(A) Prophet in Debate: The Rhetoric of Persuasion in the Book of Amos

369 Pages·2003·19.74 MB·English

by  Karl Moller

JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
SUPPLEMENT SERIES
372
Editors
David J.A. Clines
Philip R. Davies
Executive Editor
Andrew Mein
Editorial Board
Richard J. Coggins, Alan Cooper, J. Cheryl Exum, John Goldingay,
Robert P. Gordon, Norman K. Gottwald, John Jarick,
Andrew D.H. Mayes, Carol Meyers, Patrick D. Miller
Sheffield Academic Press
A Continuum imprint
This page intentionally left blank
A Prophet in Debate
The Rhetoric of Persuasion in the
Book of Amos
Karl Moller
Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
Supplement Series 372
Copyright © 2003 Sheffield Academic Press
A Continuum imprint
Published by Sheffield Academic Press Ltd
The Tower Building, 11 York Road, London SE1 7NX
370 Lexington Avenue, New York NY 10017-6550
www.continuumbooks.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Typeset by Sheffield Academic Press
Printed on acid-free paper in Great Britain by Bookcraft Ltd, Midsomer Norton, Bath
ISBN 0-8264-6568-4
CONTENTS
List of Figures vii
Acknowledgments viii
Abbreviations ix
Parti
READING AMOS—A COMMUNICATION-THEORETICAL APPROACH
Introduction
AMOS AND THE RHETORIC OF PERSUASION 2
1. Contextualizing Rhetorical Criticism 4
2. Definition and Procedural Outline of Rhetorical Criticism 21
3. Rhetorical Criticism and the Study of Amos 43
Chapter 1
RHETORICAL STRUCTURE 47
1. Parameters for Structural Investigation 49
2. Structural Outlines for Amos: An Evaluation 60
3. The Macrostrucrure of Amos 89
Chapter 2
RHETORICAL SITUATION AND STRATEGY 104
1. Rhetorical Situation and Problem 104
2. Rhetorical Strategy 120
Part II
THE RHETORIC OF AMOS 1^
Chapter 3
AMOS 1-2 154
I.Amos 1.1-2 154
2. Amos 1.3-2.16 172
vi A Prophet in Debate
Chapter 4
AMOS 3 217
I.Amos 3.1-2,13-15 218
2. Amos 3.3-8 225
3. Amos 3.9-11 234
4. Amos 3.12 238
5. The Rhetorical Structure of Amos 3 244
6. The Rhetorical Function of Amos 3 247
Chapter 5
AMOS 4 251
I.Amos 4.1-3 251
2. Amos 4.4-5 262
3. Amos 4.6-11 268
4. Amos 4.12-13 280
5. The Rhetorical Structure and Function of Amos 4 290
Conclusions 294
Bibliography 297
Index of References 336
Index of Authors 344
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. The Chiastic Arrangement of Amos 5.1-17 68
Figure 2. The Parallel Arrangement of Amos 3.9-15
and 6.2, 8-14 according to Noble 72
Figure 3. Section-Ending Divine Name Formulas in Amos
3.1-9.6 according to Dempster 81
Figure 4. The Introductory Addresses in Amos 3, 4 and 5 92
Figure 5. Major Introductory Markers in Amos 102
Figure 6. The Structure of Amos 1.1 159
Figure 7. The 'Narrative-Frame' of Amos 159
Figure 8. The Internal Structure of the OAN 173
Figure 9. The Alternating Arrangement (Pairing) of the OAN 173
Figure 10. Local Highlighting in Amos 2.11 174
Figure 11. The Rhetorical Structure of Amos 2.6-16 174
Figure 12. The Rhetorical Structure of the OAN 195
Figure 13. The Geographical Arrangement of the OAN 196
Figure 14. Rendtorff s Reconstruction of Amos 2.14-15 211
Figure 15. The Chiasm in Amos 2.14a, 15b 211
Figure 16. The Order of the Bistichoi in Amos 2.14-15 211
Figure 17. Amos 3 as a Seven-Part Chiasm (Dorsey) 218
Figure 18. The Relationship between Amos 3.1-2 and 13-15 223
Figure 19. An Outline of the Bistichoi in Amos 3.3-8 227
Figure 20. The Structure of Amos 3.3-8 228
Figure 21. The Interrelation of Amos 3.6b(3 and 7a 230
Figure 22. Linear, Progressive Development in Amos 3.9-11 234
Figure 23. The Rhetorical Structure of Amos 3.9-11 235
Figure 24. The Courtroom Scene in Amos 3.9-11 236
Figure 25. The Structure of Amos 3.12 239
