness – anybody’s story. In this sense the epic remains relevant in post-modern society.
__________________________________________________________________________
Yousuf Dadoo
Cryptic
humour in Did you have to put on the light,
Līlī? A short story of Yūsuf Idrīs
Journal for Semitics 14/1 (2005) pp. 182-220
Abstract:
In
the following narrative, Yūsuf Idrīs describes the pitiful state of
an Egyptian religious leader and his congregation. The former figure is totally
ensnared by a beautiful Anglo-Egyptian prostitute to a point where she becomes
the object of his prostration, thereby replacing God. Most of the congregation
remains heedless of its surroundings.
This work may also be
interpreted as a political allegory wherein the author, through the use of
cryptic humour, and various narrative and poetic devices highlights compliance
between religious authorities and the state as well as obsequiousness of local
political rulers to western powers. The masses remain oblivious to all these
realities.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.S. du Toit, A. Lamprecht & N.F. Schmidt
Constructing and deconstructing sacred space
Journal for Semitics 14/2 (2005) pp. 227-234
Abstract:
This article provides some preliminary thoughts on the 2004 SASNES Colloquium topic: “Constructing and deconstructing sacred space”. It acts as introduction to the diverse collection of articles on the topic brought together in this number. The collection challenges the reader to reconsider current perceptions of the axis mundi; the construction of inner and outer space; the deconstruction of sacred space; liminality; gendered space; the mapping and transference of religious space; identity and space; urbanization and the economics of space; the contesting of religious space; as well as the construction of alternative religious space. Not to mention the important commentary sacred space construction and deconstruction provides for the religious understanding of the godhead. This volume brings together a truly interdisciplinary, multi-religious and/or secular rendering of the topic as interpreted by each individual author and provides a glimpse into the diverse nature of the academic interests of the colloquium participants and respondents to the colloquium.
___________________________________________________________________________
Luna Beard
From barefootedness to sure-footedness: contrasts involving sacred space and movement in the Bible
Journal for Semitics 14/2 (2005) pp. 235-260
Abstract:
This article focuses on the structuring of
sacred space involving the connection between feet, mountain sites and movement
over and onto mountain terrain in the Bible. The burning bush theophany at the
site of
__________________________________________________________________________
J.A. Naudé
On the boundaries between the sacred and the profane at the community of Qumran
Journal for Semitics 14/2 (2005) pp. 261-282
Abstract:
Life in ancient
___________________________________________________________________________
Carla Sulzbach
The
function of the sacred geography in the Book of Jubilees
Journal for Semitics 14/2 (2005) pp. 283-305
Abstract:
In general the interest of the
other-worldly realm on the part of the author of the Book of Jubilees has been
played down in scholarly literature. Although no heavenly journey is described,
the narrative frame is an angelic discourse directed at a human taking place on
___________________________________________________________________________
Jaqueline S. du Toit
Journal for Semitics 14/2 (2005) pp. 306-322
Abstract:
This article considers the imperial power
struggle for, appropriation and subconscious or deliberate reconstitution of,
the city of
___________________________________________________________________________
M.A.E. Dockrat
The development of the masjid as sacred space in Islām
Journal for Semitics 14/2 (2005) pp. 323-335
Abstract:
The masjid has been regarded as the sacred space in Islām and it is often assumed that this has always been the case. While it may be true that Islām does designate certain places as “sacred”, this study shows that attitudes of the masjid as sacred space emerged with time. A possible reason for this is the fundamental conviction that all place is sacred and that through worship, architecture and traditional city planning there is an attempt to sacralise all space by extending the “sacred” into the “secular”.
__________________________________________________________________________
A. Lamprecht
Experience eternity: on sacred space and holy places
Journal for Semitics 14/2 (2005) pp. 336-360
Abstract:
On January 27, 2002 Wafa Idris, a 27-year-old woman attained fame by becoming the first female Palestinian suicide bomber. At first glance, her act of turning her body into deadly shrapnel appears to be a tragic suicide. News reports mentioned her inability to bear children and speculated that society rejected her because of this. This miserable situation is proffer as the reason for her suicide. But is this the complete answer?
