Pierre J Jordaan
North-West University, Theology, Department Member
- A rated researcher and internationally published editor.edit
Contribution: This article shows that Judith 13 is indeed the climax of the narrative. However, it goes further. It is a vivid scene with various performative aspects. There are props, dialogue and audience participation. This research is... more
Contribution: This article shows that Judith 13 is indeed the climax of the narrative. However, it goes further. It is a vivid scene with various performative aspects. There are props, dialogue and audience participation. This research is cutting-edge and paves the way for new explorations.
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The view of the deity and the people in 2 Maccabees seems to be a dynamic rather than a stagnant relationship. On the one hand, the deity sometimes punishes his people through the enemy. However, in other instances, he defends them... more
The view of the deity and the people in 2 Maccabees seems to be a dynamic rather than a stagnant relationship. On the one hand, the deity sometimes punishes his people through the enemy. However, in other instances, he defends them against the same enemy. In this sequence of events, the ‘Heliodorus scene’ in 2 Maccabees 3 is quite unique. A protagonist and his helpers (a man on a horse and two youths) as well as an antagonist and his helpers (Heliodorus and his bodyguard) can be shown. Minor, seemingly insignificant players – the ‘widows and orphans’ – are also found. Doran states that mentioning them in this scene is possibly a rhetorical ploy and refers to LXX Psalms 67:6 (Ps 68:5) as possible background. However, Doran, unfortunately, does not investigate LXX Psalms 67 further. Upon closer inquiry, this text might show an interesting context for the Heliodorus scene and the making of the people. It demonstrates how ‘the people’ should conduct themselves, the role of the sanctuary...
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Scholars differ among each other about the importance of the Jerusalem temple in 2 Maccabees. Some see the temple as of minor importance while others are of the opinion that the temple takes centre stage in this book. This article concurs... more
Scholars differ among each other about the importance of the Jerusalem temple in 2 Maccabees. Some see the temple as of minor importance while others are of the opinion that the temple takes centre stage in this book. This article concurs with the second view. However, it goes further by also exploring crucial temple dynamics. These temple dynamics are determined by certain pre-set criteria and centre mainly on the relationship between God and the nation. The result is that three different temple episodes can be distinguished. The positive/negative view of each temple episode is determined by this relationship between the nation and God. This opens a new way of exploring 2 Maccabees. PROBLEM STATEMENT During the first period of research on 2 Maccabees the focus was mainly concerned with verifying certain historical facts. Good examples of this approach include the work of Moffat (1913), Bickerman (1937), his student Goldstein (1983) and also Dommershausen (1985). The aim of this cur...
It is common for the Judith tale to be connected to the festival of Hanukkah. In this context, mostly, an acknowledgment is made that this connection between Judith and Hanukkah is of medieval Jewish provenance. Furthermore, it is quite... more
It is common for the Judith tale to be connected to the festival of Hanukkah. In this context, mostly, an acknowledgment is made that this connection between Judith and Hanukkah is of medieval Jewish provenance. Furthermore, it is quite clear that LXX Judith neither makes reference to Hanukkah nor alludes to that specific festival. However, despite being an obviously ludic text, LXX Judith makes pointed references to specific dates (albeit seemingly out of context) and certain agricultural activities that when viewed from a purely Jewish context strongly imply periods engaged with other Jewish festivals. Indeed, as an example, a knowledgeable reader following the explicit time line set out in LXX Judith would be in no doubt that the meeting between Judith and Holofernes occurred sometime in Av. The reader would also understand that the primary theme of the narrative is the ultimate protection of the Holy Temple. This is not a tale about rededication but rather halting an enemy, focused on destroying the Temple. Nowhere in the text is there even a hint that the Second Temple has been desecrated or made unclean. It is portrayed as intact and functioning correctly in Jewish society. The subtle references to the month of Av are clearly appropriate because they remind the reader of the worst-case scenario should the enemies of the Jews not be stopped. The fact that (in the tale) the Second Temple is saved during the month of Av helps to negate the destruction of the First Temple at the same time of year. If interpreted correctly it would appear that the Judith tale as espoused in LXX Judith was originally intended to be associated with Tish‘a B’Av and not Hanukkah.
