Yhwh's battle against chaos in Ezekiel: the transformation of Judahite mythology for a new situation

Strine, C.A.; Crouch, C.L.

Abstract

In addressing the theological crisis of the exile, Ezekiel relies on the mythology of the divine king who goes out to battle against the forces of chaos, commonly referred to as the Chaoskampf. This article explores how Ezekiel employs this imagery to reconfigure Yhwh’s relationships with Babylonia, Egypt, and Judah. In lieu of the now-defunct Judah, Ezekiel identifies the king of Babylon as Yhwh’s earthly agent for establishing order; Egypt is (re)confirmed as the exemplary human chaotic force, opposing Yhwh and his Babylonian agent; and Judah’s status is rendered a variable predicated on its political allegiances. Ezekiel’s scheme allows the native Judahite Chaoskampf theology to remain intact, at the expense of drastic changes to the relationship between the Judahite monarch and his patron deity, Yhwh.

Citation

Strine, C., & Crouch, C. (2013). Yhwh's battle against chaos in Ezekiel: the transformation of Judahite mythology for a new situation. Journal of Biblical Literature, 132(4), https://doi.org/10.2307/42912472

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2013
• Deposit Date: Apr 19, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 19, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Biblical Literature
• Print ISSN: 0021-9231
• Electronic ISSN: 1934-3876
• Publisher: Society of Biblical Literature
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 132
• Issue: 4
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/42912472
• Keywords: Kings, Oracles, Kingship, Mythology, Theology, Psalms, Weapons, Divinity, Sheep herding, Swords
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/720211
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.2307/42912472
• Additional Information: c2013 Society of Biblical Literature