Papers by Herbert Klement
Tyndale bulletin, Nov 1, 1996
Modern Literary-Critical Methods and the Historicity of the Old Testament
II Samuel 21-24. Context, Structure and Meaning in the Samuel Conclusion
... Contents: Story of the Interpretation of 2 Sam 21-24 - Recurring Structural Elements in Samue... more ... Contents: Story of the Interpretation of 2 Sam 21-24 - Recurring Structural Elements in Samuel - Macrostructure of Samuel - Chiasmus and ... Studies in Akkadian and Egyptology in Bonn 1989/1990, Postgraduate Studies in Old Testament at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford (external), 1996 ...
2 Samuel 21-24 Structure, context and meaning in the Samuel conclusion
... Title: 2 Samuel 21-24 Structure, context and meaning in the Samuel conclusion. Authors: Kleme... more ... Title: 2 Samuel 21-24 Structure, context and meaning in the Samuel conclusion. Authors: Klement, HH In collaboration with Wycliffe Hall, Oxford (United Kingdom) Coventry Univ. (United Kingdom). Keywords: 2 Samuel 21-24 [ Bible; Old Testment]. Issue Date: 1995. ...
II Samuel 21-24. Context, Structure and Meaning in the Samuel Conclusion
... Contents: Story of the Interpretation of 2 Sam 21-24 - Recurring Structural Elements in Samue... more ... Contents: Story of the Interpretation of 2 Sam 21-24 - Recurring Structural Elements in Samuel - Macrostructure of Samuel - Chiasmus and ... Studies in Akkadian and Egyptology in Bonn 1989/1990, Postgraduate Studies in Old Testament at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford (external), 1996 ...
Structure, Context and Meaning in the Samuel Conclusion (2 Sa. 21-24) 1
In recent years increased attention has been devoted to the narratives of the books of Samuel. Th... more In recent years increased attention has been devoted to the narratives of the books of Samuel. This newer interest in these books has concentrated especially on narrative technique and the type of literary portrayal found in these accounts. The peculiar nature of the concluding chapters of Samuel with its six chiastically arranged units has seldom been the object of an independent study. Nonetheless it is this more recent interest in literary forms which has increased awareness of the boundaries of literary units, and thus of the significance of beginnings and endings in determining the interpretation of those units. This study seeks, therefore, within the framework of a literary enquiry, to understand the chapters 2 Samuel 21-24 in their function as the conclusion of the Samuel corpus. To this end an opening chapter gives an overview of the main trends in the interpretation of this group of texts in the last two centuries. It was the biographical interest in brilliant personalities...
Modern Literary-Critical Methods and the Historicity of the Old Testament
Old Testament Theology. Lev 19:18 Dtn 6
Ein Aspekt der Christologie ist die Rede von Jesus als "ὁ υἱός τοῦ ἀνθρώπου", dem "Sohn des Mensc... more Ein Aspekt der Christologie ist die Rede von Jesus als "ὁ υἱός τοῦ ἀνθρώπου", dem "Sohn des Menschen" oder dem "Menschensohn". Die Bezeichnung mit bestimmtem Artikel Singular kommt im Neuen Testament ausschließlich in den Evangelien vor (Ausnahme: Apg 7,56) und hier ist sicher wiederum zwischen dem Gebrauch in den einzelnen Evangelien zu unterscheiden. 1 Von den 82 Vorkommen (ohne Parallelen: 52 Vorkommen) handelt es sich mit Ausnahme von Joh 12,34 bei allen Stellen um Selbstbezeichnungen in den Reden Jesu. 2 Diese Form, in der dritten Person über sich selbst als "dem Menschen" zu sprechen, ist ungewöhnlich und weckt Aufmerksamkeit.
1. Historical Setting Jews typically refer to the post-exilic period as the Second Temple period.... more 1. Historical Setting Jews typically refer to the post-exilic period as the Second Temple period. The construction of this temple is directly connected with the activity of the prophet Haggai. Although Haggai is one of the very short prophetic books, the role that the prophet played in the beginning phase of this project was highly significant. Of the four months in which Haggai was active, the book mentions four prophetic appearances, all of which are dated to the second year of the reign of the Persian king Darius. The majority of scholars interpret the dates as follows: 1:1 Similar overlapping dates can be found in Zechariah: 1:1 The close historical connection between these two prophets coincides with the mention they receive in Ezra-Nehemiah. Their appearance led to the resumption of the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 5:1; 6:14). This was not a joint operation, however. Rather, each prophet provided his own independent witness. By means of this prophetic verification, a task that had been contested by certain segments of the population was once again set in motion. Haggai's identity remains hidden. His name may be due to his birth during a particular festival, yet no mention is made of either his occupation or the role he played within the Israelite community.
