Temba Rugwiji - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Temba Rugwiji

This article is a reworked version of a paper presented at the ProPent Conference held at Bass La... more This article is a reworked version of a paper presented at the ProPent Conference held at Bass Lake Lodge, north of Pretoria (29–31 August 2015).

The present study investigates the concept of safety and security in the Hebrew Bible in order to... more The present study investigates the concept of safety and security in the Hebrew Bible in order to demonstrate that our concern for self-defence in the modern post-biblical world was also a prerogative among biblical societies. Numerous inferences to self-defence in the Hebrew Bible show that ancient Israelite societies did not take preparedness against enemy attack lightly. In this essay, lessons on safety and security drawn from ancient Israelite societies will be appropriated in the Zimbabwean context. This appropriation is necessary because safety and security was critical in ancient Israel as it is in our post-colonial Zimbabwean society. Constructive themes from the Hebrew Bible will be appropriated as lessons to be learnt from the narratives about ancient Semitic peoples who are purported to have lived in a “real” physical, yet historical, space. Admittedly, the biblical text depicts that bad/negative things happened in ancient Israel. However, in this study self-defence is ex...

The Hebrew Bible portrays the view that the Jewish lifestyle was predominantly agrarian. The ideo... more The Hebrew Bible portrays the view that the Jewish lifestyle was predominantly agrarian. The ideology that Jewish socio-economic survival depended largely on subsistence farming is a depiction that the biblical text presents in terms of ‘themes’ pertaining to agriculture, such as: land tax, temple-tax, sheep, goats, cattle, and slaughtering and sacrificing animals. Significant archaeological discoveries to date have illumined the claim that agricultural production was critical in the sustenance of socio-economic life for both household consumption and national demand in the ancient Near East (hereafter, ANE). First, although issues surrounding land and socio-economic development (hereafter, SED) during the pre-monarchic, monar-chic, and exilic periods as depicted in the biblical text will be considered, the main focus of the present discourse is the Judean postexilic period. In this essay, postexilic literature (e.g. Trito-Isaiah, Ezra-Nehemiah, Zechariah, Haggai, Malachi, etc.) wil...

This study attempts to promulgate a method called ‘hermeneutics of appropriation’ as a thematic a... more This study attempts to promulgate a method called ‘hermeneutics of appropriation’ as a thematic approach of a scientific research. ‘Hermeneutics’ is not the same as ‘appropriation’; hermeneutics refers to a science of interpretation, whereas appropriation depicts an idea of adoption. Hermeneutics of appropriation employs themes (hence, thematic analysis) as opposed to contextual biblical hermeneutics that focuses largely on contemporary interpretation of biblical narratives. Thus, adopting the phrase ‘hermeneutics of appropriation’ presents the idea of a scientific interpretation of a theme that is applied in a differing context from which it originated. The present study aims at highlighting some dynamics that illustrate contextual biblical interpretation as a biased approach. Having presented such dynamics, the study will then suggest the employment of hermeneutics of appropriation in which relevant themes from the biblical text are utilised in a hermeneutical discourse. A dialogu...

Political and socio-economic crises in Zimbabwe in recent years had a negative impact on the coun... more Political and socio-economic crises in Zimbabwe in recent years had a negative impact on the country's scholarship, forcing some scholars to relocate to other parts of the world, and others to utilise both domestic and regional platforms to voice their concerns. In spite of the relocation and the subsequent brain drain, publications in differing genres from Zimbabwean scholars became a force to reckon with. This essay argues, however, that Old Testament (hereafter OT) scholarship in itself has not been fully represented on both the domestic and regional platforms. This project poses and then responds to the following question: Who are the OT scholars in Zimbabwe and what do they write? First, this study examines both the "push" and the "pull" factors that caused the brain drain in Zimbabwe. Second, consequences that ensued as a result of the political and socio-economic crises are explored. Third, the essay engages the above question by analysing contribution...

Ritual murders have recently been widespread among African societies in general. Reports of such ... more Ritual murders have recently been widespread among African societies in general. Reports of such murders . have become cause for concern. African countries that are implicated in ritual killing include but are not limited to: Botswana, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Cases have been reported of human body parts . . allegedly .removed from the corpses. The mortiferous character of ritual killing is not unique to African communities. During ancient biblical times, it was common that a son would be offered on the altar as a sacrifice to the gods. This article is multifaceted in its form. The study problematises phenomena of ritual murders by utilising narrative research in which human sacrifice, as depicted in the Old Testament, is the focus of attention. In addition, a comparative approach is employed to demonstrate that ritual murder is not unique to Africa. The article concludes by offering some recommendations towards oblite-rating ritual killing.

