Djur och mystiska gestalter - En begrepp- och traditionshistorisk analys av djurmetaforiken i Jesaja 34.
(2021) BIVM51 20211Centre for Theology and Religious Studies
- Abstract
- There is a dramatic apocalyptic prophecy in Isaiah 34 that contains many strange animals and creatures, and the question is: why are they lurking there in fire, smoke and darkness? This thesis aims at examining the meaning of these beings using traditio-historical criticism and key word and image analysis, in an attempt to understand Isaiah's reason for using them in the biblical context. The fate of Edom has been smitten by an angry God, wild animals and even metaphysical powers are used in the description of the prophet. Edom is destroyed, stars fall from the sky, corpses lie in heaps, and it smells like rotten flesh all over the place. Everything is burning and smoke is rising high in the sky. Blood flows and fills the mountains and... (More)
- There is a dramatic apocalyptic prophecy in Isaiah 34 that contains many strange animals and creatures, and the question is: why are they lurking there in fire, smoke and darkness? This thesis aims at examining the meaning of these beings using traditio-historical criticism and key word and image analysis, in an attempt to understand Isaiah's reason for using them in the biblical context. The fate of Edom has been smitten by an angry God, wild animals and even metaphysical powers are used in the description of the prophet. Edom is destroyed, stars fall from the sky, corpses lie in heaps, and it smells like rotten flesh all over the place. Everything is burning and smoke is rising high in the sky. Blood flows and fills the mountains and demons find their way there. Yes, even the female sex demon Lilith finds her way there. A major exegetical focus on Isaiah 34 is about dating the text and debating genre, but the animals and beings are often overlooked. Is there a greater significance for the prophet's use of these beings in what appears to be a catastrophic apocalyptic storyline in Isaiah 34?
This study argues that Isaiah 34 should be understood both as apocalyptic in its genre and in its rhetorical structure. The definition of the apocalyptic genre is defined by YHVH's cosmic punishment and terror, but Isaiah's use of wild animals, supernatural forces of chaos and demons should also be included as a leading argument. The study also shows a significant systematization of the prophet's metaphorical language, and the choice of animals and other supernatural things one after the other to reach a poetic culmination. In a larger perspective, Isaiah 34 is a story meant to frighten Edom and at the same time give comfort to the prophet's audience. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9060333
- author
- Helgesson, Jonas LU
- supervisor
-
- Ola Wikander LU
- organization
- course
- BIVM51 20211
- year
- 2021
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- wild animals, unclean birds, forces of chaos, supernatural beings, demons, לִּילִ֔ית, apocalypse.
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9060333
- date added to LUP
- 2021-10-05 08:59:12
- date last changed
- 2021-10-05 08:59:12
@misc{9060333,
abstract = {{There is a dramatic apocalyptic prophecy in Isaiah 34 that contains many strange animals and creatures, and the question is: why are they lurking there in fire, smoke and darkness? This thesis aims at examining the meaning of these beings using traditio-historical criticism and key word and image analysis, in an attempt to understand Isaiah's reason for using them in the biblical context. The fate of Edom has been smitten by an angry God, wild animals and even metaphysical powers are used in the description of the prophet. Edom is destroyed, stars fall from the sky, corpses lie in heaps, and it smells like rotten flesh all over the place. Everything is burning and smoke is rising high in the sky. Blood flows and fills the mountains and demons find their way there. Yes, even the female sex demon Lilith finds her way there. A major exegetical focus on Isaiah 34 is about dating the text and debating genre, but the animals and beings are often overlooked. Is there a greater significance for the prophet's use of these beings in what appears to be a catastrophic apocalyptic storyline in Isaiah 34?
This study argues that Isaiah 34 should be understood both as apocalyptic in its genre and in its rhetorical structure. The definition of the apocalyptic genre is defined by YHVH's cosmic punishment and terror, but Isaiah's use of wild animals, supernatural forces of chaos and demons should also be included as a leading argument. The study also shows a significant systematization of the prophet's metaphorical language, and the choice of animals and other supernatural things one after the other to reach a poetic culmination. In a larger perspective, Isaiah 34 is a story meant to frighten Edom and at the same time give comfort to the prophet's audience.}},
author = {{Helgesson, Jonas}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Djur och mystiska gestalter - En begrepp- och traditionshistorisk analys av djurmetaforiken i Jesaja 34.}},
year = {{2021}},
}