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The objective of this article is to analyse the different narratives implied in 2 Maccabees 6 and 7 in order to explicate the significance of both the dominant and challenging narratives (i.e. the rising hegemony of Hellenism in the... more
The objective of this article is to analyse the different narratives implied in 2 Maccabees 6 and 7 in order to explicate the significance of both the dominant and challenging narratives (i.e. the rising hegemony of Hellenism in the Maccabean period and the subsequent Jewish counterattack involving certain altered theological viewpoints). It further investigates the social problems behind these narratives (e.g. the Jewish religion losing members and the fact that the bodies of the Jewish nation were viewed as being inferior). In addition, attention is given to the pointers in the text for managing this problem referring to successful outcomes for this new master narrative in the past. It is argued that the Jewish religion was quite inventive by borrowing (ironically) from Hel-lenism. To do this the Narrative Therapeutic Approach as used by Epston and White was applied to 2 Maccabees 6 and 7 which resulted in a new and quite unique interpretation.
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This article posits that the mentioning of χηρῶν τε καὶ ὀρφανῶν in 2 Macc 3:10 serves as an important marker and is possibly much more than just a combination of two words. From a semiotic perspective, these words may well serve as an... more
This article posits that the mentioning of χηρῶν τε καὶ ὀρφανῶν in 2 Macc 3:10 serves as an important marker and is possibly much more than just a combination of two words. From a semiotic perspective, these words may well serve as an index. The author attempts to show that in 2 Macc 3, God intervenes on behalf of such people as the widows and orphans in his holy temple. In this regard, he becomes a father to the orphans and a judge for the widows and will bring justice to people like them.
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The aim of this essay is to demonstrate the main features of theologically based research on 2 Maccabees over the past century. This will be done by dividing this period into four quests. These quests represent chronological periods... more
The aim of this essay is to demonstrate the main features of theologically based research on 2 Maccabees over the past century. This will be done by dividing this period into four quests. These quests represent chronological periods wherein certain theological leitmotifs surfaced. The fourth quest research represents current theological endeavors in 2 Maccabees. This quest, dating from after the 2012 publications until the present day, has yielded some unique approaches to the study of 2 Maccabees.
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Online Journal Abstract Information - Sabinet Online.
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Commentators on the Septuagint normally use what can be called ''mainline'' or ''traditional'' methods to interpret texts. This article follows a novel methodological approach that is based on recent... more
Commentators on the Septuagint normally use what can be called ''mainline'' or ''traditional'' methods to interpret texts. This article follows a novel methodological approach that is based on recent developments in cognitive linguistics. More specifically, it utilises the theory and method underlying the concept ''embodied cognition'' or ''embodiment''. It is argued that people interpret their environment, their lives, and life's vicissitudes unconsciously by using their bodies as point of reference. The underlying worldview and power structures inherent in the Susanna narrative are explored from this theoretical viewpoint. This theoretical approach is combined with insights from other disciplines such as cultural anthropology and social scientific readings of texts to further enhance the exposition of the worldview underlying the narrative. It is shown that cognitive linguistics adds value to existing interpretations of the narrative.
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A sample investigation into how a multi-cultural Protestant South African community received the martyr texts in 2 Maccabees 6:31-7:42 provided interesting results. Various threats to their Christian faith were identified. A deep... more
A sample investigation into how a multi-cultural Protestant South African community received the martyr texts in 2 Maccabees 6:31-7:42 provided interesting results. Various threats to their Christian faith were identified. A deep spiritual need emerged to make sense of troubling circumstances. In an attempt to address these problems the martyr texts of 2 Maccabees 6:31-7:42 were seen to be suitable. The research in this paper was undertaken without any expectation that we would reach any specific results. The spiritual need among this specific sample of a Protestant community in South Africa shows that it may be the right time for a fresh approach to the corpus of apocryphal books.
