The Gift of Prophecy

Chapter 5 — The Hebrew Prophets and the Literature of the Ancient Near East

Elias Brasil de Souza

Comparisons between the Bible and ancient Near Eastern literature have received significant scholarly attention and have contributed to a better understanding of the biblical world. In this endeavor a variety of perspectives and approaches have been brought to bear upon the biblical materials and their nonbiblical parallels. Some of these studies have proposed that the Bible is mostly a product of its ancient environment; ¹ others, however, have advanced forceful arguments to show that in spite of similarities, the Bible stands as a distinct and original corpus of literature among its ancient counterparts. ² GOP 120.1

This study focuses on the prophetic section of the Old Testament in order to identify possible allusions to nonbiblical texts. ³ Close examination of the prophetic corpus indicates that the prophets were familiar with the neighboring nations and produced their literary works in interaction with, and oftentimes in reaction against, the surrounding cultures. ⁴ Certain motifs, phrases, and themes developed by the biblical prophets are also contained in earlier nonbiblical texts. Thus, it is instructive to identify some of these parallels or allusions in order to suggest a theological and hermeneutical framework to explain them in the light of the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures. Although this paper explores only a few of all possible allusions or parallel attestations, the conclusions drawn from this sample may apply to the other cases as well. GOP 120.2

Three main sections make up the body of this study. The first section identifies parallel motifs and phrases; the second, parallel theological themes, and the third addresses the theological and hermeneutical implications of such parallels. GOP 121.1