Original Research
Vyandigheid in apokaliptiese literatuur – die Daniëlboek
In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi | Vol 40, No 2 | a345 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v40i2.345
| © 2006 Marius Nel
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 30 July 2006 | Published: 30 July 2006
Submitted: 30 July 2006 | Published: 30 July 2006
About the author(s)
Marius Nel, Skool vir Bybelwetenskappe en Bybeltale, Potchefstroomkampus, Noordwes-Universiteit, South AfricaFull Text:
PDF (220KB)Abstract
Animosity in apocalyptic literature – the Book of Daniel
What is reflected in apocalyptic literature about the subject of animosity? Apocalyptic literature is limited in this article to the Book of Daniel, because it is the most extended apocalyptic text in the Old Testament. Before an apocalyptic work can be discussed, it is important to answer several preliminary questions: what is apocalyptic literature, and what is the phenomenon of apocalypticism? What are the characteristics of this genre? And what are the socio-historical origins of apocalyptic movements?
What is reflected in apocalyptic literature about the subject of animosity? Apocalyptic literature is limited in this article to the Book of Daniel, because it is the most extended apocalyptic text in the Old Testament. Before an apocalyptic work can be discussed, it is important to answer several preliminary questions: what is apocalyptic literature, and what is the phenomenon of apocalypticism? What are the characteristics of this genre? And what are the socio-historical origins of apocalyptic movements?
To understand the Book of Daniel, it is imperative to discuss the two “Sitze im Leben” present in the development of the book. These “Sitze” are the supposed sixth-century BCE exile of Judah, and the second-century BCE Jewish persecution under the Syrian king, Antiochus.
The patterns of animosity in the Book of Daniel are discussed in terms of the relationship between God and people; Jews and a foreign king; Jews and their neighbours; and two groups operating in the Jewish community according to apocalyptic perception, believing and compromising Jews. The story of Daniel in the lion’s den (Dan. 6) is used as a case study to demonstrate these patterns.
The conclusion of the study is that the tales (Dan. 1-6) and visions (Dan. 7-12) can only be understood properly in terms of the patterns of animosity present in the different plots behind the texts.
Keywords
Animosity; Apocalypticism; Judgement And Punishment
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