Biblical scholar in Hebrew and Hebrew Bible: special interest in translation textual plurality, (Septuagint, Dead Seas Scrolls, Samaritan Pentateuch, Aleppo Codex, Leningrad Codex); feminist, womanist and post-colonial biblical interpretation; prophets and prophecy in the Ancient Near East and ancient Israel
Episcopal priest, product of the Black Church, author, blogger, preacher, teacher, lecturer, public speaker
I have been leading my church in a series on interpreting the Bible, as well as sharing more info on my radio program. You have succinctly stated all that I have tried to teach. When I had them read Psalm 137: 9, many were at a loss as to what to do, and many were surprised that God would put such a text in the Bible. Thanks for helping us to think critically.
Dear Susan,
You are partially correct about one element of the semantic range of one word. One sense of כַּנְפוֹת in Is 11:12 and Ezek 7:2 is “edge” and can refer to the soft edge of a garment. That is not the sense in those texts. The ancient Near Eastern cosmology included a flat table earth with corners held up by pillars, “hence the expression the pillars of the earth,” see 1 Sam 2:8; Job 9:6; Psa 75:3. In Rev 7:1 and 20:8 γωνία is hard-edged corner, like a street corner. I stand by my statement. The references to the four corners of the earth reflect the literal view of the biblical writers and their intended audience that the earth was indeed flat which is of course, not literally true. Thanks for the opportunity to clarify.
Thank you for your reply. You certainly have more knowledge in this regard but I would like to point out a trend I have noticed. It seems to me that biblical scholars are suddenly opposing literalism using the same examples. “Four corners” and “pillars of the earth” are making the rounds on all the biblical scholars blogs. While I agree that literalism should be debunked, I think that the ancients were not as clueless about cosmology as our translations would suggest. The Greek translations could not possibly encompass the most ancient knowledge from the Horn of Africa.
How could a lamed vovnic be a pillar? It is the strength of righteousness (justice) that holds the world aloft.
My last on this. The tendency to use simple, obvious examples does not disqualify. I also speak (in other contexts) of the claim that demons cause deafness and epilepsy and, that men plan seeds in women to make babies. And we’re not limited to “Greek translations” for our understandings of the ancient world. There are plenty of maps and compendia and cosmological treatises describing the flat earth, its supportive pillars deeply rooted in the Pit/Abyss/Sheol, the dome of the heavens above complete with windows to access the primordial sea. I don’t get your last sentence, there may be a typo (lammed-vav-what?). The notion of righteousness supporting the world is a metaphor based on the literal understanding of the pillars. The broader point is that not even the ancients considered everything in the scriptures to be literal and some of what they did we do not read literally across wide interpretive paradigms. Thanks for the conversations. ‘Til next time. Best to you.
These maps, etc. do not come from African sources. Since you do not wish to discuss, it is hard to use any examples that are not “simple”.
A masteba is not a pillar – it is the grave of a righteous king or patriarch. Also, I did not misspell but I do not have Hebrew fonts. 36 pillars (lamed vov) is a very ancient concept that is also seen in the Karnak temple. Thank you for your reply.
david30122013
August 16, 2013 11:50 amI have been leading my church in a series on interpreting the Bible, as well as sharing more info on my radio program. You have succinctly stated all that I have tried to teach. When I had them read Psalm 137: 9, many were at a loss as to what to do, and many were surprised that God would put such a text in the Bible. Thanks for helping us to think critically.
Andrea Kaitany
August 17, 2013 10:04 amVery well expressed.
susan
August 19, 2013 11:20 amThe word used for “corners” is related to word for “wings”. I think it means something more like “four winds”
Wil
August 19, 2013 11:53 amDear Susan,
You are partially correct about one element of the semantic range of one word. One sense of כַּנְפוֹת in Is 11:12 and Ezek 7:2 is “edge” and can refer to the soft edge of a garment. That is not the sense in those texts. The ancient Near Eastern cosmology included a flat table earth with corners held up by pillars, “hence the expression the pillars of the earth,” see 1 Sam 2:8; Job 9:6; Psa 75:3. In Rev 7:1 and 20:8 γωνία is hard-edged corner, like a street corner. I stand by my statement. The references to the four corners of the earth reflect the literal view of the biblical writers and their intended audience that the earth was indeed flat which is of course, not literally true. Thanks for the opportunity to clarify.
susan
August 20, 2013 1:06 pmThank you for your reply. You certainly have more knowledge in this regard but I would like to point out a trend I have noticed. It seems to me that biblical scholars are suddenly opposing literalism using the same examples. “Four corners” and “pillars of the earth” are making the rounds on all the biblical scholars blogs. While I agree that literalism should be debunked, I think that the ancients were not as clueless about cosmology as our translations would suggest. The Greek translations could not possibly encompass the most ancient knowledge from the Horn of Africa.
How could a lamed vovnic be a pillar? It is the strength of righteousness (justice) that holds the world aloft.
Wil
August 20, 2013 1:25 pmMy last on this. The tendency to use simple, obvious examples does not disqualify. I also speak (in other contexts) of the claim that demons cause deafness and epilepsy and, that men plan seeds in women to make babies. And we’re not limited to “Greek translations” for our understandings of the ancient world. There are plenty of maps and compendia and cosmological treatises describing the flat earth, its supportive pillars deeply rooted in the Pit/Abyss/Sheol, the dome of the heavens above complete with windows to access the primordial sea. I don’t get your last sentence, there may be a typo (lammed-vav-what?). The notion of righteousness supporting the world is a metaphor based on the literal understanding of the pillars. The broader point is that not even the ancients considered everything in the scriptures to be literal and some of what they did we do not read literally across wide interpretive paradigms. Thanks for the conversations. ‘Til next time. Best to you.
susan
August 20, 2013 2:11 pmThese maps, etc. do not come from African sources. Since you do not wish to discuss, it is hard to use any examples that are not “simple”.
A masteba is not a pillar – it is the grave of a righteous king or patriarch. Also, I did not misspell but I do not have Hebrew fonts. 36 pillars (lamed vov) is a very ancient concept that is also seen in the Karnak temple. Thank you for your reply.
susan
August 22, 2013 12:49 pmJob 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, [and] hangeth the earth upon nothing.
Job most ancient book of Bible.