In this paper it
will be argued that correlations of Wafa’s everyday experience with infertility
(read impurity), the absence of purification rites and the religious endeavor
to inherit eternal paradise among the Muslim, inevitably lead her to act in a
certain kind of mental operation. This links her subjective everyday
experiences and judgments to her sensorimotor experience, which, in its way
were again influenced by certain mappings through primary metaphors on
philosophic grounds. The
As a substitute for the lack of sacrificial places in symbolic systems in the Islam tradition, it will be argued that Wafa Idris constructed an alternative sacred space in the experience of eternity, an act performing for the reconstructing not only herself but of the community.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.W. Gericke
Deconstructed sacred space and the ontological status of Yahweh: the case for anti-realism
Journal for Semitics 14/2 (2005) pp. 361-383
Abstract:
In this article, the philosophico-religious implications of the deconstruction of realism regarding certain locations in intra-textual sacred space in the Hebrew Bible are considered for what bearing it may have on how we think about the ontological status of Yahweh. It is argued that not only does much of biblical sacred space demonstrably have no extra-textual counterparts but, moreover, even the deity’s own abode appears to be a sociomorphic projection. And since Yahweh as depicted himself believes in the reality of what does not really exist, realism regarding his own ontological status becomes problematic.
___________________________________________________________________________
R.G. Branch
Space
for joy: Another look at the Book of Job and Job himself in light of some
principles of Wisdom Literature
Journal for Semitics 14/2 (2005) pp. 384-412
Abstract:
Much has been written about the Book of Job as a biblical perspective on suffering. Some see it as a correction to retribution theology. They argue that the righteous suffer without an adequate explanation from God.
Wisdom Literature, however, looks at life from a long-term perspective. It bases success on right speaking, right relationships, and right actions. These principles hold true in Job. Wisdom Literature shows how to achieve a stable and successful life. Its keynote principles include the following:
· Wisdom is teachable
· Wisdom’s pursuit must be ongoing throughout life
· One’s well-being relates to one’s choices
· Someone of greater import teaches someone of lesser standing
· Wisdom is an acquired skill
· The fear of the Lord enlarges one’s understanding of God and of one’s life
When God starts speaking to his servant Job in Chapter 38, God follows his own agenda. For example, God takes delight in outlining details of his creation. By sharing his thoughts with Job, he invites this righteous sufferer also to enjoy creation’s wonders. Via his monologue, God puts in perspective Job’s difficulties and hardships. God teaches Job. Significantly, God’s agenda as an answer satisfies Job.
Throughout the book, Job grows as a character. He increases in wisdom. Arguably, Job experiences joy in repentance (42:3, 6) and obedience (42:8, 10). Blessings and restoration come only after his wisdom lesson. He expresses awe and worship, clearly goals of Wisdom Literature. For Job, knowing God more deeply and hearing his voice bring this upright man joy. Amazingly, there is much space for joy in Job.
___________________________________________________________________________
L.J. Phahlamohlaka & J.H. Kroeze
Sacred space in cyberspace: an African perspective
Journal for Semitics 14/2 (2005) pp. 413-440
Abstract:
Although information technology can currently be regarded as a vehicle of mainly Western civilisation and culture, Africans should not merely accept it as such, because that would imply subjugation to a new, techno-cultural colonialism. On the other hand, we cannot simply ignore technology and try to return to a completely traditional way of doing things. The solution is to accept that a process of acculturation should take place, in which we embrace the new technology, but use it to enrich the information society by promoting African human values. These values are based on the concept of ubuntu or shared humanity, which also forms the basis for reconciliation in the Semitic world. After exploring the literature on the relationships between science, technology, belief systems and religion, a particular, non-threatening way of using information technology is proposed in which African human values would be embraced.
___________________________________________________________________________
J. Cook
Reconsidering Septuagintal origins
Journal for Semitics 14/2 (2005) pp. 441-461
Abstract:
In the past the issue of the historical
location of the Septuagint has been approached almost exclusively from the
perspective of the book of Aristeas and the unwritten assumption that the place
of origin of ALL the translations of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Greek) is
___________________________________________________________________________
G.E. Lier
A comparative analysis of the conception of God in the Hebrew Scriptures
Journal for Semitics 15/1 (2006) pp. 1-17
Abstract:
The conception of God in this paper is investigated firstly from the perspective of
historical criticism and thereafter from the framework of socio-philosophic
expressions of classical Judaism. Historical criticism focuses on historical
aspects of
___________________________________________________________________________
C. Lombaard
The Old Testament between diachrony and synchrony: two reasons for favouring the former
Journal for Semitics 15/1 (2006) pp. 18-31
Abstract:
In the search for alternative approaches to the historical-critical readings of the Old Testament, narrative and structuralist readings of the text set out arguments which prove, on closer inspection, to be fallacious. Some of these are indicated in this paper, and two reasons – one methodological and one theological – are offered as to why the historical-critical approaches remain preferable.
