Disputed Temple: A Rhetorical Analysis of the Book of Haggai

by Robert Barker, John, OFM

Overview

The prophet Haggai advocated for the rebuilding of the temple, destroyed by Babylon, in the tumultuous period of reconstruction under Persian dominion; so much is evident from a surface reading of the book . John Robert Barker goes further, using rhetorical criticism of the prophet‘s arguments to tease out the probable attitudes and anxieties among the Yehudite community that saw rebuilding as both undesirable and unfeasible. While some in the community accepted the prophet‘s claim that YHWH wanted the temple built, others feared that adverse agricultural and economic conditions, as well as the lack of a royal builder, were clear signs that YHWH did not approve or authorize the effort. Haggai‘s counterarguments-that YHWH would provide for the temple‘s adornment, would bring prosperity to Yehud once the temple was built, and had designated the Davidide Zerubbabel as the chosen royal builder-are combined with his vilification of opponents as unclean and non-Israelite. Barker‘s study thus allows Haggai to shed further light on the socioeconomic conditions of early Persian-period Yehud.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506438429
Publisher:	Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
Publication date:	11/15/2017
Series:	Emerging Scholars
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	314
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

John Robert Barker, OFM, is assistant professor of Old Testament studies at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. He completed his dissertation at Boston College under the direction of David S. Vanderhooft.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations vii

Acknowledgments xiii

The Haggai Narrative xv

1 Introduction to the Rhetorical Analysis of Haggai 1

2 Text-Critical Analysis, Composition of Narrative, and Notes on Translation 21

3 Objections and Obstacles to Reconstruction of the Temple 69

4 Rhetorical Analysis of Haggai 1 139

5 Rhetorical Analysis of Haggai 2 203

6 Summary of Findings 251

Bibliography 261

Index of Scriptures 289

Index of Name and Subjects 293