Das Referat will helfen, das Jeremiabuch zu verstehen. Dazu werden verschiedene Lesehorizonte ski... more Das Referat will helfen, das Jeremiabuch zu verstehen. Dazu werden verschiedene Lesehorizonte skizziert. Nach einem kurzen Hinweis auf die traditionellen historisch-kritischen Diskussionspunkte folgt ein Blick auf verschiedene Aspekte der Zeit, in der Jeremia wirkte. Darauf werden die im Buch selbst genannten Hinweise auf die Schriftwerdung des Prophetenwortes diskutiert. Unterschieden wird die rhetorische Ausrichtung in der Phase der mündlichen Predigt von der der schriftlichen Fixierung des Prophetenwortes. Nach den Angaben im Buch selbst, sind als die gedachten Leser des Buches die Jhwh-Treuen des Exils anzusehen. Die unterschiedlichen Buchausgaben in der babylonischen (MT) und ägyptischen (LXX) Texttradition werden angesprochen und eine Erklärung für die Entstehung angeboten. Abschließend wird die Stellung des Jeremiabuches im Kanon diskutiert und vorgeschlagen, Jeremia modellhaft in verschiedener Weise zu lesen: in der Person des Propheten, der Gerichtsbotschaft einschließlich des Hoffnungshorizontes und auch in der zeitgenössischen Buchwerdung der prophetischen Verkündigung.
Herbert H. Klement: Criticism of the monarchy and promises to the ruler:
Aspects of the role of t... more Herbert H. Klement: Criticism of the monarchy and promises to the ruler:
Aspects of the role of the king in Israel in Old Testament theology
The question of how kingship in Israel is to be evaluated should be raised within the framework of canonically determined reflections on Old Testament theology. Of central relevance are the books of Judges and Samuel. It is these books that present most clearly the problem of kingship at the beginning of its implementation in Israel, not by systematic reflection but in narrative form. The juxtaposition of pro- and anti-monarchical passages was traditionally the basis for literarycritical
dismemberment of the narrative statement. Here they are evaluated for asynchronic biblical-theological interpretation. It is the thesis of this paper, that kingship is not seen as a salvific social institution in Israel. The positive potential of a monarchical system which is found in many passages is rarely or never realized empirically. Here the observation is important that above all the theme of the dynastic oracle for David as well as other pro-monarchical texts is the close relationship of the king to the temple worship. The promises are linked to the responsibility of the king for the Jahwistic cult. The political, military or economic duties of kingship are totally absent or secondary. The tension between the ideal of kingship and the political experiences with the actual existing monarchy forms a background for messianic expectations.
Postmoderne Exegese und der theologische Wahrheitsanspruch Bei dem gestellten Thema sind drei Ber... more Postmoderne Exegese und der theologische Wahrheitsanspruch Bei dem gestellten Thema sind drei Bereiche berührt, die aufeinander zu beziehen sind. Es geht um die Arbeit der Exegese, die Postmoderne und die Möglichkeit theologischer Wahrheitsansprüche. Bei letzteren gilt schon in den neutestamentlichen Schriften durchgängig der Ver-weis auf die Schrift als konstitutiv für die Feststellung theologisch und ethisch verbindlicher Aussagen. 1 Im Gefolge des reformatischen " sola Scriptura " ist es für evangelische Theologie unerlässlich und selbstver-ständlich, ihre Aussagen biblisch zu begründen. Aus der Perspektive dessen, was mit Postmoderne benannt ist, erscheint nun eine allge-meinverbindliche exegetische Begründung theologischer Aussagen als nicht mehr oder nur bedingt zugänglich. Trotz der immensen Themen-breite soll versucht werden, dies zu verdeutlichen und Chancen und Gefährdungen anzudeuten. 1. Postmoderne auf dem Hintergrund der Moderne In seiner Ansprache auf dem Weltwirtschaftsforum in der Schweiz am 4.2.1992 bezeichnete der tschechische Präsident Vaclav Havel den Kollaps des Kommunismus 1989 als Symptom für das Ende der Moderne. 2 Moderne sei für ihn der Wissenschaftsglaube, der Glaube an die Fähigkeit der menschlichen Vernunft, die Prozesse und Ge-heimnisse der Welt verstehen zu können. Das Ende der Moderne, die Postmoderne, konstatiere das Scheitern der Aufklärung als Glaube an die Beherrschbarkeit der Welt durch den Menschen. Für Havel ist das Scheitern des marxistisch-leninistischen Wahrheitsanspruches auf eine 1 Die durchgängige Schriftorientierung braucht nicht belegt zu werden, es sei u.a. nur erinnert an
Wer nach der Historizität der in den biblischen Büchern berichteten Ereignisse fragt, sieht sich ... more Wer nach der Historizität der in den biblischen Büchern berichteten Ereignisse fragt, sieht sich vor der Aufgabe einer angemessenen Bewertung dieser Literatur als Historiographie. Dies ist über weite Phasen der alttestamentlichen Forschung – bei einer beträchtlichen Variationsbreite in Einzel-punkten – in Abhängigkeit von der literarkritischen Hypothesenbildung der Jahrhundertwende er-folgt. Dass sich dies unter dem Vorzeichen der neueren, synchron vorgehender literaturwissen-schaftlich orientierter Exegesemethoden 1 in einer veränderten Weise darstellt, ist zu erwarten. Sowohl der Aspekt der Historizität der in den biblischen Büchern berichteten Ereignisse wie auch der nach dem historischem Ort und Weg der Entstehung der alttestamentlichen Literatur bis zu ihrer Kanonisierung 2 kann sich unter dem Blickwinkel literarischer Beobachtungen in einer Perspektive darstellen, die zu Neuüberlegungen Anlass geben könnte. Dem soll im Folgenden nachgegangen werden. Natürlich stellen sich die literaturwissenschaftlichen Ansätze bekanntermaßen nicht als einheitlich dar, vielmehr spiegeln sie die geistesgeschichtlichen Diskussionen der Zeit in ihrer ganzen Breite und Vielstimmigkeit. Mit einem differenzierten Bild ist deshalb zu rechnen. Die häufig anzu-treffende Vorstellung, literarische Betrachtung impliziere notwendig Fiktionalität oder interessiere sich nicht für historische Untersuchungen, verkürzt dabei die Verhältnisse um wesentliche Aspekte. Das Interesse an und die Bewertung der historischen Fragestellung für die Interpretation stellt sich je nach Ansatz durchaus unterschiedlich dar. Aus der Vielzahl der Möglichkeiten sollen hier zwei Zusammenhänge 3 exemplarisch angesprochen und auf das Thema hin untersucht werden.
