Numéro thématique
- LANOIR Corinne, ROHMER Céline - Les Écritures pour terre natale Mélanges offerts à Dany Nocquet
- GONZALEZ Hervé - Des monnaies samariennes d’époque macédonienne ? Le symbole de la tête bovine et le culte yahwiste à Samarie à la fin du IVe siècle av.n.è.
- BAUKS Michaela - La creatio ex nihilo. Une réception chrétienne en comparaison avec des lectures juives de la période du Second Temple
- RÖMER Thomas - Jacob et Ésaü – lectures et relectures d’un conflit. Remarques littéraires et historiques sur le début de l’histoire de Jacob (Gn 25,19-34)
- NIHAN Christophe - Lévitique 27 et le rôle économique du temple à la fin de l’époque perse (IVe siècle av.n.è.)
- RAMOND Sophie - Le Dieu guerrier des psaumes d’Asaf
- MACCHI Jean-Daniel - « De Yhwh la réponse de la langue ». Étude sur Proverbes 15,25–16,9
Samarian coins from the Macedonian era? The symbol of the bovine head and the yahwist cult in Samaria at the end of the 4th century BCE
Qualifying the widely accepted idea that Samaria produced no coins in the early-Hellenistic period, the author argues that a series of obols has been minted in Samaria in 312/311 BCE, during Ptolemy’s campaign in the Levant. A particular feature of these coins is that they display an original symbol, a small bovine head, which could serve as a reference to the city of Samaria. This, along with other clues notably from the Hebrew Bible, suggests that the city preserved some aspects of the monarchic-era cult of Yhwh in bovine form as late as the early Hellenistic period.
Keywords : Samaria, coins, Hellenistic period, bovine iconography, Yahwist cult, Hebrew Bible, cult images
The creatio ex nihilo. A Christian reception in comparison with Jewish readings from the Second Temple period
This article examines the idea of creatio ex nihilo in the thought of ancient Judaism on the basis of biblical texts (Gn 1:2; Es 45:7; Pr 8:27), the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Targumim and 2 Macc 7:28. The hypothesis put forward is that the idea cannot be derived directly from these texts. The talk of matter preceding divine creation does not contradict the conviction that the God of Israel is the creator of the universal order.
Keywords : Conception of world, creation, dualism, ancient Judaism, dogmatics
Jacob and Esau – readings and rereading of a conflict. Literary and historical remarks on the beginning of Jacob’s story (Gen 25:19-34)
This article presents an analysis of the beginning of Jacob’s story (Gen 25:19-34). The aim of this episode is to exonerate Jacob (and Rebekah) for the initiative they take in ch. 27. The addition of the episode of the selling of a dish of lentils is perfectly understandable in the context of the Persian era, during which hateful discourses about Edom were developing. The author wants to provide a key to the understanding of Gen 27, but also Gen 33, by presenting a negative image of Esau. At the same time, other texts that portray Jacob in a less favorable light are not altered. The result is a complex picture of the relationship between the two brothers and the two ethnic groups, their conflict(s) and their reconciliation.
Keywords : Jacob, Esau, Edom, Gn 35,19-34, Gn 27, Persian period
Leviticus 27 and the economic role of the temple at the end of the Persian period (4th century BCE)
The article studies Leviticus 27 in the context of the Persian period. It begins by showing that the main theme of this law is to define the conditions under which donations to the sanctuary can be exchanged against their value in silver. It then discusses the mechanisms according to which donations are valued and can be exchanged; the problem of the tax of 20% required for buying back donations; and more generally the information that can be derived from this text regarding the economy of the central sanctuaries in Jerusalem and, presumably, Samaria toward the end of the Persian period.
Keywords : Judea, temple, Persian period, economy, donations
The Warrior God of the Psalms of Asaf
This paper examines representations of God as warrior in the Psalms of Asaf, paying particular attention to the fact that these texts share similar ways of depicting divinity with surrounding cultures. It highlights a variety of representations, images and metaphors that are not reducible to one another.
Keywords : Psalms of Asaf, warrior deity, Ancient Near East, Baal, lion metaphor, solar god, smiting posture, triumphant shout
“From Yhwh the Language’s Answer”. A study on Proverbs 15:25–16:9
This contribution about the textual differences between the Greek and the Hebrew text of Proverbs 15:25–16:9 shows the following points. First, the textual variants and characteristics of these verses are similar to those found primarily in Proverbs IIB. Second, 15:25–16:9 served as an introduction to Proverbs booklet IIB (15:25–22:16) when it was still independent of Proverbs as a book. Third, the Hebrew text translated by the LXX (its Vorlage) presents an earlier textual form of this booklet than the one from which the Hebrew Masoretic text is derived. The differences between these two textual forms can be explained by an editorial reworking of the Vorlage of the LXX. Verses 15:27a.28a.29a.bVorlage-LXX have been moved to the end of the introduction to the booklet IIB of Proverbs and correspond to verses 16:6-9TM. By grouping 16:5-7, the editor emphasizes the connection of this introduction with the discourse on the king in 16:10-15. Furthermore, by adding verses 16:1-3, the same editor develops a reflection about divine sovereignty over human actions explaining the mechanisms of this sovereignty.
Keywords : Proverbs, Pr 15:25–16:9, Septuagint, Masoretic Text, God’s sovereignty
Position de thèse
- WOODY James - Penser le politique pour instituer la liberté. Les débuts de la royauté israélite à l’épreuve de la liberté
Thinking politics to institute freedom. The beginnings of Israelite royalty to the test of freedom
Israelite kingship begins with a debate about freedom (1 Samuel 8). A historical study and a literary analysis reveal that 1 S 8–1 K 12, which narrates the first three reigns (Saul, David, Solomon), was composed at several historical periods. At the time of Josiah, a text is written to support his political program. It is after the exile in Babylon that freedom becomes a goal and a criterion of appreciation of the Jewish society. These elements are used to start a discussion with political philosophers in order to institute freedom. What emerges is a critique of the political which does not have the structural means to preserve freedom. This is why the post-exilic biblical writers developed the law in the sense of the torah which instructs people and makes them responsible for the principles structuring society – in this case, freedom.
Keywords : Politics, freedom, Samuel, Kings, law, political philosophy