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The events in the introduction to 2 Maccabees (2 Macc 3:1–39) undoubtedly centre round the Jerusalem Temple. It is depicted as world-renowned, holy and just. Many scholars have therefore highlighted the theme of the Temple in 2 Maccabees,... more
The events in the introduction to 2 Maccabees (2 Macc 3:1–39) undoubtedly centre round the Jerusalem Temple. It is depicted as world-renowned, holy and just. Many scholars have therefore highlighted the theme of the Temple in 2 Maccabees, introduced by 2 Maccabees 3. Yet, the reason for the Temple’s centrality is not traditionally seen as more than a mere link to the rest of the narrative. This article, however, asks the question: Why is the author incorporating the Temple in such a specific manner? What is the impact on the implicit reader of this specific depiction of the Temple? In other words, how is the implicit reader’s experience throughout the rest of the narrative influenced by the events in this introduction? To answer these questions, the article identifies six scenes in 2 Maccabees 3 and applies a rhetorical analysis in order to establish the communicative strategy and its possible impact on the implicit reader.
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David Epston and Michael White pioneered narrative therapy as an analytical approach. In their book, Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends, they explain how the narrative therapeutic process works. The Book of Judith in the Septuagint seems... more
David Epston and Michael White pioneered narrative therapy as an analytical approach. In their book, Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends, they explain how the narrative therapeutic process works. The Book of Judith in the Septuagint seems to provide fertile ground for exploration as all of these elements - body, community and ideology -are present in highly overt/explicit ways. None of the commentaries that were consulted viewed Judith in terms of a master narrative and a challenging narrative. These concepts and their place within the narrative therapeutic framework as used by Epston and White are discussed in this chapter. Other relevant terms as used within the framework of narrative therapy are also briefly discussed.Keywords: David Epston; Judith; Michael White
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... Abstract Information. Susanna : a story of dangerous spaces. Journal Title: Journal for Semitics; Volume: Volume 19; Issue: Issue 2; Publication Date: 2010; Pages: 527 - 547; Authors: SP Nolte; PJ Jordaan; ISSN: 10138471; Abstract ...
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The martyrs in 2 Maccabees 6 and 7 have been explored in various ways. In their commentaries on 2 Maccabees, Jan Willem van Henten and Daniel Schwartz proposed that the deaths of the martyrs should be seen as human sacrifices to please... more
The martyrs in 2 Maccabees 6 and 7 have been explored in various ways. In their commentaries on 2 Maccabees, Jan Willem van Henten and Daniel Schwartz proposed that the deaths of the martyrs should be seen as human sacrifices to please the deity. This idea has either been challenged or supported by scholars. This article supported the idea of human sacrifice, and applied the view of Richard DeMaris of the martyr’s deaths as exit rite to the above-mentioned texts. In essence this amounts to ritual critique. The results were surprising, and proved the model of DeMaris as a useful tool to examine rituals. The conclusion was reached that 2 Maccabees 6 and 7 is indeed an exit rite.
Research Interests: Appeasement and Aosis
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A Book entitled Writing and reading war: Rhetoric, Gender, and Ethics in Biblical and Modern Contexts, was published in 2008 by the Society of Biblical Literature. This book opened new insights for understanding ancient warfare,... more
A Book entitled Writing and reading war: Rhetoric, Gender, and Ethics in Biblical and Modern Contexts, was published in 2008 by the Society of Biblical Literature. This book opened new insights for understanding ancient warfare, especially topics like the rhetoric of war, the role played by the Assyrians, the feminization of cities, the role of YHWH, and ethics of war, to name only a few. The LXX book Judith, which is also a war book, has not yet been critiqued or investigated in relation to these new insights. The authors of this article scrutinize Judith by using certain criteria set forth in the book and find a few surprising parallels, including the role played by the Assyrian army, the gender of the city Bethulia, the rhetoric of war, and ethics of war. These findings provide new insights on the nature of the war in Judith.
