The Letter that Lives: Mid. Ps. 29 as a Case Study of Anti-Christological Polemic
Current methodologies in the study of Midrash allow for the hypothesis that Mid. Ps. 29.1 is polemically structured as an exegetical dispute with a christological interpretation of Ps. 29 (LXX 28). Seemingly without provocation, the Midrash abandons traditional readings of the phrase 'םילא ינב...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
[2016]
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| In: |
The journal of theological studies
Year: 2016, Volume: 67, Issue: 1, Pages: 38-76 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Psalmen 29,1
/ Midrash
/ Textual criticism
/ Polemics
/ Christology
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| IxTheo Classification: | BH Judaism CC Christianity and Non-Christian religion; Inter-religious relations HB Old Testament NBF Christology |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | Current methodologies in the study of Midrash allow for the hypothesis that Mid. Ps. 29.1 is polemically structured as an exegetical dispute with a christological interpretation of Ps. 29 (LXX 28). Seemingly without provocation, the Midrash abandons traditional readings of the phrase 'םילא ינב 'הל ובה' (‘Ascribe to the Lord, o ye sons of God’), creating a singular repositioning of Ps. 29:1 in the history of rabbinic interpretation by incorporating the Septuagint’s second and mistaken doublet, ‘sons of rams’. This specific reading coincides with Jerome’s translation of Ps. 28:1a in the Hebraica Veritas ( Adferte Domino filios arietum ), as does the martyrological significance that both the rabbinic homilist(s) and Jerome (amongst others) read into the phrase. I argue that the homilist’s foray into the sphere of disputed dogma is a response to his own historical context, undertaken with a view to defending a vision of Israel’s unmediated covenantal life expressed through martyrdom and eschatology. Here is a midrash that could reflect, if not an actual polemic on this particular phrase, at least Jewish resolve to participate in the long-drawn-out contest between two rivals for the much-coveted title ‘sons of God’, through appropriating and subverting dominant modes of cultural authority. |
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| ISSN: | 1477-4607 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The journal of theological studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1093/jts/flv124 |