Curse of Covenant Reversal - Deuteronomy - Literature review Example

CURSE OF COVENANT REVERSAL: DEUTERONOMY 28:58-68 Number: Curse of Covenant reversal: Deuteronomy 28:58-68 Introduction The objective of the paper is to provide an exegetical investigation on the bible’s theology lines in the book of (Deut 28:58-68). The lines conclude Moses’ second address that forms the book of Deuteronomy, and gives the details and the consequences of Israel’s refusal to obey their covenant with God. The canonical setting the choice is open at this point. The blessings of obedience are then set in (Deut 28: 15-68). The curses of disobedience are set in (28:15-68). The climax is in (Deut 58-68) where Moses is urging Israelites in view of the God’s victory over Egypt, the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the danger of idolatrous apostasy from God, to make a choice of obeying God and to gain his blessing of peace, land, and life1 In (Deut30:19).God was talking to Israelites and making covenant with them. He outlines what the people of Israel had to fulfill for them to be blessed and at the same time outlines the curse which would fall upon them due to the failure of adhering to the covenant. For the Israelites to be blessed, have life, and their descendant dwell in the land of their fathers, they had to obey his voice. On the other hand, the curse and death would fall upon them, if they don’t love God, obey his voice and cleave to him. In view of Israelites being in exile, and the importance in the old testament as God’s expression of the consequences of breaking the covenant, the studies of post-exilic Judaism and early teachings in Christianity make the investigation of this foundational pentateuchal passage vital.2 In this essay, there will be clarity in that this passage relates backwards to the covenant of Abraham and forward to the renewal of that covenant in the new renewed hope of Israel’s prophets. The passage has pointers toward crucial aspects of biblical theology. (Deut 58:10) introduces judgments on Israelites after breaking the covenant. They are spelled as follows: diseases, sickness, and afflictions (Deut58:61), decrease in numbers and relocation from the land (Dut58: 62- 63), serving other gods and being scattered, and the lack of shalom and return to Egyptian slavery (Deut58: 67- 68). In these verses, the speaker reveals to his audience the way in which every expression of the covenant for the people of Israel could be reversed.3 Due to the breaking of the covenant, God was to deny Israelites all the blessings that were promised. This passage in Deuteronomy gives a clear and full discussion of the subject. Through it, investigation of the above themes is possible.4 Medical reversal: verse 58 to 61 In (Deut28:58-61) the warning is given by God. Here the Israelites are warned if they are not careful do all the words of the laws written in the book, then they will have to fear Gods name. In addition, God world bring to them and their offspring severe and lasting afflictions. In addition grievous and lasting sickness and all the diseases of Egypt will fall upon them, and all other diseases not recorded in the book of the law will be brought on them until they are destroyed. The major consequence of breaking the covenant is indicated in terms of diseases, sickness, and afflictions. The word Makah, which appears four times in the verses, means an affliction that would be in form of a blow or a wound.5 Plague is also used twice and is more associated with diseases and sickness. There is emphasizing of the duration and severity of the situation. The diseases of Egypt are also introduced. The diseases are not specific in the book of exodus but have been previously mentioned in the book of Deuteronomy previously, where God made a promise to Israelites and said that he would bless them by multiplying and settling them in the land.6 As apart of this promise, it is stated that God would take away all the sickness but none of the evil Egyptian diseases. Redemption and the conquest were to free Israelites from these diseases. However the, the apostasy of the exile curse has to involve a reversal, a removal from divinely protected place, and return of the diseases of Egypt.7 In addition, verse 61 suggests that the diseases of Egypt could be referring to the diseases that were brought to Israelites by God in exodus. In this case, the judgment of these calamities is similar to exodus’ reversal, which is to be realized fully in the exile of the Israelites. The destruction threat is also found throughout this book and provides another theme of reversal. Reversal of numbers: verse 62 in (Deut28:58-62) it reflects the terms of the promise that Abraham was given by God. The main future was the increment in the numbers of his descendants, as it is indicated that they will increase as the stars of heaven.8 Within the book of Deuteronomy, the course covenant is well illustrated in the exile of the Israelites and the aspect of the promise in the book of genesis is said to appear to have been fulfilled. (Deut 10:12) “The lord your God has multiplied you, you are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude” and (Deut 10; 