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The article applies a spatial-body framework to Bel and the Dragon (LXX/Th Dan 14). This application indicates that the narrative represents a shift in the author's personal worldview. Bel and the Dragon demonstrates how gods other... more
The article applies a spatial-body framework to Bel and the Dragon (LXX/Th Dan 14). This application indicates that the narrative represents a shift in the author's personal worldview. Bel and the Dragon demonstrates how gods other than the Jewish deity are not only powerless as shown in Dan 1-6, but they are false and therefore should be done away with. The author/editor emasculates the Gentile worldview by utilising Daniel to eradicate the other gods. What starts as an invasion of the Jewish deity's god-space in Daniel 1, ends with the extermination of the false Babylonian gods and the emasculation of their avowed divinity (LXX/Th Dan 14). In this way The Greek Daniel ends with an intolerance towards other worldviews. By means of his narratives the apocryphal author/editor creates a new reality and worldview within which the Jews in the diaspora can still be faithful to their God without being afraid of competing earthly powers or other so-called deities. In this article n...
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The text of 2 Macc 1:10b-17 has been approached in different ways during the past century. Recent developments within linguistic theory were applied to the text. These theories concern, inter alia, space, body and narratives within texts.... more
The text of 2 Macc 1:10b-17 has been approached in different ways during the past century. Recent developments within linguistic theory were applied to the text. These theories concern, inter alia, space, body and narratives within texts. All of this brought quite different insights for the traditional understanding of the text but for some reason the crucial aspect of space has been largely overlooked. Exploring different spaces in the text helps to highlight the war between the deities in their respective domains. In addition, the investigation of “head” in terms of body theory reveals that a blasphemous head was nearly always decapitated. Lastly, dominant and challenging narratives were constructed showing that Yahweh is depicted as the conqueror with unlimited space. A PROBLEM STATEMENT The text of 2 Macc 1:10b-17 presents a narrative, highly charged with conflict, which secondary literature finds difficult to interpret. All scholars acknowledge the fact that this text is the se...
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Published by the Institute for Afro-Hellenic Studies (under the patronage of His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros B) in collaboration with the Department of Greek and Latin Studies (University of Johannesburg)
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Published by the Institute for Afro-Hellenic Studies (under the patronage of His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros B) in collaboration with the Department of Greek and Latin Studies (University of Johannesburg)
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This article aims to analyse the different narratives implied in Susanna in order to explicate the dominant (the treatment of woman in an unjust legal environment) and challenging narratives (the conduct of an accused woman). It further... more
This article aims to analyse the different narratives implied in Susanna in order to explicate the dominant (the treatment of woman in an unjust legal environment) and challenging narratives (the conduct of an accused woman). It further investigates the social problems behind these narratives (women not having a voice and the bodies viewed as inferior), as well as the pointers in the text for managing this problem referring to successful outcomes for this new master narrative in the past. To do this the Narrative Therapeutic Approach as used by Epston & White was applied to Susanna. It proved to be a new and quite unique way of looking at Susanna.
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The book of Judith has been studied by various Scholars who employed various methods and came up with new appreciated contributions. The gap, however, was found regarding the question of change in religious ideology in the Judith... more
The book of Judith has been studied by various Scholars who employed various methods and came up with new appreciated contributions. The gap, however, was found regarding the question of change in religious ideology in the Judith narrative. The authors of this article attempt a literary study of the whole book of Judith, paying a close attention to the question of "change in religious Ideology". No scholar working on Judith has ever paid attention to this matter. The researchers found some surprising results. The article touches on such a crucial matter as the threat of extinction to the Jewish religion. Subsequently, the article addresses the challenge of how women, foreigners and slaves are allowed to participate in Jewish religious issues in order for the nation to survive.
