Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS)

Department

Seminary

First Advisor

Roger Nam, Assistant Professor of Old Testament

Second Advisor

Stephen Delamarter, Professor of Old Testament

Abstract

This study examines the literary pairing of the words full (עבש) and hungry (בער) in the Hebrew Bible from the perspective of inner-textuality. This thesis explores the theological development of the terms, beginning with their appearance as words of simple meanings pertaining to physical condition, in Genesis 42 and Exodus 16. Deuteronomy 8 emerges as a theological catalyst for the terms when it redresses hungry to mean humility before YHWH, and full as arrogance toward YHWH. Full and hungry are made into two endpoints on a paradigm in Deuteronomy 8, highlighting the attitudinal approaches that Israel is and is not to take toward YHWH. Israel must maintain the same demeanor of humility and obedience to YHWH that it learned while hungrily eating manna from YHWH's hand (Deut. 8:3). Simultaneously, Israel must never credit itself or any other source for its prosperity even as it delights in the abundant food of Canaan. If Israel's satiation leads to forgetting YHWH, YHWH will destroy Israel (Deut. 8:10ff.). This study follows the terms as they function as theological concepts as imaged by Deuteronomy, in the texts of 1 Sam. 2:5, Psalm 107, Hos. 13:4-6 and Prov. 27:7.

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