The Theology of the Book of Joel

148 Pages·1985·4.247 MB·English

by  Willem S. Prinsloo

Willem S. Prinsloo
The Theology of the Book of Joel

Willem S. Prinsloo
The Theology
of the Book of Joel
w
DE
G_
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
1985
Beiheft zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
Herausgegeben von Otto Kaiser
163
Gedruckt mit Unterstützung der Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Prinsloo, Willem S. (Willem Sterrenberg), 1944 -
The theology of the book of Joel.
(Beiheft zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft ;
163)
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Bible. O.T. Joel-Theology. I. Title.
II. Series.
BS1575.5.P75 1985 224'.706 85-15895
ISBN 0 89925 131 5
CIP-Kurztitelaufnähme der Deutschen Bibliothek
Prinsloo, Willem S.:
The theology of the Book of Joel / Willem S. Prinsloo. —
Berlin ; New York : de Gruyter, 1985.
(Beiheft zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft ;
163)
ISBN 3-11-010301-X
NE: Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft / Beiheft
Printed on acid free paper (pH 7, neutral)
©
1985
By Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin 30
Alle Rechte des Nachdrucks, der photomechanischen Wiedergabe, der Übersetzung,
der Herstellung von Mikrofilmen und Photokopien, auch auszuzugsweise, vorbehalten.
Printed in Germany
Satz und Druck: Arthur Collignon GmbH, Berlin 30
Bindearbeiten: Lüderitz & Bauer, Berlin 61
Preface
I hereby wish to thank prof. dr. Otto Kaiser, the editor of BZAW, and
the publishers Walter de Gruyter and Co. for accepting my manuscript for
publication in this series.
My sincere thanks to the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung not only
for the generous Stipendium which enabled me to carry out a research
project at the University of Tübingen, but also for a financial assistance
towards the printing of this book.
My heartfelt thanks to prof. dr. H. Gese and prof. dr. S. Mittmann and
other members of the Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät, Tübingen. I not
only profited by their seminars, the well equipped library and academic
discussions, but we were also inundated by them with kindness and friend-
ship during our stay in Tübingen.
Pretoria Willem S. Prinsloo

