Ezechiel 8 im Rahmen des Buches – Kompositions- und religionsgeschichtliche Aspekte
-
Christophe Nihan
Abstract
Ezekiel 8 is a key chapter of the book, which is discussed here from a threefold perspective: its formation, the rituals it describes, and its place in the composition of the book. The first part addresses textual and redactional issues, arguing that the chapter has been obviously revised, expanded, and partly aligned with other chapters (such as especially Ez 1); nonetheless, the earliest version of this chapter already included the description of four rituals. The second part turns to the meaning of these rituals, both individually and as a group, from a religious-historical perspective. It argues that there is no common theme in these rituals; rather, each ritual is joined to the next one by a distinct connection. The first (v. 3-6) and second (v. 7-13) rituals concern the use of cultic images; the second and third (v. 14-15) are about the elimination of evil forces; whereas the third and fourth (v. 16-17) rituals are linked by the mythological and ritual connection between Tammuz and Šamaš. The third and last part discusses the place of Ez 8 in the composition of the book, arguing that the chapter belongs to the same compositional layer as Ez 43 (or rather an earlier version thereof), both chapters being united by their polemics against Babylonian rituals and practices. As such, the rituals described in Ez 8 do not comprise actual practices from the late monarchic period; rather, they represent the projection in the late exilic or, more likely, early postexilic period of various practices construed as contrary to Yahwistic worship.
Abstract
Ezekiel 8 is a key chapter of the book, which is discussed here from a threefold perspective: its formation, the rituals it describes, and its place in the composition of the book. The first part addresses textual and redactional issues, arguing that the chapter has been obviously revised, expanded, and partly aligned with other chapters (such as especially Ez 1); nonetheless, the earliest version of this chapter already included the description of four rituals. The second part turns to the meaning of these rituals, both individually and as a group, from a religious-historical perspective. It argues that there is no common theme in these rituals; rather, each ritual is joined to the next one by a distinct connection. The first (v. 3-6) and second (v. 7-13) rituals concern the use of cultic images; the second and third (v. 14-15) are about the elimination of evil forces; whereas the third and fourth (v. 16-17) rituals are linked by the mythological and ritual connection between Tammuz and Šamaš. The third and last part discusses the place of Ez 8 in the composition of the book, arguing that the chapter belongs to the same compositional layer as Ez 43 (or rather an earlier version thereof), both chapters being united by their polemics against Babylonian rituals and practices. As such, the rituals described in Ez 8 do not comprise actual practices from the late monarchic period; rather, they represent the projection in the late exilic or, more likely, early postexilic period of various practices construed as contrary to Yahwistic worship.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Vorwort V
- Inhaltsverzeichnis XI
- Ezechiel in Qumran und Masada – Bezeugung und Rezeption 1
- Die Ezechiel-Septuaginta, Papyrus 967 und die Redaktionsgeschichte des Ezechielbuches – Probleme und Perspektiven am Beispiel von Ez 34 43
- „Das Ende kommt“ – Textgeschichte, Redaktion und literarische Horizonte in Ez 7,1–12a 63
- Ezechiel 8 im Rahmen des Buches – Kompositions- und religionsgeschichtliche Aspekte 89
- „Ich will euch gnädig annehmen …“ (Ez 20,41) – Ez 20,39.40–44 im Horizont des Ezechielbuches 125
- Vom Untergang Ägyptens – Ez 29–32 im Kontext des Ezechielbuches 151
- Ezechiel und die Priesterschrift 175
- Vorstellungen von Gottes Wohnort im Ezechielbuch 207
- Theological Anthropology and Anthropological Theology in the Book of Ezekiel 233
- Ezechiel im ersten Christentum 255
- Prophet, Gottesthron, steinernes Menschenherz, Totenfeld und Quelle des Lebens – Aspekte der Rezeption des Ezechielbuches 297
- Verzeichnis der am Band beteiligten Autorinnen und Autoren 329
- Stellenregister 331
- Sachregister 334
- Autorenregister 336
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Vorwort V
- Inhaltsverzeichnis XI
- Ezechiel in Qumran und Masada – Bezeugung und Rezeption 1
- Die Ezechiel-Septuaginta, Papyrus 967 und die Redaktionsgeschichte des Ezechielbuches – Probleme und Perspektiven am Beispiel von Ez 34 43
- „Das Ende kommt“ – Textgeschichte, Redaktion und literarische Horizonte in Ez 7,1–12a 63
- Ezechiel 8 im Rahmen des Buches – Kompositions- und religionsgeschichtliche Aspekte 89
- „Ich will euch gnädig annehmen …“ (Ez 20,41) – Ez 20,39.40–44 im Horizont des Ezechielbuches 125
- Vom Untergang Ägyptens – Ez 29–32 im Kontext des Ezechielbuches 151
- Ezechiel und die Priesterschrift 175
- Vorstellungen von Gottes Wohnort im Ezechielbuch 207
- Theological Anthropology and Anthropological Theology in the Book of Ezekiel 233
- Ezechiel im ersten Christentum 255
- Prophet, Gottesthron, steinernes Menschenherz, Totenfeld und Quelle des Lebens – Aspekte der Rezeption des Ezechielbuches 297
- Verzeichnis der am Band beteiligten Autorinnen und Autoren 329
- Stellenregister 331
- Sachregister 334
- Autorenregister 336
