Journal of Hebrew Scriptures - Volume 3 (2000-2001) - Review
L. Daniel Hawk, Joshua (Berit Olam;
Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2000). Pp. xxxii + 303. Hardcover. ISBN 0-8146-5042
In accordance with the conception of the commentary series Berit Olam:
Studies in Hebrew Narrative and Poetry Hawk analyses the book of Joshua in
its final form (Masoretic Text) with regard to its literary composition and to
"the values, perceptions and ideologies" (xxviii) it advances through
the medium of narrative. Hawk proposes that Joshua deals with
"boundaries" as a metaphor for the issue of identity. These
boundaries which constitute Israel: geographical boundaries (promised land,
possession of Canaan; i.e., territory), behavioral boundaries (obedience to the
Torah of Moses; i.e., religion), and ethnic boundaries (separation,
extermination of the peoples of the land; i.e., race). These features of
Israel’s identity, which at the same time define the respective
"Other" by means of dichotomy, work very well at the corporate level
of nationhood. However, "on a smaller scale, in terms of individuals or
groups" (xxii), they are continually subverted both from the outside
(e.g., by Rahab and the Gibeonites) and from the inside (e.g. by Achan’s theft
of devoted items and by the incomplete conquest of the land). As a result, the
book of Joshua is characterized by discontinuities and contradictions, which
"create an overall sense of uncertainty and openness" (xviii). For
that reason the identity of Israel is not ultimately determined by territory,
religious observance and race affiliation, but rather through chosenness by
YHWH and by the choosing of YHWH (xxxii), as can be seen in particular in the
book’s last chapter (Josh 24).
In addition to the "Introduction" (pp. xi-xxxii), Hawks book
consists of thirteen chapters: 1. "Rights of Passage" (Josh 1:1-18;
pp. 1-17); 2. "Who’s Who in the Promised Land? (2:1-12:24; pp. 19-33); 3.
"Strangers in the Night" (2:1-24; pp. 35-51); 4. "Changing
State" (3:1-4:24; pp. 53-73); 5. "First Things First" (5:1-15;
pp. 75-85); 6. "Going in Circles" (6:1-27; pp. 87-105); 7. "Ai
Spy" (7:1-8:35; pp. 107-134); 8. "Foiled Again" (9:1-10:27; pp.
135-156); 9. "Conquering Canaanites" (10:28-12:24; pp. 157-176); 10.
"Organizing Israel" (13:1-21:45; pp.177-226); 11. "Altar
Egos" (22:1-34; pp. 227-245); 12. "Unfinished Business"
(23:1-16; pp. 247-260); 13. "Decisions, Decisions" (24:1-33; pp.
261-281). Scattered throughout these chapters are twelve charts, which are
listed separately in the table of contents. The book ends with a short
bibliography "For Further Reading" (more bibliographical references
are given in the notes of the running commentary) as well as
"Scripture" and "Subject" indexes (pp. 283-303).
Following the traditional division of the book (1-12, 13-22, 23-24), (1) Hawk divides Joshua into three parts: 1-12
(conquest of the land), 13-21 (division of the land), 22-24 (series of
farewells). Each chapter begins with an introduction, usually outlining the
peculiar features of the narrative, intertextual relations both within Joshua
and to relevant sections of the Pentateuch, as well as the structure of the
text. Throughout his commentary Hawk stresses the particular dependence of the
book of Joshua on Deuteronomy (without however using the term deuteronomistic,
speaking instead only of deuteronomic). For intertextual relations based on a
common genre, the genre-specific characteristics are described, as for example
in the case of Rahab, the spies and Jericho (Joshua 2, 6) and Sodom and
Gomorrah (Gen 19:1-29). Both texts have five episodes in common (1. Two
Strangers Enter the City, 2. The Strangers Are Sought. 3. Destruction Is
Announced. 4. Protest and Escape, 5. Destruction and Deliverance), which also
contain other respective details. (cf. p. 36). Following each introduction is a
subsequent close reading of the text.
The question of Israel’s identity as a point of departure for the
interpretation of the book of Joshua ("what distinguishes ‘Israel’ from
all other peoples?") is well chosen and well supported by Hawk. This
innovative focus aids in protecting Joshua from any fundamentalist use in
justifying certain land-claims or instances of ethnic cleansing (as was the
case e.g., with the Boers of South Africa), and demonstrates that the identity
of the people of Israel is based on their participation in the covenant,
without denying the significance of the land, religious practice or ethnicity.
Hawk’s scholarship is sound and his conclusions are presented in a clear
manner. Therefore, the book is to be recommended.
Specific points of critique are: 1. Intertextual relationships to texts
following Joshua could have also been considered. E.g., Hawk notes correctly
that Joshua concludes with an open question of Israel’s leadership. In this
case, a reference to the crisis of leadership in the book of Judges and its
subsequent solution—i.e., the Davidic kingship—would have been appropriate. 2.
The historical question regarding the origin of the final form of the text of
Joshua, erroneously called Masoretic (the MT is a medieval text), is mentioned
only in passing (xxxi, n. 19). The reader who deliberately turns to Berit
Olam has the right to expect a thematic discussion about the origin of the
book that goes beyond a single footnote. Furthermore, Hawk considers it possible
that Joshua has its origins already in the context of the Josianic reform, in
spite of the fact that this reform is very questionable in terms of historical
evidence.(2) 3. Since Hawk claims to provide a
literary analysis of the MT, it appears counterproductive to speak of the Red
Sea (53) instead of the Reed Sea. Red Sea is a term which does not appear at
all in the MT, but is derived from the Septuagint.
Uwe F.W. Bauer, Kirchliche Hochschule Bethel
Footnotes
1.Cf., E. Zenger et al.,
Einleitung in das Alte Testament (3rd. ed; Stuttgart, Berlin,
Köln: Kohlhammer, 1998), pp. 191-193. Back
2. Cf., Chr. Uehlinger, "Gab es eine
joschijanische Kultreform?," in W. Groß, ed., Jeremia und die "deuteronomische"Bewegung
(Bonner biblische Beiträge 98, Beltz: Athenäum, 1995), 57-89. Back