___________________________________________________________________________
Lillian Krawitz and Barbara Shaw
Axial Age religious ideology: a new key to transforming African Traditional Religion and ethics
Journal for Semitics 15/1 (2006) pp. 32-66
Abstract:
African Traditional Religion and ethics are
so close that they appear to be embedded. Through its adoption of Axial Age
derived religions, Christianity and Islam,
___________________________________________________________________________
R.G. Branch
Mutual joy: God and the people rejoice, Zephaniah 3:14-20
Journal for Semitics 15/1 (2006) pp. 67-91
Abstract:
___________________________________________________________________________
Alec Basson
Dog
imagery in ancient
Journal for Semitics 15/1 (2006) pp. 92-106
Abstract:
Few would dispute the notion that the dog
is man’s best friend. One would hardly find a more apt description of this
canine’s position in modern times. The question, however, arises as to whether
this was always the case. A survey of the relevant ancient Near Eastern
material reveals that not all cultures of this region valued dogs, as is the
case with their modern counterparts. In ancient
___________________________________________________________________________
C. Begg
The visit of the Queen of Sheba according to Josephus
Journal for Semitics 15/1 (2006) pp. 107-129
Abstract:
This contribution is a follow up to the Journal for Semitics issue devoted to the figure of the Queen of Sheba in biblical and postbiblical tradition (Jsem 13.1/2004). It provides a detailed study of Josephus’ account, in Ant 8.165-175, of the Queen’s visit to Solomon. Topics addressed by the study include: Josephus’ handling of the two, somewhat divegent versions of the episode (1 Kgs 10:1-13 and 2 Chr 9:1-12), the text-form(s) of the scriptural passages utilized by him, the rewriting techniques (omissions, additions, re-arrangements, and other adaptations) applied by the historian to the data of his sources and the distinctiveness of his presentation of the queen’s visit that results from their application, and the similarities and differences between his rendering and the treatment of the visit in various other postbiblical traditions.
___________________________________________________________________________
Yasien Mohamed
The classical Islamic concept of work and the craft
Journal for Semitics 15/1 (1006) pp.
130-145
Abstract:
The early positive attitude to work is
reflected in the writings of the Ikhwān al-Safā’ (tenth
century), Al-Rāghib al-Isfahāni (eleventh century), and Ibn
Khaldūn (fourteenth century). We will examine their views on work, the
moderate use of wealth, the three essential crafts and the motivations for
work.
___________________________________________________________________________
I.E. Jaffer
The meaning and development of Qur’anic exegesis
Journal for Semitics 15/1 (2006) pp. 146-174
Abstract:
In this article I will discuss the meaning of the term tafsīr on Qur´ānic exegesis and how it evolved as a technical term. I will then look at the development of Qur´ānic exegesis from the classical period of Islam, the prophetic period and the period of the companions of Muhammad, through to the age when the science of Qur´ānic exegesis became formalised by giving an overview of the early commentators and their contributions, the emergence of diverse schools of thought, their hermeneutical approach and exegetical literature.
___________________________________________________________________________
Y. Dadoo
Divine love, unity of being, and religious pluralism in the poetry of Ibn ‘Arabī
Journal for Semitics 15/1 (2006) pp. 175-220
Abstract:
The pivotal thought of Ibn ‘Arabī is divine love which manifests itself in all features of the cosmos. A corollary to this argument is his outlook on the “Unity of Being” which binds God in a special relationship of unison with His creation. As the ultimate source of all affairs, God settles all apparent contradictions – even those linked to religious differences – within His being. This article analyses these concepts before producing examples of them from some of his illustrious poetry which can be regarded at the levels of language, semantics and stylistics as highly delicate, complex and superb.
___________________________________________________________________________
G.E. Lier
The image of God in Fragment Targum (Recension P, Ms Paris 110) and Neofiti 1
Journal for Semitics 15/1 (2006) pp. 221-244
Abstract:
To date, there is as yet not much
forthcoming proof for differentiating Pentateuchal targumim in accordance with their origin in the liturgical setting
for popular use or their compilation for the purpose of scholarly debate in the
context of halakhic decision-making. Certainly, a number of hypothetical
proposals have been attempted, but more direct textual evidence is still needed
to complete the picture for developments of targumim
in
___________________________________________________________________________
J.S. du Toit, A. Lamprecht & N.F. Schmidt
Challenging
female embodiment: wisdom, law and the text
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 251-258
Abstract:
This volume constitutes an exploratory, and therefore of necessity cursory, overview of major issues of interchange and divergence in the consideration of the construction of female identity through embodiment. Scholars represented in this volume approach the topic by means of a range of perspectives and with an array of methods. The endeavour is to both render visible those hidden or marginilized experiences of the “other” and normativity. Thus each contribution represents a convergence in positing that women experience their identity not only as women but as religious practitioners beyond qua male experience. Thus demonstrating that the reality of embodiment of women’s lives were often far removed from patriarchal conceived literary representation.
