The Moses Tradition

George W. Coats

Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series 161

Copyright © 1993 Sheffield Academic Press

Published by JSOT Press

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Sheffield Academic Press Ltd

343 Fulwood Road

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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Coats, George W.

Moses Tradition. - (JSOT Supplement Series, ISSN 0309-0787; No.161)

I. Title II. Series

221

ISBN 1-85075-410-1

Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Chapter 1

I Will Be With You

Chapter 2

Moses in Midian

Chapter 3

Moses Versus Amalek: Aetiology and Legend in Exodus 17:8–16

Chapter 4

History and Theology in the Sea Tradition

Chapter 5

The King’s Loyal Opposition: Obedience and Authority in Exodus 32–34

Chapter 6

Legendary Motifs in the Moses Death Reports

Chapter 7

Humility and Honor: A Moses Legend in Numbers 12

Chapter 8

Metanoia in Ancient Israel: Clues for Unity and Change

Chapter 9

Moses as a Model for Ministry: An Exegesis of Exodus 2:11–22

Chapter 10

The Failure of the Hero: Moses as a Model for Ministry

Chapter 11

The Golden Calf in Psalm 22

Chapter 12

Healing and the Moses Traditions

Chapter 13

Strife and Broken Intimacy: Genesis 1–3: Prolegomena to a Biblical Theology

Chapter 14

Violence in the Heroic Tradition: A Characteristic Motif in Biblical Sagas

Chapter 15

The Unity of Isaiah: An Exercise in Canon Criticism

Chapter 16

Scope and Structure for the Yahwist: Where does it End?

Index of References

Index of Authors

Foreword

These sixteen essays—four of which are published for the first time—share a commitment to form-critical and traditio-historical exegetical concerns and demonstrate the theological power of these methods. ‘I Will Be With You’ sets a specific context for interpreting Exod. 3:14 which leads to a view of the name of Yahweh as the sign of Yahweh’s presence with Israel—whether for good or for ill. ‘Moses in Midian’ seeks to identify the tradition of Moses’ marriage to the Midianite woman, Zipporah, as the root of the tradition of Moses, sojourn in Midian. ‘Moses versus Amalek’ argues that Exod. 17:8–16 belongs to the genre of heroic legend which leads Coats to consider the theological context for the heroic elements of the Moses saga. ‘History and Theology in the Sea Tradition’ explores problems of historical reconstruction and its relation to a theological understanding and significance of the tradition. ‘The King’s Loyal Opposition’ explores Moses’ intercession during the golden calf incident as it relates to issues of obedience and authority. ‘Legendary Motifs in the Moses Death Reports’ isolates and explores several heroic motifs in the texts of the death of Moses. ‘Humility and Honor’ makes a case for the form-critical integrity of Num. 12:1–15 and argues that Num. 12:3 should read ‘The man Moses was the most honorable of all persons who are on the face of the earth’, thus fitting the heroic nature of the Moses saga. ‘Metanoia in Ancient Israel’ portrays Moses as a model for leadership, ...