Texts in Conversation
Joel recalls the well-known language of compassion and loyal love from Exodus 34 but reframes it as part of a warning. The description of mercy and forgiveness, once proclaimed as an assurance of divine character, is now placed within the urgent call to repent before the Day of the Lord.
Share:
Exodus 34:6
Hebrew Bible
4 So Moses cut out two tablets of stone like the first; early in the morning he went up to Mount Sinai, just as the Lord had commanded him, and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone. 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the Lord by name. 6 The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, 7 keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children and children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.” 8 Moses quickly bowed to the ground and worshiped
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Joel 2:13
Hebrew Bible
11 The voice of the Lord thunders as he leads his army. Indeed, his warriors are innumerable; Surely his command is carried out! Yes, the day of the Lord is great and terrible42—who can survive it? 12 “Yet even now,” the Lord says, “return to me with all your heart—with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 13 Tear your hearts, not just your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love—often relenting from calamitous punishment. 14 Who knows? Perhaps he will be compassionate and grant a reprieve, and leave blessing in his wake—a meal offering and a drink offering for you to offer to the Lord your God! 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion. Announce a holy fast; proclaim a sacred assembly.
Date: 6th Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Tags:
Search:
Notes and References
"... Here we have direct first person speech from Yahweh in verse 13aα, but the prophet then takes up the speech in verse 13aβ speaking to Judah about Yahweh in the third person. This move away from the fiery self-declaration in Exodus 34:6-7 creates more distance, and holds more threat. We have recitation of Exodus 34:6-7, with the replication of the exact words with one or more differences ... We actually have a combined recitation as the last part of the verse alludes to Exodus 32:14 where Yahweh relents about bringing disaster on Israel after the golden calf incident. The question of Yahweh’s mercy and his forgiveness for his own people is stated in the context of the looming and terrible day of the Lord ..."
Bosman, JP
The Paradoxical Presence of Exodus 34:6-7 in the Book of the Twelve
(pp. 233-243) Scriptura 87, 2004
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.