___________________________________________________________________________
Jaqueline S. du Toit
In the eyes of the beholder: tradition, text and gender identity
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 259-277
Abstract:
This article develops the argument that the rearticulation of gender identity, and through it, community identity, has become central to fundamentalism in religion, in law, and in society. Thus it comments on Western representations of the feminine in Judaeo-Christian tradition by looking at children’s religious literature in particular. It presumes that the female body is historically and culturally constructed and differentiated from the male on these grounds, rather than exclusively on the biological. In this context the article focuses on Western influence on perceptions of female biblical characters (Eve, Esther) by indicating the attributes assigned to representational beauty in some visual and written renderings of the biblical text. Thus the question of current biblical relevance for the African and South African female constituency, given Western tradition’s ownership of Judaeo-Christian community ascription and gender identity, is addressed.
___________________________________________________________________________
Feminists
as hadīth scholars? The case of a
Tradition concerning female leadership of prayer
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 278-310
Abstract:
Muslim feminists and their supporters have increasingly used a hadīth and juristic opinion in support of their opinions in fiqhī issues. This article concludes that they are unable to substantiate their arguments sufficiently because they lack an understanding of the method employed in hadīth and fiqh studies. By examining the difference between the way Muslim feminists and the ‘ulamā’ approach a Tradition regarding female leadership of prayer it is shown that beyond the ideological differences there is a problem with the way the feminists consider the sources. The Tradition under discussion is identified in the works of hadīth in which it appears and the narrators are fully examined in order to assess the worth of the narration according to standards acceptable to hadīth scholars. Difficulties with interpreting the text of the Tradition to support the claim that it is fully permissible and valid for a woman to lead men in salah are highlighted. Other possible interpretations of the Tradition are assessed and the opinions of jurists are cited with regards to the issue.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.W. Gericke
YHWH’s funeral: a feminist perspective on projection and non-metaphorical religious language in the Old Testament
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 311-336
Abstract:
In this article, an attempt is made to provide evidence of patriarchal projective tendencies in the religious discourse of Old Testament Yahwism. The a/theological thesis of the inquiry is that such discourse challenges female embodiment since both YHWH and the divine world as depicted in some of the texts may be seen as the products of sociomorphic, anthropomorphic and psychomorphic patriarchal projective operations. This heterodox feminist perspective is considered justified in view of the culturally relative and historically contingent sexist nature of Yahwistic god-talk. Moreover, contrary to what many feminist biblical scholars believe, realism cannot be salvaged by an appeal to the popular theory that all religious language is metaphorical since, when applied to Old Testament Yahwism, this theory is invalidated by the twin fallacies of anachronism and sweeping generalisation.
___________________________________________________________________________
F. Klopper
“Of all things upon earth that bleed and grow, the herb most bruised is woman” (Euripides). Israelite woman as object of carnal knowledge.
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 337-348
Abstract:
It is no secret that ancient
___________________________________________________________________________
Marjo
Seals of Jezebel and other women in authority
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 349-371
No abstract available.
___________________________________________________________________________
Jacobus A. Naudé
The wiles of the Wicked Woman (4Q184), the netherworld and the body
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 372-384
Abstract:
The
___________________________________________________________________________
Jessie Rogers and Samuel Kareithi
“The shame of men is at their backs …” The gender implications of discrepancy between proverbial wisdom and the law
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 385-405
Abstract:
A culture’s proverbs point to the matrix of
beliefs and values in which its people’s lives are embedded. Interventions to
empower women can backfire when this matrix is not sufficiently factored in.
