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The Historical Introspection and Theology of Deuteronomy

Han, Dong-Gu 1

1평택대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The present study aims to examine the origin of the historical introspection particularly found in the book of Deuteronomy and its development. It supposes that the origin is closely associated with “the historicized induction of commandments” (die historisierende Gebotseinleitung) often expressed in the book. Proving the supposition, the present study examines the theological characteristics of “the historicized induction of commandments”. Together with this, the origin of the historical introspection was also figured out. There are three main characteristics:First, a kind of complete introspection is manifest in Deuteronomy. Especially, in the historicized induction of commandments, was the entire life in the Promised Land subject to introspection and reflection. And it is a particular characteristic attested in the 8th century (BCE) prophecies. Deuteronomy takes the whole nation as a subject to introspection and also the entire history at the Promised Land with serious reflection. Second, Deuteronomy has a unique characteristic of introspection which is very fundamental and historical, and unfound in the 8th century prophets. Deuteronomy reviews the entire problem from the very beginning; that is, it takes the life at the (Promised) Land, the beginning of all problems, as subject to introspection. Third, what the historicized induction of commandments basically says is that YHWH God gave the land as gift. This confession presents that God is the owner of the land and what happened in the land are all willed by God. The historical introspection of Deuteronomy was elaborated much more in the exilic period. At this time Israel lost her nation and temple. With the collapse of the temple Israel lost their official space of worship, furthermore, the room for commutation with God. In fact it was a loss of focal point of the nation. Hence they needed something new that keeps the centrality of Jerusalem with official worship unavailable. They needed a new beginning as a focal point, and it was elaborated that Israel is derived from (mountain) Horeb(Deut 1: 2, 6, 19). With the national catastrophe they sought to inherit the tradition of centralization of worship and a new focal point. It became the “beginning” of history, which was followed by the expansion of the historical introspection of Deuteronomy. And this historical nature is what embedded in the early development of Pentateuch.

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