Masters Degrees (Ancient Studies)

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Ani and its semantic domain in the Psalms
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1991-12) Rhode, Rubin Frank; Kruger, P. A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies .
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: One of the most vexing questions in the exegetical research on the Psalms has been the establishing of the identity of the suppliant who refers to himself as the cani. Many scholars have endeavoured to study the meaning and significance of this word, but it is still not satisfactorily resolved. The weakness of these studies can be traced back to two factors: (1) an exaggerated over-confidence in the etymological method of analysis, and (2) the implementation of inadequate and incomplete semantic methods. This investigation starts out with the hypothesis that the meaning of cani must be determined in terms of both its macro and micro leve~. Thus, the meaning of this designation will be established synchronically, as well as in terms of an associative field. In this way the semantic field of cani can be .demarcated in light of its immediate lexical, as well as its wider associative field. A close reading of the Psalms in which cani appears, reveals that a triangular relationship is depicted between certain actants. The drama tis personae occupying the following roles in this triangle are: (1) Yahweh asjudge and saviour, (2) the cani as suppliant and victim, and (3) .the antagonist as oppressor and blasphemer. In order to establish the identity of the cani it was necessary to investigate its synonyms and antonyms within this complex triangular structure. Within such a semantic framework it has been determined that the stereotype translation equivalent "poor" is both inadequate and misleading.
Magic in the ancient Near East with special reference to ancient Israel
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002-12) Liedeman, Gwendolene Caren; Kruger, P. A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this investigation an anthropological and comparative approach was employed in the study of magic in the ancient Near East. Firstly, a survey was presented with regard to anthropological theories throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This forms the background against which evidence on magic with respect to the cultures of the ancient Near East is investigated. Secondly, examples of magic in the Ancient Near East was discussed, with reference to Egypt, Mesopotamia and Hittite Anatolia. Reference was made to categories such as magic spells, objects, rituals and magical experts (magicians) and various examples were discussed. Thirdly, an analysis was made about the phenomenon of magic in ancient Israel. In this context magic plays a somewhat different role in comparison to its other ancient Near Eastern neighbours. It was shown that so-called miraculous actions, miracle workers (prophets) and other religious actions (curses and blessings) in the Hebrew Bible could definitely be associated with magic. The frequent prohibitions against magical practises furthermore suggest that magic was indeed been practiced in ancient Israel.
Reading the creation narrative in Genesis 1-2:4a against its ancient Near Eastern background
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007-03) Dyssel, Allan; Kruger, P. A.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies. Centre for Bible Interpretation and Translation in Africa.
Reading the creation narratives in Genesis 1 and 2, one encounters two totally different renditions. The two creation narratives agree that God created the universe and that God blesses his creation in abundance. But why did the Hebrews need two creation stories so different in style? Gen. 1-2:4a seized my interest and I wanted to explore not only the milieu in which it was written, but also to read it against the creation narratives of the ancient Near East. The research was done religioushistorically. An insight had to be gained in the function and role of mythology within a cultural system and after distinguishing between folk sagas, legends and myths, different types of myths, as well as some perspectives on myths had to be investigated. Creation themes such as creation by birth, by struggle or victory, by action or activity as well as creation through the spoken word were encountered in the various creation narratives studied. Ancient Near East cosmogonies such as the variety of Egyptian cosmogonies, as well as Mesopotamian creation epics have been considered. Hittite myths were also considered, but here the result was the discovery of an extended pantheon with virtually no creation references. Thereafter I have concentrated on the cosmogony of the Hebrew Bible and the position, structure and understanding of Gen. 1-2:4a. Most creation stories revert to bloody violence between the gods. The God of the Hebrews is a God of order – from chaos he creates more than order, he creates beauty. The subsequent survey of the conception of humankind in the near Ancient East, proved to be varied as well as interesting, some with remarkable parallels. My interest was extended to placing the creation narrative of Gen. 1-2:4a in the modern era, by attempting to gain insight into the “Big Bang” theory, as well as Creationism and Evolution movements. Many motives were deducted by the research, but the idea of God creating in a “Godly” manner (bārā') and not merely give order to pre-created creations through struggle was unique. Human beings were created as the pinnacle of creation, and made to live in a relationship with their Creator.
The role and education of children in Old Testament times
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001-12) Allen, Shirley May; Kruger, P. A.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Children in the Old Testament world, at first glance, seem to playa very minor role in the make-up of that society but was this really so? In researching the role and education there are many questions, which need answering. Questions that come to mind are: What role did children play in the tribe, clan and family? How did children relate to their fathers, mothers and siblings? What education and training did children receive? When did they receive it? Was it formal or informal? Did the status and education of children change from early Israel through to the beginning of New Testament times? How could children identify with their religion? What did children contribute to their religion? What legal rights did children have? How did their situation compare to the children in other countries in the . Ancient Near East? In investigating these questions in chapter one it was necessary to research the social system, which included the complex multigenerational family. It was also important to look at children in the Old Testament world from a sociological anthropological stance. As religion and religious concepts were embedded in the fabric of the Old Testament society it was important to see which ones influenced the status of children. There was also a need to investigate how children were protected by the law and how they were affected by the economy as Israelite society was largely an agrarian society. In chapter two when investigating the education of children in the Old Testament world it was necessary to look at parental responsibility as well as the role of