22) “your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons and now the lord your God has made your as the stars of heaven for multitude”, illustrates the threat of reversal for Israel. Israel had moved under God’s blessing from small numbers to a great multitude. Her apostasy would cause the reversal to her original position of small numbers.9 This is also well documented in (Deut 26) which talks of a wandering Aramean who went down into Egypt and sojourned there to become a great nation that was populous and mighty, and that Israel would revert to a position of the status same as being outside the covenant.10 Geographical reversal: verse 63 (Deut 28:63):The verse describes the importance of God’s promise to Abraham. It states that God will bless Abraham and his descendant and that he will be their God. Here, Israelites were given a choice of obeying God, and God would do them good and increase their numbers.11 The gracious choice is expressed in the blessing and in God taking the delight in Israel to do them good and multiply them. In the book of Deuteronomy, the focus is experience of the blessing of the land as the end of Israel’s journey, and in the condition upon Israel’s obedience.12 In the threat of the curse, God’s delight in doing good is turned to delight in judgment. There is also a possibility of future reversal in (Deut 30:9). The threat of non-compliance with the covenant involves destruction and removal from the land as God’s judgment. Here, destruction and ruin would be brought on the previous occupant of the land and the same terms are used to describe the state of suffering in Egypt through God’s judgment.13 The book, (Deut 61:10) the term destruction portrays the population decrease and eviction from the land. At the same time, the book gives a matching blessing of land and increase in numbers in the original promise passage in (Gene 15- 17). Religion and national reversal: verse 64 In (Deut28:64) the threatened judgments is both scattering among the nations and serving other gods. The identity of Israel as a people of God is eliminated as God of Abraham will send back Abraham’s apostate descendant back to the nations of other gods from which he came.14 The relationship of Israel to her God is concluded by the opening words of the Decalogue uniting the redemption from Egypt with complete avoidance in having other gods. This warning of having one true God is repeated several times in historical books in the Old Testament. The word scattering is mainly associated with the exile judgment. There is also hope of re-gathering. This scattering is associated with the removal from the land and reflects humanities scattering after the tower of Babel. 15 Dreadful reversal: verse28:65-67 The verse describes the kind of suffering and the Israelites would under go after breaking the covenant. They would scatter among the nation and they would find no peace. The sole of their feet would find no rest. In addition God would give them trembling heart, failing eyes and languishing souls. There is an attempt to portray the feeling of Israel’s status after scattering among the nations.16 The situation is that of fear and dread, as illustrated by the lack of ease, rest, and assurance and the presence of dread or fear. In Deuteronomy, Moses had initially anticipated that the occupation of the land would result in rest and safety to Israel.17 The exile threat involves reversal and removal from this peaceful condition. The lack of rest in one sole’s foot indicates the reversal of the conquest and the lack of security. On the other hand, the failing eyes indicate hopelessness.18 The fear and dread which was brought upon the Egyptians at the time of exodus was to be brought upon Israel under God’s judgment hence passing what Moses spoke against. (Deut 1:29).19 Conclusion The general conclusion can be that the promises of blessings by God to Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac that were enjoyed in whole or partially during Israel’s land occupation would be reversed if the Israelis would not honor the covenant. 20 Their prosperity, health, peace, numbers, and status would all be dissolved in exile as they scatter among the nations. Bibliography Blacketer, R. AThe school of God pedagogy and rhetoric in Calvins interpretation of Deuteronomy. Dordrecht, Springer. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=301867, 2006 Clines, The Theme of the Pentateuch Journal for the Study of the Old Testament: Driver, S. R. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Deuteronomy. Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark.1973 Fishbane, M. A. The exegetical imagination: on Jewish thought and theology. Cambridge, Mass, Harvard University Press, 1998 Hamilton, J. M. Gods glory in salvation through judgment: a biblical theology. Wheaton, Ill, Crossway.2010 Hirshman, M. G. The stabilization of rabbinic culture, 100 C.E.-350 C.E. texts on education and their late antique context. Oxford, Oxford University Press. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=472294,2009 Johnson, A. The dialectical method of biblical exegesis: a revelation paradigm for students taught by the Holy Spirit studying scripture. Victoria, B.C., Trafford, 2003 Katz, S. T. Mysticism and sacred scripture. Oxford, Oxford University Press. