Table Of ContentJohn W Hüber
Cultic Prophecy in the Psalms
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Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
John W. Hilber
Cultic Prophecy in the Psalms
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DE
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Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
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Acknowledgments
This monograph is an edited version of my dissertation, "Cultic
Prophecy in the Psalms in the Light of Assyrian Prophetic
Sources", completed in 2004 at the University of Cambridge un-
der the supervision of Prof. Graham I Davies. The original
suggestion to apply the Assyrian prophetic sources to some
aspect of Old Testament study came from Prof. Davies; and the
fruitfulness of this topic, which he suggested before the impor-
tance of the Assyrian sources was widely appreciated, is a testi-
mony to his own breadth in Old Testament and ancient Near
Eastern studies. Along with his thoughtful and encouraging
guidance, he was a model to me of balanced scholarship and
gentlemanly demeanour. Others contributed in indispensable
ways to my academic growth. Prof. J. Nicholas Postgate and Dr
Simon Sherwin invested many patient hours tutoring me in Ak-
kadian and Mesopotamian studies, and Mr Barry Kemp offered
immense help in Egyptology. Numerous suggestions for improv-
ing the original dissertation came from Prof. Robert P. Gordon
and Prof. Alan Millard. Of course, any misconceptions or errors
in either the original work or this subseqent monograph are my
own failure.
Many others played a critical role during the labours of re-
search and writing. German can be the bane of many English
speaking students, but my friends Drs Christian and Hanna
Stettler were alongside in the most desperate moments; and
were it not for the aid of Dirk Jongkind, many difficult sentences
of Dutch would have remained obscure. Dr Charles Echols and
Dr Jules Gomes were my fellow pilgrims during the intense
years of research — "a threefold cord is not quickly broken"!
These friends and many others were part of the great interna-
tional community at Tyndale House Library, Cambridge, where I
learned as much about the world as about biblical studies. The
entire Tyndale House staff, under the direction of Dr Bruce Win-
ter, was a source of both encouragement and support, especially
the librarian, Dr Elizabeth Magba. I wish to thank the Cam-
bridge Overseas Trust for financial assistance throughout my
years of study, and St. John's College showed its characteristic
generosity on several occasions. Most important of all has been
VI Acknowledgments
my family. My daughter, Janice, overcame tremendous chal-
lenges when she followed her father across the Atlantic at the
age of 14. She is now a young woman launching on her own ad-
ventures. How can I begin to thank my wife and companion,
Charlotte, without whose partnership and tremendous personal
sacrifice this course of life would never have begun let alone
come to fruition! I dedicate this work to them both with all my
affection.
I wish to thank the editorial board of BZAW for accepting my
manuscript for publication. The editor for this monograph, Ms
Monika Müller has been a consistent source of encouragement
and support.
John W. Hilber
June 2005
Contents
Abbreviations XIII
Chapter 1 Cultic Prophecy in the Psalms: Issues Past
and Present 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Early Discussions 1
1.3 Mowinckel and Gunkel: Classic Formulation of
the Debate 3
1.3.1 Sigmund Mowinckel (Psalmenstudien) 3
1.3.2 Hermann Gunkel 5
1.3.3 Aubrey R. Johnson 9
1.3.4 Alfred Haldar 10
1.3.5 Sigmund Mowinckel (The Psalms in Israel's
Worship) 11
1.4 Mid-Century Debate: Lack of a Consensus 12
1.5 Late Twentieth Century Discussion 15
1.5.1 Developments in the Theory of Cult Prophets 16
1.5.1.1 Jörg Jeremias 16
1.5.1.2 James G. Harris III 17
1.5.1.3 Aubrey R. Johnson 18
1.5.1.4 Klaus Koenen 18
1.5.2 Uncertainty of Identity of Cultic Functionary 19
1.5.2.1 W.H.Bellinger 19
1.5.2.2 Lester L. Grabbe 19
1.5.2.3 Frederick Cryer 20
1.5.3 Emphasis on Liturgical Imitation of Prophetic