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The translation of the Hebrew phrase צוד היום נדול (literally "the day is still big") in Genesis 29:7 in the Hebrew Bible is shown to be problematic in the large variety of translations that exist for this phrase. In Biblical... more
The translation of the Hebrew phrase צוד היום נדול (literally "the day is still big") in Genesis 29:7 in the Hebrew Bible is shown to be problematic in the large variety of translations that exist for this phrase. In Biblical Hebrew words and phrases have traditionally been translated literally, based on dictionaries which were written according to certain linguistic methodologies. The comparative philological and structuralist approaches failed to provide a solution to this problem, as can clearly be seen in the differing translations. This paper suggests that there is conceptual metaphor underlying this phrase which should be identified. The phrase in Genesis 29:7 is analysed according to the cognitive metaphor theory. The cultural and social background of this phrase is also discussed. Based and the analysis conceptual metaphor is suggested, namely A DAY IS A CONTAINER WITH ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES. A new translation for this verse is also suggested.
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This article aims to present a brief historical overview of interpretative theories and methods relevant to those books that are included in either the Protestant Apocrypha or the Catholic Deuterocanonical in the LXX (Septuagint) for the... more
This article aims to present a brief historical overview of interpretative theories and methods relevant to those books that are included in either the Protestant Apocrypha or the Catholic Deuterocanonical in the LXX (Septuagint) for the period 1891–2020. The aim of the article is not to give a complete description of all research on apocryphal/deuterocanonical books. The author’s journey with the relevant literature commenced in 2006, when he was appointed as one of the translators of apocryphal texts for a new edition of the new Afrikaans Bible (2020). Initially, he felt trapped as if in a maze. However, as his research progressed and as he met and talked to LXX experts at that stage, the road began to seem less of an obstacle and more like a challenge. One of the important aspects that he discovered was that not every text in the LXX has a so-called Hebrew Vorlage. Although the author describes different approaches used to interpret LXX material, for example historical-grammatica...
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The Septuagint Book of Judith and its derivatives have had an enormous influence on the history of Western Europe and the Christian church. Judith has been employed in various situations to incite violence against a perceived opposition.... more
The Septuagint Book of Judith and its derivatives have had an enormous influence on the history of Western Europe and the Christian church. Judith has been employed in various situations to incite violence against a perceived opposition. In this regard, this article focuses on the climax of this book (Jdt 13:1–9) as performance text. In this context, many of the insights proffered by Perry in his seminal work Insights from Performance Criticism (2016) have been expanded upon from the perspective of a Greek and/or Hellenistic environment.Contribution: The value of reading LXXJudith as performance is clearly demonstrated. The conclusion is reached that this pericope is indeed highly subversive. Suggestion is also made that, contrary to more conservative wisdom, with reference specifically to LXXJudith 13:1–9, the Judith fabula is not really reconciliatory in nature. Rather, it seems to provoke conflict between competing powers.
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Scholars differ among each other about the importance of the Jerusalem temple in 2 Maccabees. Some see the temple as of minor importance while others are of the opinion that the temple takes centre stage in this book. This article concurs... more
Scholars differ among each other about the importance of the Jerusalem temple in 2 Maccabees. Some see the temple as of minor importance while others are of the opinion that the temple takes centre stage in this book. This article concurs with the second view. However, it goes further by also exploring crucial temple dynamics. These temple dynamics are determined by certain pre-set criteria and centre mainly on the relationship between God and the nation. The result is that three different temple episodes can be distinguished. The positive/negative view of each temple episode is determined by this relationship between the nation and God. This opens a new way of exploring 2 Maccabees.
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This article aims to analyse the role that bodies play in different narratives implied in 2 Maccabees 3. In order to do this, a possible dominant narrative was constructed in which the motif of suffering bodies is shown. In the same way,... more
This article aims to analyse the role that bodies play in different narratives implied in 2 Maccabees 3. In order to do this, a possible dominant narrative was constructed in which the motif of suffering bodies is shown. In the same way, a challenging narrative wherein the alleviation of suffering bodies is portrayed is also revealed. Furthermore the dynamics behind these two narratives, e.g. when the Jewish deity was willing to relieve this suffering, is also investigated. It was found that the Jewish deity responds positively when his high priest and his nation are in unison apropos their worship, and are willing to counter foreign invaders of the temple and their ideologies. To come to this conclusion the narrative therapeutic approach, as used by Epston and White, was applied to 2 Maccabees 3. This approach to interpretation is quite unique.