Contents
Preface V
Abbreviations VIII
I. Introduction 1
II. 1 1 11
III. 12-14 12
IV. 1 15-20 28
V. 2 1-11 39
VI. 2 12-17 49
VII. 2 18-27 62
VIII. 3 1-5 80
IX. 4 1-17 91
X. 4 18-21 113
XI. The theology of the book of Joel: Summary 122
Bibliography 128
Index of Scripture references 133
Abbreviations
ATD Das Alte Testament Deutsch
BAT Die Botschaft des Alten Testaments
BHK3 Biblia Hebraica, Ed. R. Kittel, A. Alt, O. Eissfeldt
BHS Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, Ed. K. Elliger, W. Rudolph
Β ΚΑΤ Biblischer Kommentar Altes Testament
BOT De Boeken van het Oude Testament
BZAW Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
CBQ The Catholic Biblical Quarterly
EvTh Evangelische Theologie
GTT Gereformeerd Theologisch Tijdschrift
HAT Handbuch zum Alten Testament
HUCA Hebrew Union College Annual
IB The Interpreter's Bible
ICC The International Critical Commentary
IEJ Israel Exploration Journal
JAOS Journal of the American Oriental Society
JBL Journal of Biblical Literature
JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
JSS Journal of Semitic Studies
ΚΑΤ Kommentar zum Alten Testament
NEB Die Neue Echter Bibel
NGTT Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif
NICOT The New International Commentary on the Old Testament
OLZ Orientalistische Literaturzeitung
OTS Oudtestamentische Studien
OTWSA Die Ou-Testamentiese Werkgemeenskap in Suider-Afrika
POT De Prediking van het Oude Testament
RB Revue Biblique
RSR Recherches de Science Religieuse
SVT Supplements to Vetus Testamentum
ThEv Theologia Evangelica
ThLZ Theologische Literaturzeitung
ThWAT Theologisches Wörterbuch zum Alten Testament
TZ Theologische Zeitschrift
VT Vetus Testamentum
WMANT Wissenschaftliche Monographien zum Alten und Neuen Testament
ZAW Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
ZThK Zeitschrift für Theologie und Kirche
I. Introduction
Old Testament theology today is passing through a phase of enormous
growth as well as something of a crisis. The crisis is due to a total lack of
consensus, even about the so-called "basic issues" of this science.1
The growth has been stimulated by several new Old Testament theolo-
gies published in recent years and a lively discussion on problem areas in
this field.2
This study in no way professes to offer a solution to these problems.
At most it is a contribution to the current debate and an attempt at offering
a fresh slant on the questions.
To speak of a theology of the Old Testament simply will not do: one
has to allow for several such theologies.3 The Old Testament is a many-fa-
ceted book with a long and intricate history and every attempt to pin its
theology down to a single structure has been abortive. Virtually all such
efforts have been based on broad themes or trends, with the result that parts
of the Old Testament have been either overemphasized or neglected — and
some parts completely overlooked.4 All attemps at categorizing the con-
tents of the Old Testament according to some dogmatic system must like-
wise be rejected, as must endeavours at focusing those contents around a
so-called Mitte. Using such a Mitte — whether explicitly or implicitly —
again results in underaccentuation of certain parts, or in forcing them into a
contrived framework. In addition the Mitte usually constitutes a highly
subjective research premise and the researcher's assumptions — both meth-
odological and confessional — play a far greater part than is commonly con-
ceded.
1 Cf. G. F. Hasel, Old Testament Theology, Basic issues in the current debate, 31982.
2 Cf. Hasel, op. cit.; H. G. Reventlow, Hauptprobleme der alttestamentlichen Theologie im
20. Jahrhundert, 1982; Η. Seebaß, Biblische Theologie, Beihefte zu EvTh 27 (1/82), for a
complete list and a discussion of the latest publications.
3 Cf. W. S. Prinsloo, The Theology of Jeremiah 27:1-11, OTWSA 24 (1981), 67.
4 Cf. e.g. R. E. Clements, Old Testament Theology, A fresh approach, 1978 who does not
pay any attention to wisdom literature.
2 I. Introduction
A more acceptable way would be to try and determine the theology of
individual Old Testament documents or "blocks of writings".5 Theoretical-
ly this should enable one to arrive at a synthesis of Old Testament theology,
but whether this is actually feasible is another matter. The fact remains that
in writing such a theology one must start, not with the superstructure, but
with the basics — that is the individual books or "blocks of writings".
When we speak of theologies "we naturally do not mean a number of dis-
parate theologies which have nothing to do with one another. We prefer to
see such theologies as a multifaceted diamond with countless dimensions"6.
The fundamental unity of the various Old Testament Theologies arises
from the fact that they all form part of the same canon and tell of the same
God, Yahweh.7
In this study we shall be concentrating on the theology of the book of
Joel. By "theology" we mean what the book Joel tells us about Yahweh.
Hence a theology of the book of Joel is not intended to present a systemat-
ized, static or isolated image of Yahweh, but a synthesis of the "picture of
Yahweh" reflected in this book. We reiterate: this theology does not set out
to construe a one-sided image of Yahweh but will try to adhere to the con-
tents of the book.
Another point to be noted is that this is a theology of the book of Joel
— not of the prophet Joel, nor of the "apocalyptic" or any other redactor.
Our point of departure is the final form of the text of this book. The text as
we have it today is the object of study. Historical criticism must face the
charge that, on the strength of its romantic supposition that the earliest
source is the most authentic or the best, it has often failed to take proper
account of the final text. In its attempt at reconstructing the so-called "orig-
inal" text it makes so much of the origin and growth of the final version that
the latter is largely neglected.
The honest exegete embarking on a study of the book of Joel faces a
host of problems. The first and probably the greatest of these concerns the
redaction history, composition and structure of the book. This problem was
first raised in 1872 by the French scholar M. Vernes,8 who believed that the
5 Hasel, op. cit., 93; cf. also W. S. Prinsloo, The Theology of the book of Ruth, VT 30
(1980), 330-341.
6 W. S. Prinsloo, OTWSA 24 (1981), 67.
7 Cf. H. G. Reventlow, Grundfragen der alttestamentlichen Theologie, TZ 17 (1961), 96
who writes: "Die wirkliche Mitte ist im Alten Testament keine andere als im Neuen: es ist
der sich selbst offenbarende Gott."
8 Le peuple d'Israel et ses esperances, cf. especially 46—54.