The wisdom and legal traditions of the Ancient Near East were aligned in the
boundaries they drew around women’s place and power in society. This could be
regarded as a double oppression, but ironically the alignment of these two
traditions has positive implications too. In modern
_________________________________________________________________________
C.J. Greeff
The religious influence on the availability of paleopathological material in Syro-Palestine
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 406-430
Abstract:
This article deals with different aspects
of paleopathology. After an overview of the potential value of excavated
skeletal material in general, attention is focussed on the religious and political
situation in
___________________________________________________________________________
Jacobus A. Naudé
The Qur’ān in English – an analysis in Descriptive Translation Studies
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 431-464
Abstract:
The Qur’ān
has been translated into most of the languages of Europe and
___________________________________________________________________________
J.N. Pohlig
Patterns in conceptual metaphors, image metaphors, and similes in Hosea
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp 465-498
Abstract:
This paper seeks to contribute to an understanding of the worldview of Hosea and his audiences, by asking whether this prophet expected his hearers to understand various figures of speech easily or with difficulty. First, conceptual metaphors are posited as normally comprising language that is considered fairly literal by native speakers. Secondly, similes are presented as conceptual associations that are regarded as less literal and more difficult. Three kinds of conceptual manipulations in Hosea are tabulated: humanization (the attribution of human properties to God, animals, or objects), animalization (the attribution of animal properties to non-animal entities), and objectification (the attribution of object properties to non-object entities). The paper concludes that in the book of Hosea as we have it, YHWH, animals, and objects were very readily conceptualized in human terms; but that conceptualization of YHWH and humans in terms of animals or objects was seen as more difficult. Abstractions were easily conceptualized as objects, but entities conceptualized as like entities were considered to be more difficult.
___________________________________________________________________________
J.P. van der Westhuizen
A proposed reading for El Amarna 186:20, 27, 34 and 42
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 499-520
Abstract:
In this article the tablet El-Amarna (EA) 186 is discussed with special reference to the circumstances in this document. The matter of concern is the provision made, for some reason or other, to the group of ‘Apiru active in the situation that is described in this document. It is clear that as payment for services rendered by the ‘Apiru they received some form of compensation. The ‘Apiru in this situation, as indicated in this letter, were most probably conscript soldiers, mercenaries for Amanhatpe. A number of words could fill the lacuna in EA 186:20 passim. Considering all the aspects of the situation under discussion, the conduct and the activities of the ‘Apiru, it would seem that, after their victorious return, they would be treated to a special occasion, such as a banquet with food and wine. In the case of Hasi and the escapees, they would be comforted, sustained and given refuge, receiving food and shelter.
___________________________________________________________________________
P.S. (Fanie) Vermaak
The Babylonian gateway during the Kassite period
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 521-543
Abstract:
The position of
___________________________________________________________________________
W. Wessels
Nahum 2: A call to witness a display of Yahweh’s power
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 544-563
Abstract:
It appears from the book of Nahum that
___________________________________________________________________________
C.L. van
An archaeological investigation into the production of olive oil in Israel/Palestine during Iron Age I and II
Journal for Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 564-589
Abstract:
This article is concerned with the uses of olive oil during the first temple period as well as the study of the archaeological evidence for oil production during this period in Israel/Palestine. The study of agricultural installations has not been in the mainstream of modern archaeological research, although the technology and history of these devices have been described and discussed from earliest times. One reason for the little attention given to agricultural installations by archaeologists in the past may be that they have been mainly concerned with trying to construct chronological sequences of facets of material culture, artefacts, types of buildings etc. based on stratified assemblages. While many other types of artefacts such as pottery etc. can be dated stylistically within half a century, the differences between agricultural installations of different periods are rarely marked. In this article it will become clear that it is not possible to construct a clear chronological sequence of types of installations.
___________________________________________________________________________
C.L. van W. Scheepers
The
olive oil industry at Ekron and co-existence under New-Assyrian dominion: a
socio-economic model for
Journal of Semitics 15/2 (2006) pp. 590-616
Abstract:
The excavations at Tel Mikne-Ekron have
revealed a previously unknown regional culture of the Iron Age. Together with
the excavations at Tel Batash-Timna, a composite portrait of great economic
prosperity in the seventh century B.C.E. in this region on the border of
___________________________________________________________________________
S.M.Fugitt
Towards an understanding of Philistine burial
Journal for Semitics 16/1
(2007) pp. 1-21
Abstract:
This article highlights burial customs from
Philistine-influenced sites. This influence is defined by the presence of
Philistine pottery. Customs identified will then be traced throughout the
literary record. The intent is to illuminate these practices in order to
provide a clearer understanding of the communities under consideration. A
symbiotic correlation between the peoples of this part of the world emerges as
a result of the evidence presented. A composite culture has been traced in the
pottery record of the Philistines and may also be seen in the literary
material. The veneration of specific deities and rituals along with practices
designed to pay them homage will be indicated. The literary perspective will be
emphasized, which will accentuate distinctions between the Philistines and
others around them as seen in the Hebrew Bible. A goal of this effort is to
help clarify sacred customs which reflect concepts of death, afterlife, and
possible cathartic processes of the ancient peoples.
