Moses and Deuteronomic prophetic ideal as interpreted through the Elijah-Elisha narratives

Abstract

This dissertation is primarily an examination of the Elijah Elisha stories as the prophetic voices behind their composition reinterpret and re-appropriate the Mosaic prophetic tradition found in the book of Deuteronomy. Secondarily, this work attempts to interpret contemporary Philippine situation in the light of the examined biblical texts. The work is made up of six chapters. Chapter one is a brief examination of the prophetic ideal as imbedded in the image and teachings of Moses as recorded in the book of Deuteronomy. The examination was able to discern varying levels of disclosure of the Mosaic image and message. The examination led to the initial conclusion of a critical but dynamic prophetic voice behind the image of Moses in the book of Deuteronomy. Chapter two is a brief discussion on the material comprising the Deuteronomic history (DH) which contains the Elijah-Elisha collection. The broader literary context of the Elijah-Elisha stories was established with the identification of the material with the Josianic collection of the DH. The Deuteronomic- prophetic spirit which emanates from Deuteronomy was also seen as pervading the DH including the Elijah-Elisha stories. Chapter three contains the core material of the work. Ten stories from the Elijah-Elisha collection were examined on literary-historical as well as sociological and theological levels. These are the stories found in 1 Kings 17, 2 Kings 4:1-7 2 Kings 4:8-37, 2 Kings 6:1-7, 2 Kings 6:24-7:20, 2 Kings 1, 2 Kings 5, 1 Kings 21, 1 Kings 18 and 1 Kings 19. Using the ten stories, a description of the prophetic response, its risks and challenges as illuminated by the Deuteronomic Mosaic ideal was attempted. The dynamism of such prophetic response was shown in three distinct literary levels and historical contexts from: the earliest level of the peasant circle or followers of Elijah, imbedded with folkloric materials, to the intermediate level of the consolidated Elijah-Elisha collection arising out of the context of the Jehuide dynasty, to the latest level of the Josianic historian and its socio- political context. Each level reflects a distinct popular, prophetic voice responding to the particular challenges of the situation. In the final form of the stories, the Deuteronomic character of the prophetic voice in each level is affirmed, with its assertion of the Yahweh-alone faith, its expression of compassion for the socially marginalized, its militant espousal of covenant cultic and socio-ethical laws and its uncompromising confrontational and denunciatory stance towards apostate and oppressive rulers. This prophetic voice shows also its dynamic re-appropriation of the Mosaic tradition by demonstrating unprecedented openness to and tolerance of practices and places of worship that are otherwise abhorred in the Deuteronomic provisions, and by showing compassion towards people of other faiths. In short, the collection of stories is a literary- theological testimony to a prophetic and dynamic re-appropriation of the Deuteronomic prophetic tradition. It tries to make relevant and consistently authoritative the traditions of the VIII people of God. It is this mode of scriptural interpretation that makes it possible to discern prophetic voices emerging in every generation of a people's history. The fourth chapter attempts to summarize what, has been done in the previous chapter. It also tries to delineate the broad outline of a theology of the prophetic ideal for today. The fifth chapter attempts to work out an initial search for the Filipino prophetic ideal with an interpretation of contemporary Philippine situation of massive poverty, militarization and that of the 1986 People Power Uprising. The chapter tries to discern possible prophetic responses, especially, as shown in the call to political action of the institutional church. It tries also to interpret the people’s response within three possible levels of looking at Philippine history. Finally, in the last chapter, a general summary and conclusion is made. The conclusion is stated by way of reemphasizing the imperative need and demand for the church to Live out the Mosaic prophetic ideal today.