The Biblical Annals

The Symbology of the Foreigner in the Psalter

2024-04-26T11:24:06+02:00

Who is a foreigner in the Hebrew Psalter? The article answers this question in two sections. First, seven terms referring to “foreigner” are examined to determine their individual characteristicsin the Psalms and their correspondence to biblical texts outside the Psalter. Second, other literary motifs are analyzed in a cursory reading of Psalms 105, 106 and 137. The Psalter outlines a partial picture of the foreigner, which is subordinated to theological and symbolic issues. The Psalms primarily recall the adventures of Israel, which had to frequently change its place of residence for various reasons. As a foreigner, deprived of land and permanent residence, he experienced the ups and downs of migrant life and ultimately strove to integrate into a new socio-cultural environment. Defending one’s identity and maintaining national and religious integrity is portrayed as a difficult process, at risk. Another type of foreigner in the Psalms is the non-Jew, individually or communally, who enjoys the social and legal protection to which the poor are entitled. Either he is a well-integrated member of society, or he remains unassimilated. In the latter case, his false words, harmful actions and physical hostility toward Israel come to the fore. Finally, in the Book of Psalms, terms associated with “foreigner” are part of figurative language. The vocabulary sometimes either evokes non-literal associations with foreign countries, nations and foreign gods, or denotes an emotional state of suffering and isolation. Moreover, key lexemes symbolize the transitory human condition, emphasizing the marginalization and even segregation of the petitioner from the household.

The Seductive Argumentation of the Adulterous Woman in Prov 7:16–17

2024-03-04T08:54:42+01:00

The Book of Proverbs abounds in characteristic and often very ambivalent vocabulary. Ambiguity of symbolism can also be found in smaller thematic units, a particular example being the passage of Prov 7:16–17, in which a strange, adulterous woman encourages a young man to engage in fornication. The terms used in the text for the bed and its decoration also referred to funerary practices. Myrrh was known as an aphrodisiac, but was also associated with funeral rites. When mixed with aloe and cinnamon, it made an ointment used to anoint the bodies of the dead, among other things. Cinnamon, the third ingredient in the perfume in Prov 7:17, was used to eliminate the odour of bodies at burial. The term used to refer to the bed was also used in the description of a burial site. A young man, tempted by a harlot woman to commit adultery, is actually being prepared for death (Prov 7:22–23.26–27).

Enoch’s Vision of the Heavenly Temple (1 En. 14:8–25) Reconsidered

2024-04-26T11:23:59+02:00

The paper focuses on a reexamination and reassessment of the textual evidence of Enoch’s Vision of the Heavenly Temple and of its classical interpretation as a heavenly temple complex. In line with the common scholarly opinion, 1 En. 14:8–25 has so far been interpreted in the sense of a bipartite or even tripartite temple which resembles the earthly temple in Jerusalem not only in structure but also in appearance. In contrast, this paper claims that this passage of the Book of the Watchers provides a twofold vision of two different temples, namely the inferior earthly temple and the ideal heavenly sanctuary. In this way, it articulates one of the most radical temple critiques of ancient Judaism. This interpretation is based on a careful textual analysis and a meticulous discussion of the individual elements of, in particular, the first house, taking into account other ancient Jewish sources such as Ezekiel, Haggai and the Animal Apocalypse which partially have been ignored so far but provide a helpful and illuminating background for the interpretation of Enoch’s Heavenly Vision.

Paul’s Heart as Spatial Metaphor in 2 Corinthians

2024-04-26T11:23:56+02:00

In 2 Cor 6:11–13, Paul states that his heart has been enlarged to welcome the Corinthians and urges them to reciprocate—although an insightful article by Christopher Land in ZNW has recently questioned this standard exegesis, which we will discuss. In 2 Cor 6:11–7:4, which functions as a peroratio of the preceding argumentation, Paul associates terms of body language (στόμα, καρδία, σπλάγχνα) with verbs of spatial meaning (πλατύνω, στενοχωρέω, χωρέω). Paul’s heart also appears in the letter as a spatial metaphor for his relationship with God ( 1:22; 3:2–3; 4:6). In our research, we will examine whether there could be a correlation between the horizontal dimension of the metaphor (Paul’s heart as a welcoming space for the Corinthians) and the vertical one (Paul’s heart as a place of encounter with God). Additionally, the heart serves Paul to establish the map of relationships in which his opponents are excluded because they boast ἐν προσώπῳ and not ἐν καρδίᾳ (5:12). In conclusion, drawing on the cognitive analysis of metaphors, we will try to highlight the semantic and pragmatic possibilities of Paul’s heart as a spatial metaphor in 2 Corinthians.

