JOSHUA 24 as POETIC NARRATIVE

William T. Koopmans

Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

Supplement Series 93

Copyright © 1990 Sheffield Academic Press

Published by JSOT Press

JSOT Press is an imprint of

Sheffield Academic Press Ltd

The University of Sheffield

343 Fulwood Road

Sheffield S10 3BP

England

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Available

ISSN 0143-5108

ISBN 1-85075-247-8

CONTENTS

Preface

Abbreviations

1 The History of Interpretation of Josh. 24:1–28

1.1 Introduction

1.2 A chronological overview

1.3 Covenant and source-critical methodology

1.3.1 J. Wellhausen

1.3.2 A. Kuenen

1.3.3 J.J.P. Valeton

1.3.4 R. Kraetzschmar

1.3.5 P. Karge

1.3.6 E. Sellin

1.3.7 J. Pedersen

1.3.8 O. Eissfeldt

1.3.9 W. Rudolph

1.3.10 C.A. Simpson

1.3.11 H. Mölle

1.3.12 Summary

1.4 Covenant and cult in Israel’s history writing

1.4.1 M. Noth

1.4.2 G. von Rad

1.4.3 H.-J. Kraus

1.4.4 E. Nielsen

1.4.5 S. Mowinckel

1.4.6 Summary

1.5 Covenant and treaty; new developments in form criticism

1.5.1 G.E. Mendenhall

1.5.2 K. Baltzer

1.5.3 W. Beyerlin

1.5.4 J. L ’Hour

1.5.5 M.G. Kline / K.A. Kitchen

1.5.6 P. Kalluveettil

1.5.7 Summary

1.6 Covenant and Dtistic theology; writing history anew

1.6.1 Introduction

1.6.2 J. Begrich / A. Jepsen

1.6.3 G. Schmitt

1.6.4 E. Kutsch

1.6.5 L. Perlitt

1.6.6 M. Weinfeld

1.6.7 D.J. McCarthy

1.6.8 J. Van Seters

1.6.9 E.W. Nicholson

1.6.10 S.D. Sperling

1.6.11 S. Kreuzer

1.6.12 Summary

1.7 Josh. 24 and archaeology

1.7.1 Introduction

1.7.2 G.E. Wright

1.7.3 K. Jaroš

1.7.4 A. Zertal

1.7.5 Limitations of archaeology at Shechem

1.7.6 Summary

1.8 Textual criticism of Josh. 24:1–28

2 An Analysis of Previous Research in Josh. 24:1–28

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Textual criticism of Josh. 24:1–28

2.3 Literary-critical diversity and consensus

2.3.1 An Elohist source

2.3.2 An Elohist and a Yahwist source

2.3.3 A Yahwist source

2.3.4 A Dtic or Dtistic composition

2.3.5 Ancient tradition with later redaction

2.3.6 Authorship contemporaneous with or relatively soon after the events described

2.3.7 Inadequacy of the literary-critical approaches

2.3.7.1 E and JE source criticism inadequate

2.3.7.2 Dtic/Dtistic analyses

2.3.7.3 Ancient tradition

2.4 Form-critical approaches reconsidered

2.4.1 Inadequacy of previous form-critical approaches

2.4.2 Importance of ancient NE parallels

2.5 Archaeological approaches to Josh. 24:1–28

2.6 Structural analysis of Josh. 24

2.6.1 Diversity of claims regarding structure

2.6.2 C.H. Giblin’s structural analysis

2.6.3 Need for a new analysis of structure

2.7 Conclusions

3 Structural Analysis of Josh. 24:1–28

3.1 The concept of poetic narrative

3.2 Methodological considerations

3.3 Colometrical delineation of Josh. 24:1–28

3.4 Colometrical justification of Josh. 24:1–28

3.4.1 Canticle I.i (24:1)

3.4.2 Canticle I.ii (24:2–4)

3.4.3 Canticle I.iii (24:5–7)

3.4.4 Canticle I.iv (24:8–11)

3.4.5 Canticle I.v (24:12–13)

3.4.6 Canticle II.i (24:14–15)

3.4.7 Canticle II.ii (24:16–18)

3.4.8 Canticle II.iii (24:19–21)

3.4.9 Canticle ...