When: June 9, 2023, 9:00 am - Friday

Where: Malamat

Session 6

Session Abstract

This colloquium provides a venue for current Ph.D. students and candidates working in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament to present research and to engage with scholars affiliated with the Christian Scholars’ Conference and each other. The colloquium aims to help Ph.D. students and candidates refine research for potential high-level publication and to gain experience interacting with other scholars in the field. This colloquium is to be a joint session between the Old Testament and Early Career Scholars in Theological Disciplines sections.

 

Paper Abstracts

David Mau, Colorado Christian University/University of Aberdeen, “Valley of Destruction, Gateway of Hope: Hosea 2 and the Covenant of Ecological Return”

This essay focuses on ecological and eschatological implications of faithfulness to YHWH in Hosea 2. It posits that covenant keeping is presented in these terms for the purpose of consummation: God’s making right of all things tarnished by sin and its cascading effects. To revive the jubilee of Isaiah 24, God must return the vineyards (Hos. 2:15) and transform the valley of our destruction into a place of refuge and hope (Isaiah 65:10). As part of the agreement, humans must steward the planet (Gen 1:26), collaborating with God as marriage partner in caretaking, abundance, nurture, and sustainability.

 

Thomas Paresi, Baylor University, “The Ishmaelite-Midianite Controversy of Genesis 37 in Light of Genesis 42–44”

The question of who sold Joseph into slavery, the Midianites and/or the Ishmaelites, remains debated. The answer has implications for the compositional history of the Joseph Story (JS). Previous approaches predominantly focus on the text of Genesis 37:18-36 and 39:1. This paper begins with these verses but expands the scope of the argument to include Gen. 42-44. There are numerous threads that closely tie together chapters 42-44 to chapter 37. These threads suggest intentionality to bring most aspects of chapter 37:18-36 to a resolution. Therefore, the few elements not mirrored or unattested in these latter chapters are likely later additions.

Speakers

Robert Thomas Murphy, Hebrew Union College, Convener

• David Mau, Colorado Christian University/University of Aberdeen, “Valley of Destruction, Gateway of Hope: Hosea 2 and the Covenant of Ecological Return”
• Phillip Camp, Lipscomb University, Respondent
• Thomas Paresi, Baylor University, “The Ishmaelite-Midianite Controversy of Genesis 37 in Light of Genesis 42–44”
• Christopher Heard, Pepperdine University, Participant