E.
Wendland
The drama of Zephaniah: a literary-structural
analysis of a proclamatory prophetic text
Journal for Semitics 16/1
(2007) pp. 22-67
Abstract:
The Hebrew prophetic literature presents some of
the most dynamic and dramatic preaching to be found in the Scriptures –
intensely personal, pastoral proclamation. The relatively small text of
Zephaniah is certainly no exception; in fact, his book offers instances of some
of the most powerful hortatory discourse of the entire prophetic corpus. In
this article, a form-functional analysis is applied in support of the preceding
assertion.
Thus the literary-structural character of the
book’s textual organization is closely examined with special reference to its
prominent poetic features and overall thematic development, including its
vibrant oral-aural (oratorical) characteristics. Additional attention is
devoted to the crux interpretum of 2:4. This study emphasizes the
skilful manner in which stylistic form is used to effectively shape theological
and ethical content
in order to dramatize the prophet’s message so that
it is conveyed with a greater measure of persuasive force. In closing, several
challenges are addressed to encourage contemporary translators to communicate
the lively dynamics of Zephaniah’s discourse in their own language with a similar
measure of impact, appeal, and life-shaping relevance.
I.E.
Jaffer
The situation of early Muslims in
Journal for Semitics 16/1
(2007) pp. 68-86
Abstract:
The Muslims came to
G.E. Lier
Another look at the role of priests and
rabbis after the destruction of the
Journal for Semitics 16/1
(2007) pp. 87-112
Abstract:
In some recent targumic studies it was contended
that a priest-centred society continued to control the synagogues in
L.R . Martin
The intrusive prophet: the narrative function
of the nameless prophet in Judges 6
Journal for Semitics 16/1
(2007) pp. 113-140
Abstract:
This paper utilizes a literary theological approach
to explore the role of the prophet of Judges 6 within the narrative context of
the Midianite oppression, the story of Gideon and the larger narrative of the
book of Judges. Although the appearance of the nameless prophet is commonly regarded
as a late addition to the Gideon cycle (Judges 6-8), it is argued here that the
literary dimensions of the final form of the text should be considered. It is
concluded that elements of the prophet’s message intersect with prominent
motifs in the Gideon story and in the broader context of Judges and that the
prophetic speech signals the onset of the second of three stages in the
narrative structure of Judges.
Z. Kotzé
The evil eye as witchcraft technique in the
Hebrew Bible
Journal for Semitics 16/1
(2007) pp. 141-149
Abstract:
The evil eye is a most neglected topic in research
on the ancient Israelite language and religion. Despite the ubiquity of this
belief in the ancient Near East, some scholars still deny its existence in the
Hebrew Bible. This essay attempts to demonstrate that the malevolent eye is
attested in the language of the ancient Israelites. A cognitive linguistic
analysis of several figurative expressions in the wisdom literature reveals
that these were motivated by the conviction that the eye of certain people
served as a magical instrument of harm. Especially noteworthy is the fact that
the evil eye is ascribed to the black magician.
G.E. Lier
Was Targum
Onqelos compiled for use in the beth
din?
Journal for Semitics 16/1
(2007) pp. 150-179
Abstract:
Some scholars specifically link Targum Onqelos to
the academies. The fact that Onqelos is written in the literary Aramaic
dialect compounds this conjecture. Additional indications are the official
status it had in the Babylonian schools, and that its halakhah had to
correspond with the current stance of rabbinic thought already early in the
post-Temple period. Furthermore, Onqelos intentionally renders a literal
translation, while the renditions Neofiti I and Pseudo-Jonathan are
more periphrastic in their approach. In view of the fact that both Neofiti I
and Pseudo-Jonathan were used during the same period as Targum
Onqelos, it becomes pertinent to ask what the specific purpose(s) for
diverse targumic renditions was. To suggest that Onqelos was solely
compiled to provide an authoritative translation for Jews as a safeguard to
Christian interpretations of Scripture, which were based on the Septuagint
(LXX), is an oversimplification. The paper argues that the official status, the
halakhic impetus and literal translation of Onqelos may be attributed to
the purpose it served in the context of the beth din.
