Seeing Visions with the Prophet: Toward an Iconographic Hermeneutic of Joel Open Access

Beard, Brady Alan (Spring 2023)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/6t053h358?locale=en
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Abstract

This project examines the Book of Joel by utilizing iconographic exegesis to intervene in interpretive debates around the book’s rhetorical structure, origins, and historical situation. In so doing, it begins by considering recent developments in the Book of Joel, the Book of the Twelve, and iconographic exegesis. The project engages in delimitation criticism to set the boundaries of textual units before identifying the iconic structure of a given text. Then it presents and considers relevant iconography from the ancient Near East that allows interpreters to visually contextualize the prophetic book. The project concludes by encouraging future studies of the Book of Joel, as well as other prophetic works from the Hebrew Bible, to engage visual materials as informative sources for contextualizing and materializing the texts within the ancient world. In so doing, it attempts to add images to the comparative toolkit of biblical exegesis.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction. 13

Joel Studies. 15

Joel and the Twelve. 16

Joel and Form Criticism.. 16

Joel and the Commentaries. 18

Iconographic Method. 19

Othmar Keel and the Fribourg School 20

The Emory Annex and Iconographic Exegesis. 22

Full Study of the Book. 28

Delimitation Method. 31

Constellation of Imagery and Iconic Structure. 34

Conclusion. 36

Chapter 2: Joel 1: Locusts and Other Animals. 39

Joel 1:1–12. 43

Delimitation. 43

Translation. 45

Iconic Structure of Joel 1:1–12. 47

Iconography. 63

Levantine Stamp Seals with Locusts. 66

Conclusion. 71

Joel 1:13–20. 74

Delimitation. 74

Translation. 74

Iconic Structure of Joel 1:13–20. 76

Iconography. 85

Conclusion. 90

Chapter 3: Joel 2: The Solar God’s Retribution and Restoration. 93

Joel 2:1–14. 95

Delimitation. 99

Translation. 100

Iconic Structure of Joel 2:1–14. 102

Iconography. 114

The Solar God at War 116

Conclusion. 129

Joel 2:15–26. 130

Delimitation. 132

Translation. 132

Iconic Structure of Joel 2:15–27. 134

Iconography. 139

The Fertile Solar God. 140

Conclusion. 148

Chapter 4: Joel 3:1–4:8: The Nations and the Pouring Out God. 150

Joel 3:1–4:8. 151

Delimitation. 152

Translation. 153

Iconic Structure. 155

Iconography. 168

Achaemenid Iconography. 175

Conclusion. 198

Chapter 5: Joel 4:9–21: Harvest and Judgment 202

Joel 4:9–21. 203

Delimitation. 203

Translation. 204

Iconic Structure. 206

Iconography. 218

Viticultural Iconography. 221

Trampling the Enemy. 225

Trampling the Nine Bows. 228

The Nations Underfoot at Persepolis. 234

Trampling in Levantine Stamp Seals 237

Conclusion. 241

Chapter 6: Conclusion. 245

Bibliography. 260

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