Contending for Justice Ideologies and Theologies of Social Justice in the Old Testament

includes index and biblioraphy

Chapter 1 TEXTS AND CONTEXTS 1. Introduction 1 .a. The Author`s Context 1 .b. Studies of Social Justice in the Old Testament 1 .c. Biblical Justice in Christian Tradition and Today 1 .d. The Hermeneutical Problem 2. A Proposal for Our Method 3. Selecting the Objects of Study Chapter 2 THE ANCIENT SOCIAL CONTEXT 1. Explaining the Evidence Rent Capitalism `Ancient` Class Society The Tributary State The Patronage System Conclusion Chapter 3 OPPRESSION AND THE PROPHETS 1. Interpreting the Prophets 2. Amos 2.a. The Message of the Book of Amos 2.b. Perceiving Oppression in Amos 2.b.l. The Victims 2.b.2. The Oppressors 2.b.3. The Acts of Oppression 2.b.4. The Law and the Prophet 2.c. The Paradox of Amos 3. Surveying the Prophets 4. Micah 5. Isaiah 6. Jeremiah 7. Ezekiel 8. Oppression in the Prophets 8.a. The Victims 8.b. The Oppressors 8.c. The Acts of Oppression S.c.l. Bloodshed 8.c.2. Violence and Coercion 8.C.3. Extortion, Unjust Gain 8.C.4. Loss of Freedom 8.C.5. Perversion of Right 8.c.6. Indulgence at the Expense of the Poor 9. The Justice of YHWH 10. Conclusions Chapter 4 JUSTICE AND THE PATRON 1. Introduction 2. Ezekiel 18 3. Exodus 22.21 (Heb. 20)-23.12 4. Proverbs 5. Job 6. The Virtue of Justice Chapter 5 JUSTICE AND THE KING 1. Introduction 2. Criticism of Monarchy? 3. The Royal Ideology 4. Psalm 72 and the Ideology of Royal Justice 5. The Theme of Social Justice in the Royal Traditions 6. Expecting the Just King Chapter 6 JUSTICE AND THE PEOPLE 1. Visions of Justice in the Prophets l.a. Introduction l.b. Visions of Justice in Isaiah 1 .c. Justice in the Vision of Ezekiel l.d. A Vision of Justice in Zephaniah 167 I.e. Interpreting Utopia 168 2. The Just Society in the Torah 169 2.a. The Torah as a Whole 169 2.b. Deuteronomy 174 2.b.l. The Context of Composition 174 2.b.2. General Provisions 179 2.b.3. The Third-year Tithe 180 2.b.4. The Release of Debts 180 2.b.5. The Release of Slaves 186 2.b.6. Deuteronomy, Class and Community 188 2.c. The Law of Jubilee in the Holiness Code 190 Chapter 7 204 THE GOD OF JUSTICE 204 1. Introduction 204 2. Impartial and Partial Justice 205 3. Social Affinities 214 3.a. Patronage 214 3.b. Kingship 215 3.c. Synthesis 218 4. Ideological Functions 219 5. Reflections for Today 222 Chapter 8 227 THE OLD TESTAMENT: A RESOURCE IN CONTENDING FOR JUSTICE? 227 1. Old Testament Justice in Today`s World 227 2. Embodying the Justice of God 230