E. Wolff
Giving up your place in history. The
“position” of Levinas in philosophy and Jewish thought
Journal for Semitics 16/1
(2007) pp. 180-193
Abstract:
In this paper I would like to present the work of
Emmanuel Levinas and at the same time provide some clarity on the relation
between his philosophy and Jewish thought. After a brief biographical and
intellectual orientation, the theme of history and eschatology in Levinas’s
work will be explored as guiding theme of his thought. To him, history is for
the powerful flow of being that undermines ethical subjectivity; eschatology refers
to the interruption of history by its other: ethics. In this exposition, attention
will be given to his relationship with Rosenweig and Buber. An analysis of the
central notion of ethics as infinite responsibility to the other as well as the
political thrust of it, namely the search for justice for the other as brother,
will be presented as Levinas’s philosophical interpretation of eschatology. The
question of justice spontaneously leads us to a twin question: to whom am I
responsible? Who is
J.P. van
der Westhuizen
The morphology and morphosyntax of the
personal pronouns in the Amqi-Amarna letters
Journal for Semitics 16/1
(2007) pp. 194-210
Abstract:
This paper is concerned with the morphology and the
morphosyntax of the personal pronouns, independent and suffixed, as they appear
and function in the Amqi-Amarna letters. The difference as well as the correspondence
in form, compared to the standard Akkadian pronouns, as also WS influences are
pointed out. This is illustrated through the fact that though the Akkadian
pronouns, both independent and suffixed, can be divided into three distinct
morphological groups, viz. 1) nominative; 2) oblique (accusative and genitive);
and 3) dative, not all of these pronouns function in the Amqi letters. This is
followed by an investigation of the different syntagmas in which these pronouns
function and the cases where the independent pronouns are used in conjunction
with prepositions. Cases where the nominative function either as the subject
(topic) or predicate (comment) as well as cases of extraposition are also
discussed.
F.
Klopper
Iconographic evidence for the worship of
heavenly bodies in seventh and sixth century
Journal for Semitics 16/1
(2007) pp. 211-227
Abstract:
In the book of Deuteronomy the worship of heavenly
bodies is forbidden (4:19) and punishable by death (17:3-5). Given that it was
an ancient practice throughout
F. Vermeulen
Seëls as getuies van buitelandse invloede in
Palestina gedurende die Persiese periode
Journal for Semitics 16/1
(2007) pp. 228-266
Abstract:
Seals developed in conjunction with writing and for
more than seven thousand years it played a major role in establishing modern
civilisation. From textual sources not much is known about the foreign
influences prevalent in
relevant period.
B.
Becking
(2007 ADRIANUS VAN SELMS MEMORIAL LECTURE)
Sennacherib and
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 267-288
Abstract:
During the campaign of Sennacherib against the West in 701 BCE, the
Judahite king Hezekiah paid a disproportionately huge tribute to the Assyrian
king. In order to answer the question why Hezekiah’s tribute was that huge,
this article surveys the available evidence from a bird’s-eye perspective. It
pleads for a revitilazation of a modified “two campaigns” theory. By paying a huge
tribute in 701 BCE, Hezekiah regained control over the Judahite countryside
that earlier in Sennacherib’s campaign had been handed over to the Philistines.
J.S. du
Toit, A. Lamprecht, N.F. Schmidt
Children and the transfer of religious
instruction in oral, visual and literary texts
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 289-296
Abstract:
This article offers an overview of the SASNES Colloquium on Children and
Religion held at the
J.S du
Toit & L. Beard
The publication of children’s Bibles in
indigenous South African languages: an investigation into the current state of
affairs
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 297-311
Abstract:
This article presents the findings of an investigation into the current
state of affairs in the South African publishing industry as to children’s
Bibles and Bible storybooks for children in all eleven official languages. It
considers whether the previous predominance of English (and Afrikaans, to a
certain extent), still holds true. Have publishing houses made any concerted
effort in recent years to promote such material in all indigenous languages in
accordance with the constitution? Has the reader profile diversified
accordingly? This article endeavours to explore the present impasse between the
South African publishing industry and the constitutional policies regarding
language and the impact of this impasse on the nature, type and dissemination
of children’s bibles and bible storybooks for children in
G.L.
James
Tell it like it is! The case to include the
story of the rape of Tamar in children's bibles as an awareness tool
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 312-332
Abstract:
This article contains the story of a story. This is the story of the
ancient narrative of the rape of Tamar, set in the ancient Near East, found in
the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel, Chapter 13, and how it became a
contemporary instrument as an awareness tool about sexual violence. The “too
hot to handle” story of the rape of Tamar is absent in children’s Bibles. This
narrative has the potential to engage children on the issues of rape,
gender-violence, love and lust. I will strongly advocate for this text to be
included in children’s Bibles.