Strangers "par excellence". Arabs in the Neo-Assyrian Royal Inscriptions

2024-03-04T08:53:50+01:00

The basic questions posed in the article were: what characteristics caused Arabs to be perceived by the elites of the Neo-Assyrian Empire as strangers, and whether such classification resulted in their treatment differently from other peoples? Neo-Assyrian royal inscriptions and correspondence with the court were analysed to answer these questions. On this basis, three features that together are unique only to Arabs were distinguished: nomadism, camel farming and the presence of queens. These traits are unique to Arabs, so they are strangers par excellence from Assyria’s perspective. Interestingly, these features generally do not result in exceptional treatment. Only in a situation of conflict and defeat of the Arabs can one perceive their specific treatment, marked by exceptional cruelty even for Assyrians. For example, mainly Arab rulers were chained along with wild animals to the gates of the Assyrian capital. Moreover, only Arab women were subjected to tearing unborn children out of their wombs. This shows that Arabs were treated as half-humans against whom the most heinous crimes could be committed because Assyrians were not bound by the standards applicable to other peoples.

The Hebrew name "Yerûšalaim" in selected Slavic translations of the Gospels

2024-04-26T11:24:01+02:00

This article, which is part of a series of studies on biblical onyms, is devoted to the translation equivalents of the local name Yerušalaim (genetically Hebr.) in selected old Slavic translations of the Gospel, produced before the 17th century. The analysis of the material, carried out on the basis of the philological method, aims to show the equivalents of the toponym in the translations into particular languages, the degree of dependence in the rendering of this name between the translations and their sources, and to show the impact of some of the translations on others. The body of the texts constituting the instalments of the multilingual translation series of the Gospel consists of key and often better-known translations into the selected languages, representing the three main groups of Slavic languages (southern, eastern and western). The source material was selected so as to ensure diversity in the basis for translation (Greek vs. Latin), religious tradition and the translation strategy applied.

Forgotten Polish Biblicist Fr. Franciszek Ksawery Pawłowski (1807–1876)

2024-04-26T11:24:04+02:00

The article profiles Fr Franciszek Pawłowski, a 19th-century Roman Catholic priest of the Przemyśl diocese, prelate of the local cathedral chapter and professor and rector of the major seminary in Przemyśl. This remarkable figure been noted in, among others, The Polish Biographical Dictionary and The Catholic Encyclopedia, mostly known to specialists but less familiar to the wider circle of researchers and scholars. This article not only presents Fr Pawłowski’s basic biographical data, and the ecclesiastical and academic roles he held, but also his main research interests and his many publications in theology, biblical studies and church history. Particular attention is paid to Pawłowski’s most important work, the four-volume Psalter with a commentary on the Psalms and Lamentations of the prophet Jeremiah, which was published a few years before its author’s death and constitutes his opus vitae. It was dedicated by Fr Pawłowski himself to those interested in Scripture, especially priests and seminarians preparing for the priesthood. Although the basis for his analysis of the biblical text was the Vulgate, and its late 16th-century Polish translation by Fr Jakub Wujek, the author applied modern textual criticism, including comparisons with the Greek and Hebrew texts. Fr Pawłowski’s commentary on the Psalms was highly praised from the outset, as a work testifying to the author’s immense erudition and great diligence. Notably, Fr Pawłowski was also a historian, particularly of the Church of the diocese of Przemyśl, with published sketches on the history of its parishes and monasteries and the schematism of the folk schools and their teachers. Of particular importance was his study on the history, composition and endowment of the Cathedral Chapter in Przemyśl, edited in 1853, and his work Premislia sacra [Holy Przemyśl, or the list and activities of the Roman Catholic bishops of Przemyśl], published in 1869. For such achievements, he was appointed in 1872 as an active member of the Historical-Philosophical Faculty of the newly established Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences in Kraków. Among his legacy are yet other works in the field of biblical studies, which remain to this day as manuscripts in the library of the Przemyśl Chapter, still waiting to be edited and published.

Mirosław Stanisław Wróbel, Anti-Judaism and the Gospel of John. A New Look at the Fourth Gospel’s Relationship with Judaism (Lublin Theological Studies 7; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 2023)

2024-01-24T21:14:17+01:00

Book review: Mirosław Stanisław Wróbel, "Anti-Judaism and the Gospel of John. A New Look at the Fourth Gospel’s Relationship with Judaism" (Lublin Theological Studies 7; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 2023). Pp. 297. € 120. ISBN: 978-3-525-50053-8.

Academic Activities of the Institute of Biblical Studies at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin in the Year 2022/2023

2024-01-31T08:46:59+01:00