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Between Absurdity And Hope : Suffering In The Book Of Isaiah

Scheuer, Blaženka LU (2024) In The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies
Abstract
This article explores the theme of suffering in the book of Isaiah using the concept of the absurd, developed by Albert Camus. Confronted with a reality of persistent displacement and suffering, and with Yhwh's indifference to it, the authors/editors of the book of Isaiah accentuate a sense of absurdity of Israelite existence after the Babylonian exile. Some of the more peculiar texts about divine punishment—such as the hardening of the heart (Isa 6), the suffering of the innocent servant (Isa 53), and the culpability of Yhwh in the Israelite predicament (Isa 63–64)—are here read as an absurd protest, rejecting justifications of the horrors of Israelite suffering through war and exile.

Through this protest, the Book of Isaiah... (More)
This article explores the theme of suffering in the book of Isaiah using the concept of the absurd, developed by Albert Camus. Confronted with a reality of persistent displacement and suffering, and with Yhwh's indifference to it, the authors/editors of the book of Isaiah accentuate a sense of absurdity of Israelite existence after the Babylonian exile. Some of the more peculiar texts about divine punishment—such as the hardening of the heart (Isa 6), the suffering of the innocent servant (Isa 53), and the culpability of Yhwh in the Israelite predicament (Isa 63–64)—are here read as an absurd protest, rejecting justifications of the horrors of Israelite suffering through war and exile.

Through this protest, the Book of Isaiah embraces suffering as the essence of Israelite existence, asserting that integrity and meaningful life are not acquired through a quiet acceptance of the destructive forces sent by Yhwh, but through an unyielding refusal to submit to these forces. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Isaiah, suffering, the absurd
host publication
Unity in the Book of Isaiah
series title
The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies
editor
Rossi, Benedetta ; Irudayaraj, Dominic S. and Hens-Piazza, Gina
publisher
Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN
9780567705945
9780567705938
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b37c2e7c-1bb5-4c9a-bea6-8f2e5feba44b
date added to LUP
2023-01-19 18:09:49
date last changed
2024-02-02 14:09:32
@inbook{b37c2e7c-1bb5-4c9a-bea6-8f2e5feba44b,
  abstract     = {{This article explores the theme of suffering in the book of Isaiah using the concept of the absurd, developed by Albert Camus. Confronted with a reality of persistent displacement and suffering, and with Yhwh's indifference to it, the authors/editors of the book of Isaiah accentuate a sense of absurdity of Israelite existence after the Babylonian exile. Some of the more peculiar texts about divine punishment—such as the hardening of the heart (Isa 6), the suffering of the innocent servant (Isa 53), and the culpability of Yhwh in the Israelite predicament (Isa 63–64)—are here read as an absurd protest, rejecting justifications of the horrors of Israelite suffering through war and exile.<br/> <br/>Through this protest, the Book of Isaiah embraces suffering as the essence of Israelite existence, asserting that integrity and meaningful life are not acquired through a quiet acceptance of the destructive forces sent by Yhwh, but through an unyielding refusal to submit to these forces.}},
  author       = {{Scheuer, Blaženka}},
  booktitle    = {{Unity in the Book of Isaiah}},
  editor       = {{Rossi, Benedetta and Irudayaraj, Dominic S. and Hens-Piazza, Gina}},
  isbn         = {{9780567705945}},
  keywords     = {{Isaiah; suffering; the absurd}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Bloomsbury Publishing}},
  series       = {{The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies}},
  title        = {{Between Absurdity And Hope : Suffering In The Book Of Isaiah}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}