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Online Journal Abstract Information - Sabinet Online.
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This article posits that the mentioning of χηρῶν τε καὶ ὀρφανῶν in 2 Macc 3:10 serves as an important marker and is possibly much more than just a combination of two words. From a semiotic perspective, these words may well serve as an... more
This article posits that the mentioning of χηρῶν τε καὶ ὀρφανῶν in 2 Macc 3:10 serves as an important marker and is possibly much more than just a combination of two words. From a semiotic perspective, these words may well serve as an index. The author attempts to show that in 2 Macc 3, God intervenes on behalf of such people as the widows and orphans in his holy temple. In this regard, he becomes a father to the orphans and a judge for the widows and will bring justice to people like them.
This article is an attempt to understand the significance of the Scorsese film Silence in comparison to what could be considered to be a traditional Roman Catholic dogma of martyrdom as found in 2 Macc 6:18 to 7:42. The contribution made... more
This article is an attempt to understand the significance of the Scorsese film Silence in
comparison to what could be considered to be a traditional Roman Catholic dogma of
martyrdom as found in 2 Macc 6:18 to 7:42. The contribution made by this article is in line
with the religio-narrative approach. Different dynamics within the narratives, like resistance,
movement and bodies, are explored to come to an understanding of each narrative and
how they respond to one another. In this vein, the unique contribution of Martin Scorsese’s
film Silence was scrutinised. This article supports the interpretation that Silence may be a
form of apology—one that exonerates what would normally be viewed as a Catholic failure.
Scorsese uses Silence to suggest that the actual historical events are somehow evidence
of God’s will and, by default, of the superiority of Catholicism as a religious belief system.
comparison to what could be considered to be a traditional Roman Catholic dogma of
martyrdom as found in 2 Macc 6:18 to 7:42. The contribution made by this article is in line
with the religio-narrative approach. Different dynamics within the narratives, like resistance,
movement and bodies, are explored to come to an understanding of each narrative and
how they respond to one another. In this vein, the unique contribution of Martin Scorsese’s
film Silence was scrutinised. This article supports the interpretation that Silence may be a
form of apology—one that exonerates what would normally be viewed as a Catholic failure.
Scorsese uses Silence to suggest that the actual historical events are somehow evidence
of God’s will and, by default, of the superiority of Catholicism as a religious belief system.
The Theodotian Susanna has been studied by various scholars in various ways. Each attempt to give some meaning to this narrative has a different emphasis from a text, context or receiver based angle. This paper presents a mixture of text... more
The Theodotian Susanna has been studied by various scholars in various ways. Each attempt
to give some meaning to this narrative has a different emphasis from a text, context or receiver
based angle. This paper presents a mixture of text and context based angles. It focuses on the
different spaces in Theodotian Susanna, that is, the house, garden, court and finally heaven.
Each of these spaces is contested, but there can only be one victor.
to give some meaning to this narrative has a different emphasis from a text, context or receiver
based angle. This paper presents a mixture of text and context based angles. It focuses on the
different spaces in Theodotian Susanna, that is, the house, garden, court and finally heaven.
Each of these spaces is contested, but there can only be one victor.
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This article deals with a highly debated text, namely 2 Maccabees 12, specifically the problematic verses (38–45) which contain a theology that is distinctly non-Jewish in import. Indeed, most recent scholars concerned with this passage... more
This article deals with a highly debated text, namely 2 Maccabees 12, specifically the
problematic verses (38–45) which contain a theology that is distinctly non-Jewish in import.
