Hosea, Joel, and Obadiah Through the Centuries: (Wiley Blackwell Bible Commentaries)

Hosea, Joel, and Obadiah Through the Centuries The first book devoted solely to the reception history of Hosea, Joel, and Obadiah How have readers through the centuries understood the prophet Hosea’s marriage to an unfaithful woman? Does the prophet Joel really speak about a locust invasion, or is he referring to invading armies? How should we understand the harsh rhetoric that Obadiah uses about Judah’s neighbor Edom? In Hosea, Joel, and Obadiah Through the Centuries, Bradford A. Anderson provides historical context for these prophetic texts and traditions while offering original insights into their interpretation, use, and impact. Chapter-by-chapter commentary examines the use of these texts in different religious communities, surveys various commentaries and interpretive traditions, and addresses the social and cultural employment of these prophetic works in literature, music, the visual arts, and more. Each prophetic text is introduced by a chapter containing a brief history of interpretation and discussion of key historical, literary issues, theological, thematic, and rhetorical issues, as well as the religious, social, and cultural reception of the prophet and the book. Throughout the text, recurring “conversation partners” high-light important and interesting trajectories in the afterlives of the prophetic books. Encompassing Christian, Jewish, and modern critical reception, Hosea, Joel, and Obadiah Through the Centuries is an excellent textbook for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students working on these prophetic works, and a must-have resource for scholars, clergy, and religious leaders interested in how the prophets have been employed over the millennia.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures x Series Editors' Preface xiii Acknowledgments xv Introduction 1 Hosea, Joel, and Obadiah as Part of the Book of the Twelve 5 Hosea Hosea: Introduction and Overview 11 Hosea 1 23 Hosea 2 42 Hosea 3 57 Hosea 4 63 Hosea 5 72 Hosea 6 79 Hosea 7 87 Hosea 8 94 Hosea 9 104 Hosea 10 113 Hosea 11 121 Hosea 12 131 Hosea 13 142 Hosea 14 152 Joel Joel: Introduction and Overview 161 Joel 1 173 Joel 2 189 Joel 3 215 Obadiah Obadiah: Introduction and Overview 230 The Book of Obadiah: Commentary 244 Concluding Reflections 284 Glossary and Biographies 286 Abbreviations 290 Bibliography 293 Biblical and Ancient Texts Index 310 General Index 319

About the Author :
BRADFORD A. ANDERSON is Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at Dublin City University, Ireland. His research explores the interpretation, use, and reception of sacred texts, in particular the Hebrew Bible. Anderson is Chief Editor of Postscripts: The Journal of Sacred Texts, Cultural Histories, and Contemporary Contexts.