The relationship between ideology, food (In) security and socio-religious cohesion in the Old Testament with specific reference to Deuteronomy and eighth century prophets
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Date
2018
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University of the Western Cape
Abstract
In this thesis I show the relationship and interplay between Deuteronomistic ideology, land
(which sometimes leads to food security) and cohesion with God and with �brothers� socioreligious
cohesion) in Deuteronomy and the eighth century prophets (especially Micah,
Amos, Isaiah and Hosea). This research argues that loyalty to the covenant with Yahweh
guarantees cohesion/solidarity with Yahweh and with �brothers�, as well as �God�s gift of
Land� (which sometimes amounts to food security). However, the broken covenant with
Yahweh leads to �loss of land� which presents food insecurity, and as a consequence people
turn against one another. These three interplaying-themes of ideology, land and cohesion
does not follow a set path but rather but they appear in different ways hence in Deuteronomy
8 food security (abundance) leads to �loss of memory about Yahweh�. Yahweh is forgotten!
But also food security fosters a relationship with Yahweh (idea of eating to remember
Yahweh�s goodness). Deuteronomic texts of feasts, festivals and sharing will be utilized to
prove how food (in)security guarantees and/or compromises cohesion with Yahweh and
especially �brothers� (Deuteronomy 6,14 and 15). The fertility curses of Deuteronomy 28 will
be brought up as proof that the scarcity of food breaks down ideas of sharing and cohesion,
hence, parents ate their children in secret without sharing with anyone (Deuteronomy 28:53-
5). Cohesion is compromised due to famine. The relationship between disobedience, food and
fertility curses in the eighth century prophets will be explored.
Description
Magister Theologiae - MTh
Keywords
Covenant, Ideology, Law, Gift of Land, Inheritance