Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Liz Fried" <lizfried AT umich.edu>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jonathan D. Safren [mailto:yon_saf AT bezeqint.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2001 4:07 PM
> To: Liz Fried
> Subject: Re: The Messianic Idea

>
> > > > Liz, Ez. 34 is an organic whole. There's idea development and
> progression
> > > towards the prophet's logical conclusion: the restoration of
> the people
> of
> > > Israel and the Davidic dynasty.
> >
> > I disagree.
> > The whole point of Ezekiel is the condemnation of the shepherds.
> > The shepherds are the Davidic line.
> > He doesn't search for an ideal member of this line.
> > He is intent on establishing a new order in which GOD himself is the
> > shepherd.
> > This is his whole point.
> > The only role Ezekiel relegates for the nasi (a davidic king) is to pay
> for
> > the cult!
> > (Ezekiel 46).
>
>
> Liz, here I disagree. Ezekiel 34: 23-24, which you claim to be a later
> addition, are written in typical Ezekielian, proto-Priestly style and
> language. And notice that the Davidix scion is called a nasi, the Priestly
> term for head of a tribe, indicating that he is to be subservient to God,
> who in the same verse reaffirms his suzerain-vassal relationship with
> Israel.

Jonathan, take a look at these verses and the ones before them.
In vs. 20-22, God says I am over them, and I myself will judge ....
I will save my sheep ... I will judge between sheep and sheep.

Then you have an interpolation by a later writer.

Then you have a return to talking about sheep and wild animals ravaging
them again.

The whole book of Ezekiel is a castigation of the kings and the prophets who
followed them blindly. Although I don't agree with Hanson on very much, I do
agree with his discussion of Ezekiel in The Dawn of Apocalyptic.

Liz
> >
> > > Sincerely,
> > > Jonathan D. Safren
> > > Chairman
> > > Dept. of Biblical Studies
> > > Beit Berl College
> > > 44905 Israel
> > >
> >
>