Chapter Ii Lecture

Chapter II: Prophetic Literature in the Ancient Near East

References  David

L. Petersen, “Introduction to Prophetic Literature” in The New International Bible Commentary VI, pp. 9-11.  Robert R. Wilson, Prophecy and Society in Ancient Israel (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1980), see chapter 3: “Prophecy in Ancient Near East”, pp. 89-133.

Middle East

Ancient Near East (the “Fertile Crescent”)

A. Non-Israelites Prophets in the Bible 1. Deut 13:1-2  2. 1 Kgs 18:20-40 

 Elijah

and the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah.

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3.Numbers 22-24  Balaam

son of Beor  He utters an “oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty” (Num 24:4).

B. ANE Prophecy from extrabiblical sources 

1. Inscription from Tell Deir `Alla (in Jordan).  1967  Date:

8th century B.C.  “The account of [Balaam, son of Beor], who was a seer of the gods. The gods came to him in the night, and he saw a vision like an oracle of El.”

Tell Deir `Alla

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2. Mari Texts  18th

century B.C.  Discovered by French archeologists in the 1930s.  Library or achive  20,000 Cuneiform texts  Formula: “Thus spoke Annunitum”

Mari Tablet on the king Zimri-Lim (Louvre)

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Speak to my lord: thus Sibtu your maid-servant. The palace is safe and sound. In the temple of Annunitum, on the third day of the month, Selebum went into a trance. Thus spoke Annunitum: “O Zimri-Lim, with a revolt they would put you to the test. Guard yourself. Put your side servants, your controllers whom you love. Station them so they can guard you. Do not go about by yourself. And as for the men who would put you to the test, I shall deliver these men into your hand.” I have now hereby dispatched to my Lord the hair and the fringe of the cult-player [meaning, Selebum].

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Trance  See

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1 Sam 19:20

Superscriptions  See

Isa 8:1,16.

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3. Neo-Assyrian texts  ca.

8th-7th century BC.  Palace at Nineveh  Contemporary with Isaiah and Micah  Oracles of nine women and four men known as prophets.

Fear not, Esarhaddon! I am Bel. [Even as] I speak to you, I watch over the beams of your heart. When your mother gave birth to you, Sixty great gods stood with me and protected you.

Sin was at your right side, Samas at your left; Sixty great gods were standing around you and girded your loins. Do not trust in man. Lift up your eyes, look at me!

I am Ishatr of Arbela; I reconciled Assur with you. When your were small, I took you to me. Do not fear; praise me! What enemy has attacked you while I remained silent?

The future shall be like the past. I am Nabu, lord of the stylus. Praise me! By the mouth of the woman Baya, “son” of Arbela.

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4. Others  Texts

from Ebla (Northern Syria)  Texts from Emar (along Euphrates river)  Texts from Biblos (ancient city in Lebanon)

Conclusion 

1) On the historical and religious level -prophecy in ANE tells us that prophecy in Israel is not totally a new phenomenon nor exclusive to Israel.

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2) ) On the theological level: -aspect of incarnation

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3) On the missiological level -aspect of inculturation