Heroic Bodies in Ancient Israel

Psalm 100 is one of the most popular psalms of praise and thanksgiving. Almost every scholar accepts this psalm as a hymn commanding the congregation to praise Yahweh in thanksgiving. This song is so vital because to praise and worship Yahweh is to live and to live is to praise and worship him for his majesty and all the things he has done for ancient Israel. Psalm 100 is also called the imperative psalm because of the seven imperative verbs that seem to dictate the structure. The content of this psalm not only resembles ancient Israelite worship but also typical African worship. This article aims to apply an Africentric interpretation to Psalm 100 in order to demonstrate how the praise and worship in African churches reflect the description of Psalm 100 (without saying that they are the same). This article aims to demonstrate how African religion and culture can be used to understand Psalm 100 without condemning Eurocentric approaches.

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THE AFRICAN WIFE OF SOLOMON (1 KINGS 3:1; 9:16; 7:8; 11:1)

Journal for Semitics ◽

10.25159/1013-8471/2769 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

Author(s):

David Tuesday Adamo

Keyword(s):

African Woman ◽

Archaeological Record ◽

Not Given ◽

Similar Treatment ◽

Ancient Israel ◽

1 Kings

Both the Deuteronomist and the Chronicler repeatedly testify that Solomon married an African woman who was the daughter of Pharaoh. The fact that Pharaoh‟s daughter was singled out in this manner is significant as similar treatment was not given to his many other wives and concubines. In the African polygamous system, the first wife exercises enormous power over the husband and other wives. In keeping with the tradition, as chief wife Pharaoh‟s daughter would have had immense influence over Solomon. This pervasive influence can be seen in the economic, political, and administrative policies of the day, as well as in the prohibition on Solomon marrying an Israelite woman. Although Solomon‟s African wife is nameless in the biblical record, and both Solomon and his wife are unattested in the archaeological record, the marriage represents an aspect of African influence on and contribution to ancient Israel.

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REREADING TEXTS OF MUSIC AND DANCE IN THE HEBREW BIBLE: THE SPIRITUALITY OF MUSIC AND DANCE IN ZIMBABWE

Journal for Semitics ◽

10.25159/1013-8471/2527 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 72-98

Author(s):

Temba T. Rugwiji

Keyword(s):

Hebrew Bible ◽

Land Reform ◽

Critical Role ◽

Musical Instruments ◽

World Music ◽

Human Existence ◽

Biblical Text ◽

Ancient Israel ◽

Formed Part ◽

The Church

The Hebrew Bible depicts that music and dance formed part of worship and reverence of Yahweh in which various musical instruments were played during ancient biblical times. In the modern post-biblical world, music and dance characterise every context of human existence either in moments of love, joy, celebration, victory, sorrow or reverence. In Zimbabwe, music — which is usually accompanied by dance — serves various purposes such as solidarity towards or remonstration against the land reform, despondency against corruption, celebration, giving hope to the sick, worship as in the church or appeasing the dead by those who are culturally-entrenched. Two fundamental questions need to be answered in this article: 1) What was the significance of music and dance in ancient Israel? 2) What is the significance of music and dance in Zimbabwe? In response to the above questions, this essay engages into dialogue the following three contestations. First, texts of music, musical instruments and dance in the Hebrew Bible are discussed in view of their spiritual significance in ancient Israel. Second, this study analyses music and dance from a faith perspective because it appears for the majority of Gospel musicians the biblical text plays a critical role in composing their songs. Third, this article examines music and dance in view of the spirituality which derives from various genres by Zimbabwean musicians in general. In its entirety, this article attempts to show that the Zimbabwean society draws some spirituality from music and dance when devastated by political, cultural or socio-economic crises.

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What is aliyah in the Architecture of Ancient Israel?

Journal of Biblical Text Research ◽

10.28977/jbtr.2009.10.25.53 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 53-72

Author(s):

MiYoung Im

Keyword(s):

Ancient Israel

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On Agricultural Imagery in Biblical Descriptions of Catastrophes

Journal of Ancient Judaism ◽

10.30965/21967954-00301002 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 2-14

Author(s):

Nili Samet

Keyword(s):

Hebrew Bible ◽

Mass Killing ◽

Near Eastern ◽

Biblical Literature ◽

Ancient Israel

This article examines the use of agricultural imagery in biblical literature to embody the destructive force of war and other mass catastrophes. Activities such as vintage, harvest, threshing, and wine-pressing serve as metaphors for the actions of slaughtering, demolition and mass killing. The paper discusses the Ancient Near Eastern origins of the imagery under discussion, and presents the relevant examples from the Hebrew Bible, tracing the development of this absorbing metaphor, and analyzing the different meanings attached to it in different contexts. It shows that the use of destructive agricultural imagery first emerges in ancient Israel as an instance of popular phraseology. In turn, the imagery is employed as a common prophetic motif. The prophetic books examined demonstrate how each prophet appropriates earlier uses of the imagery in prophetic discourse and adapts the agricultural metaphors to suit specific rhetorical needs.

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