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In Eating in Isaiah Andrew Abernethy employs a sequential-synchronic approach to explore the role of eating in the structure and message of the book of Isaiah. By focusing on 'scaffolding' chapters (Isaiah 1; 36–37; 55; 65-66), avenues open for exploring how eating operates within the major sections of Isaiah and how the motif enhances the book's coherence. Furthermore, occurrences of eating in Isaiah create networks of association that grant perspective on significant topics in the book's message, such as Zion, YHWH’s kingship, and YHWH's servants. Amidst growing scholarly interest in food and drink within biblical literature, Eating in Isaiah demonstrates how eating can operate at a literary level within a prophetic book.
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Eating in Isaiah
Biblical Interpretation Series Editors in Chief Paul Anderson (George Fox University) Yvonne Sherwood (University of Kent) Editorial Board A.K.M. Adam (University of Oxford) Roland Boer (University of Newcastle, Australia) Musa Dube (University of Botswana) Jennifer L. Koosed (Albright College. Reading, usa) Vernon Robbins (Emory University) Annette Schellenberg (Theological Seminary, San Francisco) Carolyn J. Sharp (Yale Divinity School) Johanna Stiebert (University of Leeds, uk) Duane Watson (Malone University, usa) Ruben Zimmermann ( Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz)
VOLUME 131
The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/bins
Eating in Isaiah Approaching the Role of Food and Drink in Isaiah’s Structure and Message
By
Andrew T. Abernethy
LEIDEN | BOSTON
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Abernethy, Andrew T. Eating in Isaiah : approaching the role of food and drink in Isaiah’s structure and message / by Andrew T. Abernethy. pages cm. — (Biblical interpretation series, ISSN 0928-0731 ; Volume 131) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-90-04-27037-4 (hardback : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-90-04-28086-1 (e-book) 1. Bible. Isaiah—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Dinners and dining in the Bible. I. Title. BS1515.6.D55A24 2014 224’.10839412—dc23 2014027826
This publication has been typeset in the multilingual ‘Brill’ typeface. With over 5,100 characters covering Latin, ipa, Greek, and Cyrillic, this typeface is especially suitable for use in the humanities. For more information, please see brill.com/brill-typeface. issn 0928-0731 isbn 978-90-04-27037-4 (hardback) isbn 978-90-04-28086-1 (e-book) Copyright 2014 by Koninklijke Brill nv, Leiden, The Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill nv incorporates the imprints Brill, Brill Nijhoff, Global Oriental and Hotei Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Koninklijke Brill nv provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910, Danvers, ma 01923, usa. Fees are subject to change. This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Contents Acknowledgments ix Abbreviations xi 1 Introduction 1 Food and Drink in Old Testament Scholarship 1 Method for Approaching Eating in Isaiah 11 Diachronic or Synchronic? 11 Three Methodological Premises 14 Literature is Purposeful 14 Textual and Reading Strategies 15 Textual Features of Ancient Hebrew Texts 18 Summary 19 A Sequential-Synchronic Approach to Eating in Isaiah 20 2 Repentance, Retribution, and Sovereignty: Eating in Isaiah 1 22 Eating in Isaiah 1 22 Isaiah 1:2 23 Isaiah 1:3 26 Isaiah 1:7 26 Feeding Troops 29 Battle Tactics 31 Isaiah 1:11–14 34 Isaiah 1:18–20 38 The Logic