Overview

In this book, Yohannes Sahile tackles the problem of Judges' prologue, proposing that it is a single introduction with a narrative trajectory that begins with the death of Joshua. The prologue captures how, during the period of testing, the generation after Joshua's death failed in their commission to take possession of the land allocated to them. Instead they lived with and made a covenant with the pre-existing inhabitants of the land promised to Israel. Judges 1:1-3:6 is often understood as a double introduction to the book, but here Dr Sahile presents a well-argued alternative. He thoroughly dissects the passage in question, adding to ongoing scholarship of Judges and bringing new insight to our understanding of the development of the nation of Israel in the Promised Land.

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9781783683079

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Reviews

"Interpreters of the prologue to Judges have wrestled with its structure. The book opens with a notice of Joshua's death, but in chapter 2 verse 6, Joshua is in the land of the living, dismissing the people to take their allotted territory. Verse 8 then records his death. Obviously, there is a chronological flashback at some point. Many see it occurring at 2:6 and, consequently, propose a two-part prologue: 1:1-2:5; 2:6-3:4. There are variations on this, with some seeing the flashback at 2:1 or even earlier. Still others eliminate the need for a flashback by reading ""Moses,"" rather than ""Joshua"" in 1:1, albeit with no textual support. Yohannes Sahile has proposed an insightful new solution to the problem of the Prologue's structure. He argues for a single prologue that has four flashback units (1:8-16, 20; 2:6-10; 2:22-3:4) embedded within the main narrative. The purpose of this structure, he argues, is to contrast the faithfulness and success of an earlier generation (Joshua's) with the disobedience and failure of a later generation (post-Joshua). In three cases, wayyiqtol-initiated clauses appear at the beginning of the flashback unit. This is potentially problematic, since normally wayyiqtol indicates pure sequence. But Sahile offers a plausible explanation in each case, arguing there are contextual indicators that signal the flashback. Though this proposal is novel, it deserves consideration by the scholarly guild. Robert B. Chisholm, Jr., PhD Chair and Senior Professor of Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary, USA"

Interpreters of the prologue to Judges have wrestled with its structure. The book opens with a notice of Joshua's death, but in chapter 2 verse 6, Joshua is in the land of the living, dismissing the people to take their allotted territory. Verse 8 then records his death. Obviously, there is a chronological flashback at some point. Many see it occurring at 2:6 and, consequently, propose a two-part prologue: 1:1-2:5; 2:6-3:4. There are variations on this, with some seeing the flashback at 2:1 or even earlier. Still others eliminate the need for a flashback by reading Moses, rather than Joshua in 1:1, albeit with no textual support.Yohannes Sahile has proposed an insightful new solution to the problem of the Prologue's structure. He argues for a single prologue that has four flashback units (1:8-16, 20; 2:6-10; 2:22-3:4) embedded within the main narrative. The purpose of this structure, he argues, is to contrast the faithfulness and success of an earlier generation (Joshua's) with the disobedience and failure of a later generation (post-Joshua). In three cases, wayyiqtol-initiated clauses appear at the beginning of the flashback unit. This is potentially problematic, since normally wayyiqtol indicates pure sequence. But Sahile offers a plausible explanation in each case, arguing there are contextual indicators that signal the flashback. Though this proposal is novel, it deserves consideration by the scholarly guild.Robert B. Chisholm, Jr., PhDChair and Senior Professor of Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary, USA

Author Information

YOHANNES TESFAYE SAHILE holds a PhD in Old Testament Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas, USA. Currently he is an Old Testament lecturer in the School of Theology at Africa International University, Nairobi, Kenya, where he gained his MDiv with an emphasis in Biblical Studies. Whilst in Ethiopia he was also involved in teaching at different bible schools and training church leaders in non-formal settings, including with Kera Meserte Kristos Church, of which he is still a part. Dr Sahile is married to Betelhem and together they have three children.

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