Sárospataki Füzetek 18. (2014)
2014 / 1. szám - TANULMÁNYOK - Jacob J. T. Doedens: The Return of YHWH and the End of the Exile
The Return of YHWH and the End of the Exile revolt to the establishment of a messianic kingdom. In The Apocalypse of Weeks, the seventh week describes the period after the exile, about which it is told that an apostate generation arises, but at the end of those times, the elect ones will remain (1 En. 93:9-10). Here, the description is rather vague. The book of 1 Enoch, thus, presents a view on the exile as being enduring: the violent rule of the foreign shepherds went on after the temple was rebuild. The year 538 was, according to 1 Enoch not a real turning-point in the history of Israel.71 72 The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs72 mention the return from exile in a similar way.73 In T. Levi 17:11, it is related how after the return from exile nothing really changes: the priests will be wicked men. Only after that, an eschatological new priest will appear, “his star shall rise in heaven like a king” (T. Levi 18:3).74 Similarly, T. Jud. 23-24 describes how the turning point of the exile will occur when Israel repents and in this way returns to God; then a “Star from Jacob” will appear. The same message is found in T. Napht. 4:5: after the return from exile, Israel will again “neglect the Lord and act impiously”, whereupon the Lord will disperse them over the face of the whole earth until the mercy of the Lord comes, a man who effects righteousness, and he will work mercy on all who are far and near.75 In the Testament of Moses76 the exile is described as a limited period (71 Mos. 4:5-9), but it appears that after the return little has changed for the good: in T. Mos. 5, probably refers to the rule of the Hasmonean kings, viewing this as a period of idolatry. Subsequently, T. Mos. 6 describes the rule of a “wanton king” (71 Mos. 6:2), who will rule them for 34 years 71 Mos.6:6). The description almost certainly refers to the reign of Herod the Great. Only after the total destruction of the Jewish wars, Gods eschatological kingdom will appear (71 Mos. 10) in which Israel will be restored. The Fourth Book of Ezra77 provides in chapter 11-12 an elaborate vision on the fourth kingdom from Dan 7:7, which is almost certainly to be seen as a description of the Roman Empire. The terrible situation for Israel, thus, will endure, only to be finished in the coming of the Messiah (4Ezra 12:31-34). Interestingly, 4 71 For a broader summary, see James C. VanderKam, "Exile in Jewish Apocalyptic Literature," in Exile: Old Testament, Jewish, and Christian Conceptions (JSJSup 56; ed. James M. Scott; Leiden: Brill, 1997), 94-100. 72 For a translation, see "Testaments of theTwelve Patriarchs,"translated by H. C. Kee, OTP 1:775- 828. 73 for a summary, see VanderKam, "Exile in Jewish Apocalyptic Literature," 100-103. 74 According to Kee, OTP 1:794 nt. 18a, the reference is probably to one of the Maccabean priest- kings. 75 T. Napht. 4:5, OTP 1:812. 76 For a translation, see "Testament of Moses," translated by J. Priest, OTP 1:919-934 77 For a translation, see "The Fourth Book of Ezra, "translated by B. M. Metzger, OTP 1:517-559. Sárospataki Füzetek 17. évfolyam 20141 1 41