G.E. Lier
Torah events for the Jewish child
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 333-350
Abstract:
There is evidence in the Mishnah that education for children, in ancient
Judaism, started with the study of the Hebrew Scriptures. The paper examines
how Jewish children learn Torah in contemporary Judaism. The importance of
acquiring knowledge of Hebrew is investigated. Teaching Torah characteristics
and values to young children is assessed in the context of practical Judaism.
Furthermore, an overview of a number of contemporary mediums that are used for
the transmission of Torah to Jewish children is investigated, particularly in
relation to the Formative Age of Judaism (70- 640 CE).
V.R.
Sasson
Beauty queens and foetal containers: Jewish
and Buddhist mothers in the early literatures
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 351-368
Abstract:
Women have long been associated with beauty; it is expected of them and
they work hard to embody it. It is the argument of this paper that such beauty
is emphasized, sought out, and developed because of its constructed association
with women’s ability to conceive. This paper pulls material from two distinct
and historically (largely) unrelated traditions – Judaism and Buddhism – in an
attempt to address these questions across religious boundaries. It will
demonstrate that, so long as fertility functions as a religious priority,
beauty will as well. Only when fertility is put to the side, such as in the
case of female Buddhist monasticism, can beauty be eliminated as a priority
too.
A. Basson
On metaphorical language in two ancient Egyptian
love poems
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 369-377
Abstract:
Since romantic love is a complex emotion, we
often find it difficult to come up with a clear definition of the concept of
love. We are enchanted by love and invent ways to express this elusive and
crucial aspect of human existence. Even in the so-called pre-modern cultures,
people grapple with this intense human emotion. Given the prevalence of love
across cultures, this investigation purports to illustrate that the
articulation of love in two ancient Egyptian love poems is constituted by metaphor.
These love poets utilised conceptual metaphors to express the abstract notion
of love. By examining the linguistic evidence associated with love, the
exploration attempts to identify a few conceptual metaphors attested in two
Egyptian love poems. It is argued that for our ancient Near Eastern
counterparts, metaphorical language indeed became the necessary vehicle to
conceptualise and express such a multifaceted emotion.
R.G.
Branch
Zimri: slave or official? The strange story
of
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 378-391
Abstract:
This article explores the incredible story of
G.B.
Dennill & J.A.Naudé
A descriptive analysis of the concepts
“purity” and “holiness” within the Qmran community and Hare Krishna Movement
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 392-422
Abstract:
In order to compare the
M.A.E.
Dockrat
The concept fiqh al-lughah and the lexicon of al-Ta'ālabī
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 423-448
Abstract:
Fiqh al-lughah, lexical
“understanding” or “knowledge”, has been used by two authors to describe the
contents of their works. These two books are however different in the subject
matter they deal with. This article will explore the sense in which each author
has used this term. It will then examine more closely the work of Abū Manṣūr al-Tha'ālabī (d. 429/1037)
focussing on the way in which the chapter headings have been formulated, how entries
have been structured and how the lexicographer has incorporated different
opinions and related information within the entry.
I.E.
Jaffer
The asānid
of Ibn `Abbās in the tafsīr of al- Ŧabarī and Ibn Kathīr
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 449-470
Abstract:
In this
article I will discuss the asānid
on the authority of Ibn `Abbās found in two later tafsīrs,
Al-Ŧabarī and Ibn Kathir. This article looks at the narrators in the
first generation after Ibn `Abbās, those who featured more prominently and
persons from whom the two authors narrated, with brief information on a few
narrators.
Z.Kotzé
A cognitive interpretation of the combination
עיני עצה in Proverbs 16:3
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 471-482
Abstract:
The uncertain עצה in Proverbs 16:30 is often emended to עצם “to close.” Having the eye as subject, it is
typically regarded as a reference to winking. This gesture has been brought
into relation with an immoral or deceitful character. In this article
linguistic and contextual evidence for retaining the original עצה
עין
is put forward. It is argued that this phrase constitutes a figurative
expression for the fixed gaze. As such, it provides a parallel for other set
phrases in Classical Hebrew that brings glaring into relation with the evil eye
as witchcraft technique.
M. le
Roux
The survival of the Greek gods in early
Christianity
Journal for Semitics 16/2
(2007) pp. 483-497
Abstract:
From what we know of the historical sources, the Hellenistic period in
the ancient Near East (more specifically ancient