Department of Ancient Studies

Permanent URI for this community

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/41

Browse

Browsing Department of Ancient Studies by Author "Basson, Alec"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Divine metaphors in a selection of biblical Hebrew psalms of lamentation
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2005) Basson, Alec; Kruger, P. A.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A survey of the research on the Biblical Hebrew psalms of lamentation reveals a lack of attention paid to the divine images found in these poems. Previous studies, for the most part, focused on literary and stylistic aspects pertaining to the Psalms in general and the psalms of lamentation in particular. The competent reader will, however, notice that divine metaphors abound in these psalms. This study investigates the divine metaphors (nominal and verbal) in the Biblical Hebrew psalms of lamentation from a cognitive anthropological perspective. It is argued that the literary information in these poems is a cognitive representation of the psalmist's world. The various divine portrayals arise from the poet's cognitive organisation and utilisation of cultural information. The analysis of the metaphorical expressions affords the exegete insight into the cognitive world of the supplicant and the strategies employed by the one who offers praise and does not eschew lament. Some of the theoretical assumptions of cognitive anthropology are applied to a selection of psalms of lamentation (Pss. 7, 17, 31, 35, 44, 59, 74 and 80) as a means of illustrating how this approach can shed new light on the way the deity is depicted in the laments. To achieve this, each psalm is analysed both from a cognitive and literary perspective. The examination of the divine metaphors reveals the various cognitive strategies employed to portray Yahweh. It is shown that these recurring images result from the application of cultural models, conceptual metaphors and image-schemas. Given the soundness of the proposed hypothesis, this investigation arrives at the conclusion that a cognitive perspective on the divine representations in the Biblical Hebrew psalms of lamentation is indeed a worthy endeavour.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A few metaphorical source domains for emotions in the Old Testament
    (Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Theology, 2009) Basson, Alec
    Emotions are an essential part of human existence and the communication (verbal as well as non-verbal) thereof is fundamental to everyday interaction. Furthermore, the way in which emotions are expressed and interpreted is crucial to interpersonal relations. This paper contends that our biblical counterparts employed different verbal (literal as well as figurative) strategies to express an infinite number of emotional states. One such strategy is conceptual metaphor. It is argued that there is a link between the metaphorical conceptualization and articulation of emotions. Moreover, the investigation shows that different metaphorical source domains are used to express specific emotions. By taking recourse to cognitive linguistics, this contribution examines the relevant linguistic evidence from the Old Testament as a means of illuminating the aforementioned notions.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Metaphorical explorations of the heart in the Old Testament : a few remarks
    (Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Theology, 2007) Basson, Alec
    Ancient Israelite anthropology considered the heart to be the seat of emotions, personality, rationality and volition. Multiple allusions to the heart in the Old Testament support such a notion. This paper investigates four conceptual metaphors, namely The Heart as a Living Organism, The Heart as an Object of Value, The Heart as a Solid and The Heart as a Container as a means of illuminating the cognitive reality behind the metaphorical expressions of the heart occurring in the Old Testament. Through a cognitive analysis of the relevant textual information it is demonstrated that there exists a link between metaphors, body and experience.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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.