Ezekiel 33 as pivotal point in the book of Ezekiel
Esegiël 33 as wentelpunt in die boek van Esegiël
Research Unit for Reformed Theology and the Development of the South African Society, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa
Baie geleerdes het Esegiël as die inleiding tot die laaste groot gedeelte van die boek (Eseg 33-48) beskou, met terugverwysing na die eerste gedeelte van die boek (Eseg 1-24). Esegiël 33:1-20 het op verskillende maniere gebruik gemaak van en voortgebou op gedeeltes wat vroeër in die boek voorgekom het, veral die gedeeltes wat oor die roeping van die profeet in Esegiël 1-3 handel, asook Esegiël 18 wat die mens se persoonlike verantwoordelijkheid beklemtoon. Die voorstel wat in hierdie artikel gemaak is, is dat die hoofstuk in die finale vorm van die boek 'n wentelfunksie het, om aan die een kant kortliks die boodskap van die profeet voor die val van Jerusalem saam te vat, maar om ook die leser vir die boodskap van Esegiël 34-18 voor te berei. Die twee uitsprake in Esegiël 33:23-33 dui op die toestand van die mense in Jerusalem, asook van die mense in ballingskap. Dit dui dus op die toestand van die twee groepe mense teen die tyd van die val van Jerusalem. Hierdie gedeeltes, soos ook die beklemtoning van die mens se verantwoordelikheid met die moontlikheid van bekering en herstel, antisipeer die boodskap van verlossing en herstel wat op Esegiël 33 sou volg.
Many scholars regarded Ezekiel as the introduction to the last major part of the book (Ezk 33-48), with references to the first part of the book (Ezk 1-24). Ezekiel 33:1-20 made use, in diverse ways, of previous sections in the book, especially the sections dealing with the call of the prophet in Ezekiel 1-2, as well as Ezekiel 18, with its emphasis on the personal responsibility of the people of God. The proposal of this article was that the chapter served as a pivotal point in the final form of the book. On the one hand it summarised the message of the first part of the book, but it also prepared the people for the message of the final part of the book. The two oracles in Ezekiel 33:23-22 pointed to the circumstances of the people in Jerusalem, as well as that of the exiles, at the time of the fall of Jerusalem. These oracles and the emphasis on the personal responsibility of the people pointed to the message of salvation and restoration following in Ezekiel 34-48.
Allen, L.C., 1990, Ezekiel20-48, Word Biblical Commentary 28, Dallas, Word. [ Links ]
Allen, L.C., 1994, Ezekiel 1-19, Word Biblical Commentary 29, Dallas, Word. [ Links ]
Block, D.I., 1997, The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 1-24, New International Commentary on the Old Testament, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans. [ Links ]
Block, D.I., 1998, The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 25-48, New International Commentary on the Old Testament, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans. [ Links ]
Clements, R.E., 1996, Ezekiel, Westminster Bible Companion, Louisville, Westminster John Knox. [ Links ]
Cooke, G.A., 1970, The Book of Ezekiel, International Critical Commentary, Edinburgh, Clark. [ Links ]
Cooper, L.E., 1994, Ezekiel, New American Commentary 19, Nashville, Broadman & Holman. [ Links ]
Joyce, P.M., 2009, Ezekiel, A Commentary, Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies 482, Clark, New York/London. [ Links ]
Klein, A., 2008, Schriftauslegung im Ezechielbuch, Redaktionsgeschichtliche Untersuchungen zu Ez, 34-39, Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 391, Berlin/New York, De Gruyter. [ Links ]
Lapsley, J.E., 2000, Can these bones live? The problem of the moral self in the book of Ezekiel, Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 301, Berlin/ New York, De Gruyter. [ Links ]
Lemke, W.E., 1984, 'Life in the present and hope for the future' [Lewe in die hede en hoop vir die toekoms], Interpretation 38, 165-180.
Renz, T., 1999, 'The rhetorical function of the book of Ezekiel', Vetus Testamentum Supplement 76, Brill, Leiden. [ Links ]
Van Rooy, H.F. & Smit, E.J., 1990, 'The vox populi and structural aspects of Ezekiel' [Die vox populi en strukturele aspekte van Esegiël], Old Testament Essays 3, 275-285.
Zimmerli, W., 1979, Ezekiel 1, Hermeneia, Fortress, Philadelphia. [ Links ]
Zimmerli, W., 1983, Ezekiel 2, Hermeneia, Fortress, Philadelphia. [ Links ]
Herrie van Rooy