priests, prophets, sages, scribes and teachers. Wisdom literature in the Old Testament played an important role in the education of every child, either formally or informally. Not all of the education was moral education; much of the instruction that children received was vocational. The challenge when looking at education is that the evidence is mostly inferred. In analysing the role of children in the Old Testament world it becomes apparent that children play a far greater role and are of higher social status than it appears at a cursory glance when looking at the patriarchal society in which they lived. The education of children took place mostly in the setting of the home on an informal basis. It was only much later that formal education was introduced and even then the exact beginning of schools is difficult to pinpoint. It would be incorrect to attempt to transplant the role of the child in the Old Testament world into contemporary culture without transplanting the whole society. It would however be correct to look at the Old Testament child within the context of the extended family as far as redemptive history and creation is concerned.
Die sosiale en religieuse rol van die vrou in oud-Israel
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003-03) Jacobs-Smith, Michelle Wilma; Kruger, P. A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study investigates the social and religious roles of women in Ancient Israel. The thesis comprises of four parts. Chapter 1 focuses on the role of women in an anthropological perspective. We take a look at how women were perceived within the pre-industrial communities. Israel did not live in a vacuum but was part and parcel of the ancient Near Eastern cultural world. Chapter 2 therefore focuses on the role of women in Egyptian and Assyrio-Babylonian cultures. Her social, economic, political and religious roles are under investigation. In Chapter 3 the focus shifts to the role of women within the social organisation. A short overview with a few examples demonstrates where the role of women expands beyond that of social organisation. This role, which could be described as a "political function", was only allocated to a few privileged women. Chapter 4 deals with the religious role of the Israelite women. This chapter forms the other focus point of the study. The religious activities of women within the official, popular and familiy religious spheres are examined. Chapter 5 presents a brief summary of the main conclusions of the study.
Syro-Palestinian stamp seals from the Persian Period (538-332 B.C.): an analysis of their iconographic motifs and inscriptions
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 1992-12) Klingbeil, Martin Gerhard; Cornelius, I.; Kruger, P. A.; Smit, E. J.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.
In the course of this M.A. thesis, 65 stamp seals (conoids, scaraboids, signet rings and scarabs) have been collected, described, and analyzed. They stem from legal archaeological excavations in Syro-Palestine, and have been found in strata and contexts which can clearly be ascribed to the Persian period. Methodological questions were addressed, including the following: historical outline of the Persian period, geographical limitations of the study, archaeological considerations, and the iconographic and epigraphic aspects of the study. For the description process, a computerized system was developed, by means of which the seals could be described on three levels: general description, element description, modification description. In this way, a uniform way of handling the data was achieved. The description procedure is reflected in the fonn of a catalogue. In order to facilitate the analysis, the seal corpus was organized in three, at times overlapping, classes: iconographic seals, epigraphic seals, and hieroglyphic seals. The different classes were then analyzed according to their peculiarities, e.g. geographical distribution, iconographic motif groups, palaeography, onomastica, etc. It was shown that the corpus of stamp seals from the Persian period consists of a wide variety of objects in tenns of form and content, and could by no means be characterized as being homogenous. A certain relationship between geographical origin, fonn, and content of the seal could be established.
Die voorstelling van Jahwe as kryger in 'n seleksie Bybels-Hebreeuse psalms
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000-03) Basson, Alec; Kruger, P. A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies .
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the image of Yahweh as warrior in a selection of Biblical-Hebrew psalms against the background of similar images in the broader Ancient Near East. In the psalms this image is closely linked with the emotions and experience of the psalmist. In the situation of conflict he calls on Yahweh to intervene and to destroy the enemy. It is in such circumstances that this image of Yahweh gives the necessary comfort. In order to investigate the image of Yahweh as warrior in the psalms, this study uses the Comparative Method. This method is based on the assumption that cultures and societies share certain ideas and characteristics. The specific approach within the Comparative Method is called the typological comparative approach. This approach focuses on the comparison of phenomena in cultures that are historically and geographically far removed from each other. This comparison is based on the assumption that certain cultural characteristics are universally shared. In this investigation the following psalms are analysed: 3, 21, 46, 68, 76, 83, 140, 144. The selection was made on the basis of the different literary genres within the psalms. As a background to this investigation a summary of warrior terminology and ideas in the rest of the Ancient Near East is presented. Afterwards the warrior image in the selected psalms is investigated. The investigation proceeded as follows: Chapter 1 is devoted to the research history with regard to the image of Yahweh as warrior in the Hebrew Bible; in Chapter 2 the metaphor as literary device is discussed; and in Chapter 3 the focus is on the institution of war in the Ancient Near East and the role of warriors in this regard. From Chapters 4 to 11 the warrior metaphors in the selected psalms are analysed. With each of the analysed psalms the following method is used: (1) a translation and text-critical notes; (2) a discussion of the literary genre; (3) an analysis of the poetic elements; and (4) an analysis of the warrior images. The psalmist's enemies are also Yahweh's enemies. In the psalms where he is portrayed as warrior, three characters always come to the fore, namely Yahweh, the psalmist and the enemy. While the enemy is portrayed in terms of typical hostile images, the relationship between Yahweh and the psalmist is defensive, and offensive between Yahweh and the enemy. In this study it is , also shown that when Yahweh intervenes, he saves and restores the honour of the psalmist. Yahweh is also praised for his acts of salvation in the past. This forms the basis for the psalmist call to Yahweh to intervene in his situation. He defeats the enemy by making use of different weapons. The psalmist's enemies are also Yahweh's enemies.

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Ancient Studies) by browse.metadata.advisor "Kruger, P. A."

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