Style 20
1.5.3.1 Thijs Booij 20
1.5.3.2 Raymond J. Tournay 22
1.5.3.3 Hermann Spieckermann 23
1.5.3.4 Frank-Lothar Hossfeld 25
1.6 Key Issues and Evaluation 25
1.6.1 The Existence of Pre-exilic Cult Prophets 26
1.6.1.1 Association Between Prophets and Shrines ....26
1.6.1.2 Prie sts and Prophets 27
1.6.2 The Nature of Divine Communication in Worship .29
1.6.2.1 Definition of Prophecy 29
VIII Contents
1.6.2.2 Identity and Role of the Functionaries 33
1.6.3 Post-exilic Cultic Prophecy 34
1.6.3.1 Prophetic Continuity 34
1.6.3.2 Chronicles 35
1.7 Conclusion and Direction of Study 37
Chapter 2 Assyrian Cultic Prophecy 40
2.1 Introduction 40
2.2 The Use of Assyrian Prophecy in Old Testament
Studies 41
2.2.1 Definition of Prophecy 41
2.2.2 True and False Prophecy 41
2.2.3 Incorporation of Prophetic Material in the OT 43
2.2.4 Assyrian Prophecy and Second Isaiah 44
2.2.5 Imagery 46
2.2.6 Holy War 46
2.2.7 Kingship Ideology and Covenant 47
2.2.8 Monotheism 50
2.2.9 Social Location of OT Prophets 51
2.2.10 Summary 52
2.3 The Relationship of Assyrian Prophets to the Temple...53
2.3.1 Messengers of Istar 53
2.3.2 Located at Cult Centres 54
2.3.3 Cultic Demands by Prophets 56
2.3.4 Prophets as Temple Personnel 57
2.3.5 Prophecy Outside of the Neo-Assyrian Context 58
2.3.6 Language of the Prophecies 60
2.3.7 Summary 60
2.4 The Function of Assyrian Prophecy 61
2.4.1 Royal Affairs 61
2.4.2 Cultic Service 62
2.4.3 Prophetic Response to Inquiry and Lament 62
2.4.4 Prophetic Response to Inquiry in Assyrian
Sources 65
2.4.5 Prophetic Response to Lament in Assyrian
Sources 66
2.4.5.1 References to Lament within Oracles 66
2.4.5.2 Narrative References to Prophecy as a
Response to Lament 68
Contents IX
2.4.5.3 Intertextual Link Between a Lament and a
Prophetic Message 70
2.4.6 Summary 74
2.5 Conclusion 75
Chapter 3 Royal Psalms 76
3.1 Introduction 76
3.2 Psalm 110 76
3.2.1 Authenticity of Prophetic Speech 76
3.2.2 Formal Unity of the Psalm as a Prophetic Oracle ..80
3.2.3 Cultic Setting of Psalm 110 82
3.2.3.1 OT Cultic Enthronement Ritual 83
3.2.3.2 Ancient Near Eastern Counterparts 83
3.2.4 Date of the Psalm 86
3.2.5 Conclusion 88
3.3 Psalm 2 89
3.3.1 Authenticity of Prophetic Speech in Psalm 2 89
3.3.2 Cultic Setting 95
3.3.2.1 OT Cultic Enthronement Ritual 96
3.3.2.2 Ancient Near Eastern Counterparts 96
3.3.3 Date of the Psalm 98
3.3.4 Conclusion 101
3.4 Psalm 132 101
3.4.1 Authenticity of Prophetic Speech 101
3.4.2 Cultic Prophecy in Psalm 132 103
3.4.3 Limits and Unity of the Oracle 105
3.4.4 Specific Cultic Setting 109
3.4.5 Date of the Psalm 112
3.4.6 Conclusion 114
3.5 Psalm 89 115
3.5.1 Authenticity of Prophetic Material 115
3.5.2 Relationship of Oracular Material to the
Literary Context and Cultic Setting 117
3.5.3 Conclusion 126
3.6 Conclusion 127
Chapter 4 Asaphite Psalms 128
4.1 Prophetic Tradition of the Asaphite Psalms 128
4.1.1 Introduction 128
χ Contents
4.1.2 Asaphite Psalms Preserve Genuine Prophetic
Speech 129
4.1.2.1 Jörg Jeremias 129
4.1.2.2 Pieter Schelling 134
4.1.2.3 Harry P. Nasuti 134
4.1.2.4 Michael Goulder 140
4.1.2.5 Beat Weber 141
4.1.3 Asaphite Psalms Imitate Prophetic Style 143
4.1.3.1 Hermann Spieckermann 143
4.1.3.2 Klaus Seybold 143
4.1.3.3 Frank-Lothar Hossfeld 146
4.1.4 Conclusion 149
4.2 The Asaphite Psalms in the Light of Assyrian
Prophetic Sources 150
4.2.1 Introduction 150
4.2.2 Psalm 81 150
4.2.2.1 Psalm 81 as Cultic Prophecy 150
4.2.2.2 Psalm 81 as Prophetic Imitation or Sermon.. 151
4.2.2.3 Evaluation 154
4.2.2.4 Conclusion 161
4.2.3 Psalm 50 162
4.2.3.1 Psalm 50 as Cultic Prophecy 162
4.2.3.2 Psalm 50 as Prophetic Imitation or Sermon.. 162
4.2.3.3 Evaluation 164
4.2.3.4 Conclusion 166
4.2.4 Psalm 75 167
4.2.4.1 Psalm 75 as Cultic Prophecy 167
4.2.4.2 Psalm 75 as Sermonic Adaptation of
Prophetic Style 168
4.2.4.3 Evaluation 169
4.2.4.4 Conclusion 174
4.2.5 Psalm 82 174
4.2.5.1 Psalm 82 as Cultic Prophecy 174
4.2.5.2 Psalm 82 as Prophetic Imitation or
"Scribal Prophecy" 175
4.2.5.3 Evaluation 177
4.2.5.4 Conclusion 178
4.2.6 Psalm 95 179
4.2.6.1 Psalm 95 as Cultic Prophecy 179
4.2.6.2 Psalm 95 as Prophetic Imitation or Sermon.. 180
4.2.6.3 Evaluation 181
