Infidelity of the People in the Historical Account of Deuteronomy Cover Image

Nevjera naroda u Deuternomističkoj povijesti
Infidelity of the People in the Historical Account of Deuteronomy

Author(s): Darko Tepert
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion
Published by: Katolički bogoslovni fakultet
Keywords: infidelity; Israel; Judah

Summary/Abstract: 2 Kings 17:14 speaks about the infidelity of the people of Israel in the context of Israel’s fall into the power of the Assyrians. The introductory section discusses the use of the verb “to believe” in Deuteronomy history, and presents the historical circumstances referred to by the selected text. The author then locates the above-mentioned verse (17:14) within a comprehensive text that speaks about the causes of the collapse of Israel and Judah. The verse is divided into two main parts: the later, 17:7-18, and the earlier 17:21-23. To these we can add verses 17:19-20, which are, often based on syntactic analysis, usually taken as a subsequent addition. Similarities in the vocabulary and ideology suggest that the entire paragraph 17:7-18 originated simultaneously with the texts from the book of the prophet Jeremiah, without any need for further division of this section. Since that was the time of the fall of Judah, the author leaves open the possibility of simultaneous occurrence of these verses and 17:19-20, without ignoring the interruption in syntax between 17:18 and 17:19. The “infidelity” of the people mentioned in 17:14, is actually disobedience to God and his “servants”, the prophets, and to the Law and the Commandments. This infidelity is manifested in the making of idols, the worship of other gods and the adoption of other people’s customs and their incorporation in the Yahweh cult. The destruction of the people, which was only mentioned as a possible consequence of infidelity and disobedience in Deut 9:6-19, is accomplished here. In the context of Deuteronomy history, especially in the context of 1 Kings 8, the means by which the consequences of infidelity could be overcome are atonement, repentance and prayer for God’s mercy

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 301-312
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Croatian
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