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A Reconsideration of the Temple Controversy in Isaiah 66:1-24

Keun Jo Ahn 1

1호서대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates the temple controversy in Isaiah 66:1-24. Paul Hanson discusses that the trito-Isaiah‘s proclamation in Isa. 66:1, "Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool, what is the house which you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?," is based on the conflict between the hierocratic priestly group and marginalized prophetic visionary group in the post-exilic community. According to Hanson, the trito-Isaiah himself among the prophetic visionary group is confronting against the plan of the rebuilding the temple in 520 BCE. However, this sociological critical reading has resulted narrow understanding of the post-exilic community leaving multi-layered texture of the text uncovered. Through rhetorical critical analyses of the text, this paper has found that the main issue has nothing to do with the building of the real bricks temple but to do with the building of the inner sanctuary. This new building project is initiated by Yahweh who will march against the wicked from the sanctuary of Jerusalem as Divine Warrior and look after the righteous in the Mount Zion as Divine Saviour. I have delved deeply into the texture of Isaiah 66 by utilizing such rhetorical critical devices as "Yahweh's throne motif", close reading, and structural analysis. This rhetorical critical interpretation has disclosed the essential issues of the text and further revealed some aspects of the social realities of the post-exilic society, which the socio-critical analyses have failed to found.

Citation status

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