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Joel Kemp

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Papers by Joel Kemp

Research paper thumbnail of Other, Otherness

Encyclopedia of the Bible Online, Jun 26, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Renounced and Abandoned: The Legal Meaning of עזב in Ezekiel 8:12 and 9:9

The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2017

Abstract:Ezekiel 8–11, the so-called Temple Vision, describes the departure of the כבוד־יהוה (“gl... more Abstract:Ezekiel 8–11, the so-called Temple Vision, describes the departure of the כבוד־יהוה (“glory of Yhwh”) from Jerusalem and the temple precincts. In this article, I argue that the consistent presence of juridical elements in this vision reveals that the Judahites’ statements in Ezek 8:12 and 9:9 are a quasi-legal formula describing their perception of the legal relationship among them, Yhwh, and the land. Specifically, עזב in these verses carries a legal valence related to the renunciation or disclaimer of a legally enforceable claim to an object. This legal understanding of Ezek 8:12 and 9:9 also provides additional insight into the narrative logic of the Temple Vision by asserting that these verses are not predictive but performative.

Research paper thumbnail of ACase for Identity: The Book of Ezekiel, Juridical Diction and Judahite Identity

The consistent presence of juridical diction, legal metaphors, and courtroom imagery reveals that... more The consistent presence of juridical diction, legal metaphors, and courtroom imagery reveals that Ezekiel 1-33 is set within a precise juridical framework. In this study, I argued that focusing upon these legal elements has two primary benefits for our understanding of the book. First, the juridical framework provides greater clarity and coherence to some passages within Ezekiel 1-33. Second, the book (especially Ezekiel 16) uses its legal elements to articulate a version of Judahite identity under Neo-Babylonian hegemony. To connect these legal elements to identity development, I used some insights from the works of Erik Erikson and Urie Bronfenbrenner (the "EB Model"). According to my analysis, Ezekiel 16 equates the legal status of the city with Judahite identity in order to prove that the experiences of Neo-Babylonian domination did not nullify or rescind the legal agreement ‫)ברית(‬ between the deity and Judahites. Rather, the punishment this chapter describes demonstrates the continuing validity of the contract and the version of Judahite identity that is rooted in it. Consequently, the Judahites' acceptance of the legal appropriateness of Neo-Babylonian domination is the sine qua non for remaining in the legal relationship that defines Judahite identity.

Research paper thumbnail of Other, Otherness

Encyclopedia of the Bible Online, Jun 26, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Renounced and Abandoned: The Legal Meaning of עזב in Ezekiel 8:12 and 9:9

The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2017

Abstract:Ezekiel 8–11, the so-called Temple Vision, describes the departure of the כבוד־יהוה (“gl... more Abstract:Ezekiel 8–11, the so-called Temple Vision, describes the departure of the כבוד־יהוה (“glory of Yhwh”) from Jerusalem and the temple precincts. In this article, I argue that the consistent presence of juridical elements in this vision reveals that the Judahites’ statements in Ezek 8:12 and 9:9 are a quasi-legal formula describing their perception of the legal relationship among them, Yhwh, and the land. Specifically, עזב in these verses carries a legal valence related to the renunciation or disclaimer of a legally enforceable claim to an object. This legal understanding of Ezek 8:12 and 9:9 also provides additional insight into the narrative logic of the Temple Vision by asserting that these verses are not predictive but performative.

Research paper thumbnail of ACase for Identity: The Book of Ezekiel, Juridical Diction and Judahite Identity

The consistent presence of juridical diction, legal metaphors, and courtroom imagery reveals that... more The consistent presence of juridical diction, legal metaphors, and courtroom imagery reveals that Ezekiel 1-33 is set within a precise juridical framework. In this study, I argued that focusing upon these legal elements has two primary benefits for our understanding of the book. First, the juridical framework provides greater clarity and coherence to some passages within Ezekiel 1-33. Second, the book (especially Ezekiel 16) uses its legal elements to articulate a version of Judahite identity under Neo-Babylonian hegemony. To connect these legal elements to identity development, I used some insights from the works of Erik Erikson and Urie Bronfenbrenner (the "EB Model"). According to my analysis, Ezekiel 16 equates the legal status of the city with Judahite identity in order to prove that the experiences of Neo-Babylonian domination did not nullify or rescind the legal agreement ‫)ברית(‬ between the deity and Judahites. Rather, the punishment this chapter describes demonstrates the continuing validity of the contract and the version of Judahite identity that is rooted in it. Consequently, the Judahites' acceptance of the legal appropriateness of Neo-Babylonian domination is the sine qua non for remaining in the legal relationship that defines Judahite identity.

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