The exodus tradition in the Hebrew Bible is about YHWH who liberated the Israelites from bondage ... more The exodus tradition in the Hebrew Bible is about YHWH who liberated the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, who divided the Red Sea waters and provided manna in the desert. As the tradition was passed on, it motivated generations of Jewish descendants in many problematic situations and encouraged them to trust in the “God of their fathers” who would continue to save. The modern post-biblical world has also drawn motivation from the exodus liberation motif. Prominent theologians from Latin America, the USA, South Africa, Rhodesia and Zimbabwe have explored this motif and feature in this book. The title Reading the Exodus Liberation Motif in the Modern Post-Biblical World: The Zimbabwean Society and the Reality of Oppression is necessitated by Zimbabwe’s experience of oppression. The function of the exodus tradition during colonialism in Rhodesia is discussed because it forms the nucleus from which Zimbabwe was born. Recently the Zimbabwean people have been subjected to unjust treatmen...

The biblical text neither condemns rape in general nor addresses rape of little children. The opp... more The biblical text neither condemns rape in general nor addresses rape of little children. The opposite seems to be the case: Num 31:17-18 portrays Yahwehas sanctioning the rape of minors, that is, girls, preceded by the killing of both boys and "unmarried" women found guilty of losing their virginity through sexual intercourse. This paper argues that if the Bible is to be relevant to bothits readers and to modern societies today, it should address ethical issues including that of rape of minors. This study critiques the depiction of Yahweh sanctioning Moses and the Israelite leadership - which included the priests and community leaders - to kill the Midianite boy children and women, "but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man" (v. 18). How would a just and loving God contradict himself by (1) commanding the murder of boys and women and (2) authorising the "rape" of little girl children? This study attempts to respond to the above ...

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

Contribution: Previous studies variously provided some magnanimity on the book of Esther. The con... more Contribution: Previous studies variously provided some magnanimity on the book of Esther. The contribution of the present study to the readership and the academic community seeks to suggest a new reading of the book by arguing that the Jews provoked the Persian authorities by disobeying the laws of the land.

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

Circumcision originated from ancient religious (biblical) and cultural societies. Study has shown... more Circumcision originated from ancient religious (biblical) and cultural societies. Study has shown that in both the biblical (Israelite) context and among the Karanga people in Zimbabwe circumcision emerged as a rite of passage for a boy child’s entry into manhood. Modern societies promulgate circumcision as a preventive method against HIV and AIDS. The present study argues that circumcision tends to promote irresponsible sexual behaviour and trivialises the sacredness of sex. (1) To safeguard societies against the belief that circumcision prevents HIV and AIDS. (2) To sensitise societies that abstinence and condom usage will serve as preventive methods against HIV and AIDS. The study utilises two complimentary methods: (1) comparative literary method which examines both biblical and cultural initiation procedures and (2) qualitative research method in which an interview forms part of the data pool. The potential of a scientific contribution towards transforming both the mind and lif...

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

The theme of poverty has recently dominated various scholarly platforms, including academic prese... more The theme of poverty has recently dominated various scholarly platforms, including academic presentations and public debates. Nevertheless, it has emerged that the rhetoric about poverty reduction seems to be the project of the elite who apparently write and speak on behalf of the poor. The plight of the majority of the poor is problematised so that transformation is superficially democratised with the ultimate aim of benefitting the elite. The present study reflects on Eben Scheffler’s contributions on poverty and the poor in the Old Testament books of the Pentateuch, the Psalms and the Proverbs. Although this study refers to Scheffler’s other works on poverty from time to time, particular attention is paid to four of them, namely, (1) ‘The poor in the Psalms: A variety of views’; (2) ‘Of poverty prevention in the Pentateuch as a continuing contemporary challenge’; (3) ‘Poverty in the Book of Proverbs: Looking from above’; (4) ‘Pleading poverty (or identifying with the poor for sel...

Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae

The biblical text is replete with narratives of targeted killings (TKs), although it is not state... more The biblical text is replete with narratives of targeted killings (TKs), although it is not stated as such. For example, David is depicted as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sm 13:14). However, when David was on his deathbed, he summoned his son Solomon to kill his enemies, namely Joab son of Zeruiah (1 Ki 2:5) and Shimei son of Gera (2:8). From an indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) perspective, this essay analyses David’s killings in view of TKs in the following eras: the apartheid era in South Africa; the post-apartheid period in South Africa; colonial Rhodesia; during the liberation struggle for Zimbabwe’s independence; and in the post-independence Zimbabwean era. It is explored that for the majority of African cultures, the spirit of a killed person will always return as ngozi (“avenging spirit”) to afflict the killer or a blood relative of the guilty person with various curses, illnesses or deaths.

