ST627 Lesson 16
Update: 2016-08-26
1
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Consider a critique of S. Richter's "The Name Theology and the “Fluidity” of Deity". Heiser states in “Co-Regency in Israel’s Divine Council and Ancient Jewish Binitarian Monotheism,” BBR 26 (forthcoming), "The most sweeping critique of Richter’s conclusions has come from Michael Hundley in a detailed article on the “name language” of Deuteronomy and DH. While agreeing with Richter’s contention that the name formulae have been misunderstood and misapplied, Hundley argues that “her analysis of the formulae and the implications she draws from it are ultimately untenable. Toward making that case, Hundley offers six arguments that, in one form or another, assert that name language in Deuteronomy and DH concerns more than ownership of the sanctuary and sacred space." Heiser states, "Hundley charges that Richter’s proposed meaning only works with the formulaic phrases, not other texts and contexts." Heiser also adds, "Psalm 74:7 refers explicitly to the temple as the “dwelling place of God’s name” (משׁכן־שׁמך). In Jeremiah 7 the lemma škn(“to dwell”) occurs twice in the Piel stem (vv. 3, 7) with the Israelites as the object, followed by a third Piel form of the lemma (v. 12) referring to God’s name (אֲשֶׁר שִׁכַּנְתִּי שְׁמִי שָׁם). It is difficult to see how a translation of “put” or “place” works in all three instances, as opposed to “settle,” an alternative that suggests habitation by the divine presence in v. 12 (“where I settled my name”)." Heiser continues, ". . . Deuteronomy 4:35-39 seems clearly to indicate the third option is not in view: "It has been clearly demonstrated to you that the Lord alone is God (האלהים); there is none beside Him. From the heavens He let you hear His voice to discipline you; on earth He let you see His great fire; and from amidst that fire you heard His words. And because He loved your fathers, He chose their heirs after them; He Himself, in His great might, led you out of Egypt, to drive from your path nations greater and more populous than you, to take you into their land and assign it to you as a heritage, as is still the case. Know therefore this day and keep in mind that the Lord alone is God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other." Heiser states, "This “double presence” is consistent with the comparative ancient Near Eastern data marshaled by Hamori, Sommer, and Herring."
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