John Van Seters, «Dating the Yahwist’s History: Principles and Perspectives.» biblica, Vol. 96 (2015) 1-25 page 9

Vol 96 (2015)

John Van Seters, «Dating the Yahwist’s History: Principles and Perspectives.», Vol. 96 (2015) 1-25

In order to date the Yahwist, understood as the history of Israelite origins in Genesis to Numbers, comparison is made between J and the treatment of the patriarchs and the exodus-wilderness traditions in the pre-exilic prophets and Ezekiel, all of which prove to be earlier than J. By contrast, Second Isaiah reveals a close verbal association with J’s treatments of creation, the Abraham story and the exodus from Egypt. This suggests that they were contemporaries in Babylon in the late exilic period, which is confirmed by clear allusions in both authors to Babylonian sources dealing with the time of Nabonidus.

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01_VanSeters_copiaaaa_01_25 28/04/15 11:15 Pagina 9 DATING THE YAHWIST’S HISTORY: PRINCIPLES AND PERSPECTIVES 9 spoiling the Egyptians just before their departure (Exod 11,35-36), Second Isaiah warns against any such action, at the time of their departure, lest they be contaminated with foreign religious objects (Isa 52,17). Also closely associated with the reference to the sea crossing in Second Isaiah are the wilderness experience and the lack of adequate water once the Israelites were in the desert (Exo- dus 15; 17). On this Second Isaiah states (Isa 43,18-20): Do not recall bygone times, or think about days of old. I am about to do something quite new; now it is happening, do you not per- ceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert […], for I will provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, for my chosen people to drink, the people whom I have cre- ated as my own, and they will sing my praises. Instead of the lack of water and the constant grumbling against Moses, this new journey through the desert will have no such short- age, and the returnees will join in constant praise of YHWH. It seems clear that Second Isaiah has the text of the Yahwist in front of him when he is composing these words to his people, both in terms of the similarities and the contrasts, as they suit his purpose. c. Creation and the Beginnings of Humanity In addition to Second Isaiah’s use of the patriarchs and the ex- odus-wilderness themes, the prophet also makes use of the themes of creation and the earliest ages of humanity. A major theme of Sec- ond Isaiah is to establish the theme that YHWH, the God of Israel, is the creator and supreme ruler of heaven and earth and that there is no comparable deity. This is made clear at the outset of his prophecies in Isa 40,12-31 and forms the basis of his message of hope. Among his many descriptions of YHWH’s creative power, he states (NEB Isa 40,26): Lift up your eyes to the heavens; consider who created it all, led out their host one by one and called them by their names; through his great might, his might and power not one is missing. A very similar word of encouragement is given to Abraham by the deity in Gen 15,5 (NEB):