Divine Presence amid Violence: Contextualizing the Book of Joshua
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Investigating “revelation in context” Walter Brueggemann examines the difficult text of Joshua 11. Brueggemann seeks to explain the presence of the violence in the Old Testament, perpetrated in the name of the Lord. He addresses the problem by treating these texts as an embarrassment to Christians, dealing specifically with whether violence is at odds with the character of God.
Get more from Walter Brueggemann in the Select Works of Walter Brueggemann (9 vols.).
- Explores violence in the Old Testament
- Examines Joshua 11 in the light of God’s character
- Addresses texts that can be embarrassing to Christians
Top Highlights
“We should note that in this direct command, the only object of violence is horses and chariots, i.e., weapons. There is nothing here about burning cities, killing kings or people, or seizing war booty. Yahweh’s is a very lean mandate that addresses the simple, most important issue, the military threat of monarchal power against this alternative community lacking in military technology.” (Page 22)
“What is revealed is that Yahweh is allied with the marginalized, oppressed peasants against the monopoly of the city-state. It is not a summons to violence (though its practice might be construed so) but only a permit that Joshua’s community is entitled to dream, hope, and imagine freedom and is entitled to act upon that dream, hope, and imagination.” (Page 24)
“But the world ostensibly controlled by oppressive city-kings is now dis-closed, shown to be false, and broken open to the joy of Israel. The revelatory decree of Yahweh breaks the fixed world of city-kings. What we label as violence on Yahweh’s part is a theological permit that sanctions a new social possibility.” (Page 30)
“This unit is of particular interest because v. 6 is the only speech of Yahweh in the entire chapter—indeed the only speech from anyone. All the rest is narrative. For our interest in revelation, we may expect that this speech element will be of particular importance.” (Page 17)
“Would the God of the Bible make such a disclosure as a permit for liberation that entailed violence against oppressive weapons and, by inference, against the systems that sanction such weapons?” (Pages 24–25)
The book is a brilliant primer in persuasive, open-ended theological interpretation. It will help pastors, students, and anyone who would like to join the hot debate about violence and the God of the Bible.
—Kathleen M. O’Connor, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament Emerita, Columbia Theological Seminary
For all those vexed by texts of violence in the Bible, this splendid little book is a ‘must-read.’
—Louis Stulman, professor of religion, The University of Findlay
Walter Brueggemann through his teaching, lecturing, and writing, has effectively demonstrated the significance of the Old Testament for our fractured world today. Recognized as the preeminent interpreter of the ancient Hebrew texts in relation to questions posed by a variety of academic disciplines, he has shown the way toward a compelling understanding of the major components of the faith and life of ancient Israel, especially its Psalms, its prophets, and its historical narratives.
Brueggemann is William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. He is past president of the Society of Biblical Literature and the author of numerous books, including David’s Truth: In Israel’s Imagination and Memory, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching Genesis, and The Message of the Psalms: A Theological Commentary.