Out of the Midst of the Fire: Divine Presence in Deuteronomy - Softcover

Wilson, Ian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0788501615 ISBN 13: 9780788501616

Publisher: Society of Biblical Literature, 1995

Synopsis

This monograph challenges the widely-held assumption that Deuteronomy so emphasizes God's transcendence that he is excluded from the earthly sphere. It does so by examining a number of possible references to divine Presence in both the historical and legal sections of the book and concludes that the Deity is portrayed as being present not only in heaven but also in battle, on the mountain (Horeb) and at the "chosen place." It thus questions the view popularized by von Rad, that in Deuteronomy it is "not Jahweh himself who is present at the shrine, but only his name."

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Review:

... Wilson geht den Komplex [der deuteronomischen "Namenstheologie"] auf neue und interessante Weise an. Er kommt gewissermaßen von außen und fragt, was das Buch Deuteronomium denn außerhalb der Namensaussagen noch über die Präsenz Gottes zu sagen habe ... hat er ein wirklich lesenswertes Buch geschrieben ... Man wird sich der Logik dieser Analysen kaum entziehen können. Das bedeutet den Abschied von der "deuteronomistischen Namestheologie" im eingebürgerten Verständnis ... Das Buch überzeugt und sollte beachtet werden ... -- N. Lohfink, BZ 43 [1999] 110-111

It is difficult to do justice to the careful exegetical and linguistic work which comprises this thesis in a short review ... Suffice it to say that Wilson presents a compelling case which deserves to precipitate a sea-change in this area of Deuteronomic studies. -- G. Millar, EvQ 70 [1998] 263

The thesis of this rigorously argued ... Cambridge Ph.D is that, contrary to the common scholarly opinion, Deuteronomy does not promote an understanding of God's transcendence to the exclusion of his actual presence with Israel ... Wilson makes a point which has long needed to be made, and those who wish to maintain the common view will need to show why he is wrong ... -- J.G. McConville, JTS 48 [1997] 150-152

W's dissertation ... represents a comprehensive and decisive review of the theology of divine presence ... in Deuteronomy ... This is undoubtedly a major contribution to a significant problem of Deuteronomic theology ... -- R.E. Clements ,SOTS Book List [1996] 97

About this edition

• Publisher: Society of Biblical Literature
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0788501615
• ISBN 13: 9780788501616
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272