Journal for Semitics

During biblical times in the Near Eastern world, circumcision was a common practice. Reasons for ... more During biblical times in the Near Eastern world, circumcision was a common practice. Reasons for conducting the operation varied. In biblical times, only males were circumcised. This essay attempts to answer the following questions: (1) What was the significance of circumcision in the ancient Near East? (2) Can one say with certainty that circumcision amongst Xhosa communities was influenced by the biblical text? This article commences by examining circumcision in the ancient Near East. The study will then explore the rise of circumcision in ancient Israel when Yahweh commanded Abraham to circumcise all males in his household as a sign of keeping the covenant with Yahweh (cf. Gn 17:9-14). Next, the ideology of excluding women from being circumcised during biblical times is discussed. Thereafter, circumcision conducted in our modern postbiblical world - contemporary perspectives on circumcision, also known as male genital mutilation (hereafter, MGM) - is examined in terms of the foll...

Journal for Semitics

The Hebrew Bible depicts that music and dance formed part of worship and reverence of Yahweh in w... more The Hebrew Bible depicts that music and dance formed part of worship and reverence of Yahweh in which various musical instruments were played during ancient biblical times. In the modern post-biblical world, music and dance characterise every context of human existence either in moments of love, joy, celebration, victory, sorrow or reverence. In Zimbabwe, music — which is usually accompanied by dance — serves various purposes such as solidarity towards or remonstration against the land reform, despondency against corruption, celebration, giving hope to the sick, worship as in the church or appeasing the dead by those who are culturally-entrenched. Two fundamental questions need to be answered in this article: 1) What was the significance of music and dance in ancient Israel? 2) What is the significance of music and dance in Zimbabwe? In response to the above questions, this essay engages into dialogue the following three contestations. First, texts of music, musical instruments and ...

Journal for Semitics

The theme of salvation is central in the servant songs. In Isaiah 42:1-7, the theme of salvationp... more The theme of salvation is central in the servant songs. In Isaiah 42:1-7, the theme of salvationprefigures the significant task of the suffering servant. First, this essay commences with a critical analysis of Isaiah 42:1-7. This analysis will shed light on the context from which the text emerged in an effort to decipher salvific themes in the text. Second, the study maintains that Yahwehâ€™s exclusivist proclamation in the Old Testament (hereafter OT)is revised in order to also include non-Jews in his salvific programme of the universe. Third, the term salvation is defined as depicting liberation in the OT. Liberation comprises various facets, including but not limited to political freedom, economic emancipation, democracy, justice, poverty eradication, and equal rights, amongst others. Fourth, this essay will explore divergent views on the identity of the suffering servant in the servant songs, such as Jeremiah, Cyrus, Jacob/Israel, and Jesus. The Christian view of the suffering s...

Old Testament Essays

The African continent in general, and Zimbabwe in particular, continue to endure the acrimony of ... more The African continent in general, and Zimbabwe in particular, continue to endure the acrimony of "natural resource curse" in spite of an abundance of natural resources. Africa consumes what it does not produce, and produces what it does not consume. The following three contestations constitute the milieu underpinning the present study: (1) the biblical text presents the entire human race as cursed through Adam (Gen. 3:17), (2) that Africans are cursed because they are portrayed as the descendants of Ham's son, Canaan, who was cursed by his grandparent, Noah (Gen. 9:25-27), and (3) biblical commentators continue to argue for the presence of an African in the biblical context; and Cush, Ham's eldest son, is perceived as "dark-skinned". In view of the above views, this study argues that a literal reading and interpretation of the Bible presents humans (especially Africans) as cursed. This discourse, therefore, interrogates the biblical concept of curse as a metaphor for curse in Zimbabwe. This argument is raised at the backdrop of Zimbabwe's wealth in natural resources such as land, gold, copper, platinum, nickel, iron, emeralds, and diamonds, among others. In addition, "chituko"/"ngozi" (avenging spirit) among the Shona people of Zimbabwe is also considered as a curse for uncompensated offences.

Journal for Semitics

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae

Journal for Semitics

Old Testament Essays

Journal for Semitics