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10269005, 2000 Knibb, The Exile in the Literature of the lntertestamental Period Heythrop Journal pp 253-79; 1976 Lenchak, T. A. "Choose life": a rhetorical-critical investigation of deuteronomy 28,69-30,20. Roma, Ed. Pontificio Ist. Biblico,1993 Levinson, B. M. Deuteronomy and the Hermeneutics of Legal Innovation. New York, Oxford University Press. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=271304,1998 Lo, A. Job 28 as rhetoric an analysis of Job 28 in the context of Job 22-31. Leiden, Brill. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10089773, 2003 McNamara, M., & Maher, M. The Aramaic Bible. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan: Exodus ; translated, with notes by Michael Maher. Vol. 2, Vol. 2. Edinburgh, T & T Clar,1994 Merrill, . Deuteronomy New American Commentary (Broadman and Holman) Morrow, W. S. Deuteronomy. The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 59(3), 549-550. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/220261023?accountid=458, 1997 Nicholson, E. Reconsidering the provenance of deuteronomy. Zeitschrift Für Die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, 124(4), 528-540. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1450018318?accountid=458,2012 Old, H. O. The biblical period. 1998 p 3 71; cf earlier M G Kline Treaty of the Great King: The Covenant Structure of Deuteronomy: Studies and Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans 1963) p 129. 1994 Singer, I., & Adler, C. The Jewish encyclopedia: a descriptive record of the history, religion, literature, and customs of the Jewish people from the earliest times to the present day. New York, Funk and Wagnall,1912 Supplement Series 10 (Sheffield: JSOT ) pp 31-60 (chapters five and six).1978 Waters, G. The end of deuteronomy in the epistles of Paul. Tübingen, Mohr Siebec,2002 Zuck, R. B., & Walvoord, J. F. The Bible knowledge commentary: an exposition of the scriptures. Colorado Springs, Colo, Victo,2001 Notes A, Johnson. The dialectical method of biblical exegesis: a revelation paradigm for students taught by the Holy Spirit studying scripture. Victoria, B.C., Trafford (2003) 2S.T. Katz. Mysticism and sacred scripture. Oxford, Oxford University Press. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10269005 (2000) 3 R.A. Blacketer . The school of God pedagogy and rhetoric in Calvins interpretation of Deuteronomy. Dordrecht, Springer. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=301867(2006) 4 A.Lo, Job 28 as rhetoric an analysis of Job 28 in the context of Job 22-31. Leiden, Brill. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10089773(2003) 5 E.Nicholson, Reconsidering the provenance of deuteronomy. Zeitschrift Für Die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, 124(4), 528-540. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1450018318?accountid=458 (2012) 6 Knibb, The Exile in the Literature of the lntertestamental Period Heythrop Journal pp 253-79;(1976) 7 Clines, The Theme of the Pentateuch Journal for the Study of the Old Testament: Supplement Series 10 (Sheffield: JSOT ) pp 31-60 (chapters five and six).(1978) 8 Merrill, Deuteronomy New American Commentary (Broadman and Holman) p 3 71; cf earlier M G Kline Treaty of the Great King: The Covenant Structure of Deuteronomy: Studies and Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans 1963) p 129.(1994) 9 Knibb, The Exile in the Literature of the lntertestamental Period Heythrop Journal pp 253-79;(1976) 10 Clines, The Theme of the Pentateuch Journal for the Study of the Old Testament: Supplement Series 10 (Sheffield: JSOT ) pp 31-60 (chapters five and six).(1978) 11 Merrill, Deuteronomy New American Commentary (Broadman and Holman) p 3 71; cf earlier M G Kline Treaty of the Great King: The Covenant Structure of Deuteronomy: Studies and Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans 1963) p 129.(1994) 12 S.R Driver, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Deuteronomy. Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark.(1973) 13 H.O Old, The biblical period (1998) 14 G.Waters, The end of deuteronomy in the epistles of Paul. Tübingen, Mohr Siebec(2002) 15 G.Waters, The end of deuteronomy in the epistles of Paul. Tübingen, Mohr Siebec(2002) 16 R.B Zuck, & J.F Walvoord, The Bible knowledge commentary: an exposition of the scriptures. Colorado Springs, Colo, Victo(2001) 17 I.Singer, & C. Adler, The Jewish encyclopedia: a descriptive record of the history, religion, literature, and customs of the Jewish people from the earliest times to the present day. New York, Funk and Wagnall(1912) 18 J.M.Hamilton, Gods glory in salvation through judgment: a biblical theology. Wheaton, Ill, Crossway.(2010) 19 M.McNamara, & M.Maher, The Aramaic Bible. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan: Exodus ; translated, with notes by Michael Maher. Vol. 2, Vol. 2. Edinburgh, T & T Clar(1994) (Kindly consider contacting me directly via njerudeeewriters@gmail.com for more papers at a discounted cost. 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