Figure 26. The Rhetorical Structure of Amos 3 245
Figure 27. Amos 3 as Two Chiastic Cycles (Wendland) 245
Figure 28. The Structure of Amos 4.1-3 260
Figure 29. The Structure of Amos 4.4-5 266
Figure 30. The Strophic Arrangement and the Structure
of Amos 4.6-11 277
Figure 31. The Rhetorical Structure of Amos 4.12-13 289
Figure 32. The Rhetorical Structure of Amos 4 293
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The writing of this study could not have been done without the support of
a number of people, some of whom were more or less directly involved in
the project. Others were important to me precisely because they had no
part in it and, due to their limited interest in Old Testament prophecy and
issues of hermeneutics and interpretation, afforded me some welcome
distractions. I should stress, however, that by singling out some, I do not
intend to depreciate the contribution and support of those who must
remain unnamed.
First, I would like to express my gratitude to Professor Gordon J.
Wenham and Professor John Barton, whose generous help and support,
together with their great expertise, were of immeasurable value to me. I
am also grateful to the University of Gloucestershire and, in particular, the
Theology and Religious Studies department for giving me the opportunity
to pursue my interest in Amos and for providing some of the necessary
funding. My friends and colleagues in the Biblical Studies Seminar
deserve special mention because, in many a talk and discussion, they have
helped me disentangle my often confused thoughts as well as develop
what at first were merely vague hunches and unlikely ideas.
Most of all, however, I would like to thank my wife Maja, who has been
a constant source of help, support and encouragement. Her contribution
has been vital, especially on those days when I myself, like some of my
friends mentioned earlier, had a rather limited interest in Old Testament
prophecy and issues of hermeneutics and interpretation. Finally, I must
mention our children Tobias and Sarah, who, while not exactly speeding
up my work, have made life so much more enjoyable.
Karl Moller
Cheltenham, February 2002
ABBREVIATIONS
AB Anchor Bible
ABD D.N. Freedman (ed.), The Anchor Bible Dictionary (6 vols.;
New York: Doubleday, 1992)
AGJU Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des
Urchristentums
AnBib Analecta biblica
ANET J.B. Pritchard (ed.), Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to
the Old Testament (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 3rd
edn, 1969)
AnOr Analecta orientalia
AOAT Alter Orient und Altes Testament
ATANT Abhandlungen zur Theologie des Alten und Neuen
Testaments
AID Das Alte Testament Deutsch
ATLA American Theological Library Association
AUMSR Andrews University Monograph Studies in Religion
AusBR Australian Biblical Review
AUSS Andrews University Seminary Studies
BARev Biblical Archaeology Review
BASOR Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research
BBB Bonner biblische Beitrage
BBET Beitrage zur biblischen Exegese und Theologie
BBR Bulletin for Biblical Research
BDB F. Brown, S.R. Driver and C.A. Briggs, A Hebrew and
English Lexicon of the Old Testament (Oxford: Clarendon
Press, corr. edn, 1952)
BEATAJ Beitrage zur Erforschung des Alten Testaments und des
Antiken Judentums
BETL Bibliotheca ephemeridum theologicarum lovaniensium
BEvT Beitrage zur evangelischen Theologie
BFCT Beitrage zur Forderung christlicher Theologie
BHH B. Reike and L. Rost (eds.), Biblisch-historisches
Handworterbuch (4 vols.; Gottingen: Vandenhoeck &
Ruprecht, 1962-79)
BHS Biblia hebraica stuttgartensia
Bib Biblica