Intolerant Monolatry in the Deuteronomistic History

274 Pages·1999·8.632 MB·English

by  Juha Pakkala

PUBLICATIONS OF THE FINNISH EXEGETICAL SOCIETY 76
INTOLERANT MONOLATRY IN THE
DEUTERONOMISTIC HISTORY
The origin of intolerance of other gods and the demand to wor
ship Yahwe exclusively has aroused wide discussion in recent
research. The earliest evidence for such a demand has been sought
in different periods of Israel's history, but little consensus has
been reached.
This investigation approaches the problem from the perspec
tive of the Deuteronomistic History (DH), the main source of
Israel's pre-exilic history. In the author's view, much of the
research on the subject has belittled source criticism, and
consequently, the investigation attempts to fill this gap.
The investigation attempts to show that the explicit demand to
abandon other gods derives from the later redactional layers of
the DH. There is a notable shift in attitude towards the other
gods inside the DH. The history writer is not particularly inter
ested in the problem of other gods, whereas the later ones are
preoccupied with it. Such a turn most likely reflects a
contemporary development in Israel's religion and history. By
dating the editors or redactors, it is possible to trace crucial stages
in this development. It seems probable that the development
took place during the Exile. This investigation also sketches the
historical background and reasons of the attack on the other gods.
The current study is a doctorate dissertation at the University
of Helsinki, where the author is currently working as an assistant
of Old Testament Studies. He has also studied in Edinburgh,
Munster and Ti.ibingen.
ISSN 0356-2786
ISBN 951-9217-31-2
ISBN 3-525-53506-6
Intolerant Monolatry in the
Deuteronomistic History
: 1.
Publications of the Finnish Exegetical Society
Edited by Jaakko Hyttinen
Cover design by Jaakko Veijola
with the figure by Juha Pakkala
ISSN 0356-2786
ISBN 951-9217-31-2
ISBN 3-525-53506-6
Ykkos-Offset Oy 1999
PUBLICATIONS OF THE FINNISH EXEGETICAL SOCIETY76
JUHA PAKKALA
INTOLERANT MONOLATRY
IN THE DEUTERONOMISTIC
HISTORY
The Finnish Exegetical Society in Helsinki
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht in Gottingen
1999

Acknowledgements
I began to work on this subject in Prof. Timo Veijola's seminar on the
Deuteronomistic History in 1993-1994. In 1994 I finished my master's thesis with
the subject "Intolerant Monolatry in Deuteronomy". It soon became clear to me that
it would be necessary to investigate intolerance against the other gods in the rest of
the Deuteronomistic History. The present dissertation is the result.
There are many people who have made this work possible and who deserve
warm thanks for their contribution. I would particularly like to thank my supervisor
Prof. Timo Veijola for his constant professional support. He always had the time to
read my text, often the same chapter several times over, giving invaluable insight in
the subject and the Old Testament in general. I have also received useful advice and
support from Professors Raija Sollamo and Risto Lauha, for which I am grateful.
The "deuteronomists" of our post-graduate seminar - Petri Kasari, Jyrki
Keinanen and Mika Aspinen - also deserve special thanks. Countless debates and
discussions with them have had a major impact on my analyses and theories. For
correcting and improving my English, I am deeply grateful to Margot Whiting.
I am also grateful for the University of Helsinki for granting me a "Young
Scholar's Scholarship" from its 350-year Jubilee Fund in 1995. Financially, it made
it possible for me to study in MUnster, Germany. I would also like to thank the
Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (DAAD) for financing my further studies
in TUbingen: in 1996-1997. In MUnster I had the horror to learn from Professors
Oswald Loretz, Manfred Dietrich and Rainer A/hertz. In TUbingen I was kindly
guided by Professors Bernd Janowski and Siegfried Mittmann. They all deserve
warm thanks.
Finally, I am grateful to the Finnish Exegetical Society for accepting my
manuscript for publication in this series. I should also like to thank the secretary of
the society, Jaakko Hyttinen, who always had the patience to listen to my whims on
the layout and cover design.
Helsinki, 11th November 1999 Juha Pakkala

Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ I
1.1. History ofResearch. ........................................................................................ l
1.2. Methodological Questions and Central Concepts ......................................... 11
2. Deuteronomy ........................................................................................................ 20
2.1. Dt 13 .......................•.............................................................................- . ........ 20
2.2. Dt 17:2-7 ....................................................................................... ~ .............. 51
2.3. The First Commandment .............................................................................. 64
2.4. Shema Israel. ................................................................................................. 73
2.5. Dt 4:15-31 ..................................................................................................... 85
2.6. Dt 7:1-6 ......................................................................................................... 94
2.7. Dt 29:21-27 ................................................................................................... 99
2.8. Other Intolerance Passages in Deuteronomy .............................................. 104
3. Exodus ................................................................................................................ 112
3.1. Ex 20:22-23 ................................................................................................. 112
3.2. Ex22:19 ...................................................................................................... 119
3.3. Ex 23:13 ...................................................................................................... 127
3.4. Ex 34:11-16 ................................................................................................. 130
4. Intolerance Passages in the Deuteronomistic History ........................................ 140
4.1. Joshua-2Sam. ............................................................................................ l40
4.2. 1-2Kings ................ ,. .................................................................................... l53
4.3. Josiah's Reform-2Kings 22:1-23:30 .................................................... 170
5. Some Religious Phenomena Reevaluated .......................................................... l81
6. Archaeological Evidence .................................................................................... 188
6.1. Onomastic Evidence .. .-................................................................................ 188
6.2. Inscriptions .................................................................................................. l91
6.3. Iconography ................................................................................................ 197
6.4. Figurines, Massebot and Other Religious Artifacts .................................... 205
6.5. Conclusions ................................................................................................. 212
7. Repercussions ofLiterary and Redaction Criticism .......................................... 214
7 .1. Nomists and the History Writer .................................................................. 214
7.2. Nomists andDt/Dtn .................................................................................... 217
7.3. Turning Point in the Exile-The Nomists ................................................ 218
7.4. Post-Nomistic Intolerance ........................................................................... 222
7.5. Intolerance in Ex 20-23; 34 ......................................................................... 223
8. Monolatry in Israel's Religion ........................................................................... 224
8.1. Pre-Monarchic Religion .............................................................................. 224
8.2. Religion during the Monarchy .............. ,. .................................................... 225
8.3. Josiah's Reform .......................................................................................... 231
8.4. The Exile ..................................................................................................... 233
9. Summary ..................................... ;. ................................................................. 239
Abbreviations: .................................................................................................... 240
Sources and Other Reference Material: ............................................................. 241
Bibliography: ..................................................................................................... 242
Index of Biblical References .............................................................................. 260