The examination of the final chapters of the books of Samuel offered here proceeds initially from... more The examination of the final chapters of the books of Samuel offered here proceeds initially from an unease about the frequent pejorative appraisal of them as an unsuitable, late addition that is out of place in its context. Taking a cue from the recent interest in initial and concluding texts in the context of literary and "Canonical" methods, the work attempts to describe this text complex, with its six chiastically arranged units, in terms of its literary function as a concluding text in relation to the rest of the preceding book. Following remarks of W. Brueggemann and J. Flanagan, the ring structure is further compared with other groups of texts in the Samuel corpus. The specific, overarching macrostructure which is thus perceived is structured not according to linear-chronological principles but according to patterns of parallelism and chiasmus. This observation of a concept of order that is distinct from modem western convention is understood, following Emma Brunner-Traut, as deriving from an "aspectival" perception of reality. By means of this kind of reading, many inner relationships open up, binding the closing chapters to the other parts of the book in such a way that it is shown to be a unified literary work. The two poetic texts are shown to stand in a complex relationship with the four other songs of the books of Samuel. The allusion to the prophet Gad belongs in a series of six encounters between David and prophets, arranged as a set of three pairs. The two lists of soldiers are interpreted by analogy with the double lists of the sons and ministers of David. The final contrast, in the closing chapter, between the two kings, Saul and David, and the polarity - expressed in the tension between centre and periphery - between rule of Yahweh and sin of the kings, both mirror and finally draw together the main themes of the book. These relationships suggest that the appraisal of the closing chapters as a late addition is in need of revision. It will be argued that they should be interpreted in close connection with the rest of the book.
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Papers by Herbert Klement
Aspects of the role of the king in Israel in Old Testament theology
The question of how kingship in Israel is to be evaluated should be raised within the framework of canonically determined reflections on Old Testament theology. Of central relevance are the books of Judges and Samuel. It is these books that present most clearly the problem of kingship at the beginning of its implementation in Israel, not by systematic reflection but in narrative form. The juxtaposition of pro- and anti-monarchical passages was traditionally the basis for literarycritical
dismemberment of the narrative statement. Here they are evaluated for asynchronic biblical-theological interpretation. It is the thesis of this paper, that kingship is not seen as a salvific social institution in Israel. The positive potential of a monarchical system which is found in many passages is rarely or never realized empirically. Here the observation is important that above all the theme of the dynastic oracle for David as well as other pro-monarchical texts is the close relationship of the king to the temple worship. The promises are linked to the responsibility of the king for the Jahwistic cult. The political, military or economic duties of kingship are totally absent or secondary. The tension between the ideal of kingship and the political experiences with the actual existing monarchy forms a background for messianic expectations.
Aspects of the role of the king in Israel in Old Testament theology
The question of how kingship in Israel is to be evaluated should be raised within the framework of canonically determined reflections on Old Testament theology. Of central relevance are the books of Judges and Samuel. It is these books that present most clearly the problem of kingship at the beginning of its implementation in Israel, not by systematic reflection but in narrative form. The juxtaposition of pro- and anti-monarchical passages was traditionally the basis for literarycritical
dismemberment of the narrative statement. Here they are evaluated for asynchronic biblical-theological interpretation. It is the thesis of this paper, that kingship is not seen as a salvific social institution in Israel. The positive potential of a monarchical system which is found in many passages is rarely or never realized empirically. Here the observation is important that above all the theme of the dynastic oracle for David as well as other pro-monarchical texts is the close relationship of the king to the temple worship. The promises are linked to the responsibility of the king for the Jahwistic cult. The political, military or economic duties of kingship are totally absent or secondary. The tension between the ideal of kingship and the political experiences with the actual existing monarchy forms a background for messianic expectations.