Description
Book SynopsisAttested as both a human and a divine expression, the biblical Hebrew term qinʾâ is most often translated as “jealousy” or “envy.” In this study, Erin Villareal makes the case for reading qinʾâ as more than a simple reference to an emotion, instead locating the term’s origins in ancient Israel’s social and legal spheres.
Jealousy in Context evaluates the socioliterary context of qinʾâ. Through a series of case studies examining this term as it is applied to residents, sister-wives, brothers, and husbands in biblical narrative passages, Villareal explains that qinʾâ is felt by people who experience a threat or disruption to their rights and status within a social arrangement or community and is therefore grounded in practical concerns that have social and juridical ramifications. Investigating examples of divine qinʾâ, Villareal shows that its social meaning was adapted into theological language about the Israelite deity and his relationship with the people of Israel, and that Yahweh expresses qinʾâ whenever there is a threat to the integrity of his land or his sanctuary. Villareal examines the term through this socioliterary lens to reveal ancient Israelite perceptions concerning social organization and divine-human relationships. Additionally, she explores how the socioliterary character of qinʾâ in the Hebrew Bible communicates representations of ancient Israelite beliefs, values, and social expectations.
This convincing new understanding of a key biblical term will be appreciated by students and scholars of the Hebrew Bible, Hebrew linguistics, and ancient Near Eastern societies more generally.
Trade Review“Villareal smartly balances rigorous philological and historical-critical analysis as she offers fresh and compelling readings of familiar and oft-debated passages related to biblical “jealousy.” Jealousy in Context represents a much-needed advance in the study of biblical קנאה and a welcome contribution to the study of emotions in the Hebrew Bible.”
—Anthony I. Lipscomb Review of Biblical Literature
Table of ContentsList of Tables
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
Purpose
History of Interpretation
A New Approach to Biblical קנאה
Chapter 1. Methodology and Approach
The Social Implications of קנאה
Emotion as Part of Social Culture
Emotion as Scenario and Script
Biblical Hebrew קנאה as a Script
Scope of Study
Chapter 2. קנאה in the Patriarchal Narratives
Social Organization in Genesis
קנאה in Genesis 26
קנאה in Genesis 30:1
קנאה in Genesis 31:11
The Scripts of the קנאה Scenarios in Genesis
Conclusion
Chapter 3. קנאה in Numbers 5:11-31
Interpretive Issues
The Cultic-Legal Framework of קנאה in the Hebrew Bible
Numbers 5:11-31
The Script of the קנאה Scenario in Numbers 5:11-31
Conclusion
Chapter 4. The Song of Moses and the Ideology of Land, People, and God
The Legacy of Deuteronomy 32:1-43
The Framework of the Divine-Human Relationship
The קנאה Scenario in the Song of Moses
Reevaluating the Issue of Allotment and Order
The Script of the קנאה Scenario in the Song of Moses
Conclusion
Chapter 5. The Divine קנאה in Ezekiel, Psalm 79, and Zechariah
The Case of Ezekiel: Divine קנאה Toward the Israelites and Adversaries
Divine קנאה in Other Relevant Works: Psalm 79 and Zechariah
The Scripts of the קנאה Scenarios in Ezekiel, Psalm 79, and Zechariah
Conclusion
Chapter 6: Yahweh as אל קנא
Attestations and Interpretations
The Narrative Context of אל קנא in Exodus 34
אל קנא in Deuteronomy 4:24 and 6:15
אל קנא in Joshua 24:19
אל קנא in Nahum 1:2
The Script of an אל קנא Scenario
Conclusion
Conclusion
קנאה and Jealousy: The Prototypical Scenario
A Summary of Biblical קנאה as a Socioliterary Phenomenon
Final Remarks
Bibliography
Index of Authors
Index of Ancient Sources
