"No One Will Say Anymore: The Ark of the Covenant of YHWH." Jeremiah 3:16 and Its Significance for the Tradition of the Ark of the Covenant
Abstract
The statement in Jer 3:16–17 about the loss of the Ark of the Covenant and the assertion that there is no further need to think about it is unique in the prophetic texts. Its significance, however, is not the result of this uniqueness, but pf the contents contained in it. The article compares the statistical interest in Ark in various theological circles from the times of the Old Testament. This data, along with an analysis of the potential roles assigned to the Ark, revealed a process in which it gradually lost its significance. The analysis of the potential historical circumstances allowed us to conclude that the statement of the prophet Jeremiah does not provide any information about how and when the Ak was lost. Diachronic analysis allows us to classify it as an editorial addition from the late period after the Babylonian exile. As such, it contains information about a significant change in Old Testament covenant theology. In the spirit of the post-exilc tradition of patriarchal promises, to the current vision of return of the diaspora and the renewal of the Kingdom of Israel (Jer 3:14–15, 18), there is now added the announcement of the pilgrimage of the nations to Zion and the inauguration of the universal Kingdom of God on earth.
Keywords:
Jeremiah, Ark of the Covenant, the universal kingdom of God, eschatologyReferences
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Univeristy of Szczecin
Janusz Lemański, Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg, professor of theology, head of the Department of Exegesis and Biblical Theology at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Szczecin, and author of numerous articles and monographs on the Old Testament. He specializes in topics related to the Pentateuch and biblical eschatology. Among his works are: Pięcioksiąg dzisiaj (Studia Biblica 4; Kielce: Verbum 2002); Księga Wyjścia (NKB.ST 2; Częstochowa: Edycja Świętego Pawła 2009); the two-volume introduction to biblical prophecy: „Niech przyjdzie do mnie, a dowie się, że jest prorok w Izraelu” (2 Krl 5,8b). Wprowadzenie do profetyzmu starotestamentalnego. I. Profetyzm przedklasyczny. Prorocy więksi (Studia i Rozprawy 28; Szczecin: Wydawnictwo Naukowe US 2011); „Szukajcie dobra, a nie zła, abyście żyli” (Am 5,14a). Wprowadzenie do profetyzmu starotestamentalnego. II. Dwunastu proroków mniejszych. Księga Barucha. List Jeremiasza (Studia i Rozprawy 31; Szczecin: Wydawnictwo Naukowe US 2012); Księga Rodzaju (NKB.ST 1/1-3; Częstochowa: Edycja Świętego Pawła 2013–2015); Prawo Pana doskonałe – krzepi życie (Ps 19,8a). Kilka refleksji na temat istoty prawa i sprawiedliwości w Starym Testamencie (Studia i Rozprawy 54; Szczecin: Wydawnictwo US 2019).
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