Indeed, most recent scholars concerned with this passage do not seem to be unanimous
apropos the best interpretation of the events that are described, resulting in a range of different
opinions concerning, inter alia, the afterlife, purgatory and/or doctrinal disputes between
Pharisees and Sadducees. By means of an interpretivist or constructivist epistemology, the
authors advocate that normally, traditional Judaism emphasises personal, individual
responsibility and accountability, whereas in this text God is portrayed as requiring material,
financial payment for wrongdoing and not individual תשובה [teshuvah]. This is in
contradistinction to, inter alia, Exodus 30:11–16 and theologically Jewish ‘transgression’ has
clearly metamorphosed into Christian ‘sin’. In addition, Judas Maccabeus seems to have
retained a half-shekel methodology (employed for Jewish men of military age – soldiers)
whilst emphasising the ‘atonement for your lives’ from Exodus 30:11–16 in a more literalistic,
materialistic, non-Jewish sense whilst de-emphasising the real need to maintain the Temple as
well as the proper, traditional rules of .תשובה
problematic verses (38–45) which contain a theology that is distinctly non-Jewish in import.
Indeed, most recent scholars concerned with this passage do not seem to be unanimous
apropos the best interpretation of the events that are described, resulting in a range of different
opinions concerning, inter alia, the afterlife, purgatory and/or doctrinal disputes between
Pharisees and Sadducees. By means of an interpretivist or constructivist epistemology, the
authors advocate that normally, traditional Judaism emphasises personal, individual
responsibility and accountability, whereas in this text God is portrayed as requiring material,
financial payment for wrongdoing and not individual תשובה [teshuvah]. This is in
contradistinction to, inter alia, Exodus 30:11–16 and theologically Jewish ‘transgression’ has
clearly metamorphosed into Christian ‘sin’. In addition, Judas Maccabeus seems to have
retained a half-shekel methodology (employed for Jewish men of military age – soldiers)
whilst emphasising the ‘atonement for your lives’ from Exodus 30:11–16 in a more literalistic,
materialistic, non-Jewish sense whilst de-emphasising the real need to maintain the Temple as
well as the proper, traditional rules of .תשובה
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At first glance, the narrative of 2 Maccabees 3 seems to be just another story with a sad beginning and a good ending. Doran (2012:89–90) sees it merely as a narrative that wants to state how the Jewish deity defended his temple.... more
At first glance, the narrative of 2 Maccabees 3 seems to be just another story with a sad beginning and a good ending. Doran (2012:89–90) sees it merely as a narrative that wants to state how the Jewish deity defended his temple. Dommershausen (1985:117) and Schwartz (2008:185) on the other hand, give more prominence to the narrative. They suggest that it denotes the idyllic status quo ante meaning – a previous state of affairs. This means a previous dispensation when everything was running smooth in Jerusalem. Schwartz then goes somewhat further by positing that the real story of chapter 3 should be read against this status quo ante. This is the primary point of focus for this article: The (re)construction of the ideal story by using certain preset narrative criteria. The uniqueness of this article hinges on its approach to the narratives. This approach will be explained in the next section and will be applied in the last section.
The aim of this essay is to demonstrate the main features of theologically based research on 2 Maccabees over the past century. This will be done by dividing this period into four quests. These quests represent chronological periods... more
The aim of this essay is to demonstrate the main features
of theologically based research on 2 Maccabees over the past century.
This will be done by dividing this period into four quests. These quests
represent chronological periods wherein certain theological leitmotifs
surfaced. The fourth quest research represents current theological
endeavors in 2 Maccabees. This quest, dating from after the 2012 publications
until the present day, has yielded some unique approaches to
the study of 2 Maccabees.
of theologically based research on 2 Maccabees over the past century.
This will be done by dividing this period into four quests. These quests
represent chronological periods wherein certain theological leitmotifs
surfaced. The fourth quest research represents current theological
endeavors in 2 Maccabees. This quest, dating from after the 2012 publications
until the present day, has yielded some unique approaches to
the study of 2 Maccabees.