Review article
Infidelity of the People in the historical Account of Deutoronomy (2 Kings 17:14)
Darko Tepert
; Catholic Faculty of Theology - University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Republic of Croatia
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.
Keywords
2 Kings; infidelity; Israel; Judah
Hrčak ID:
266443
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2013.
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