Mythology and Lament: Studies in the Oracles about the Nations

The oracles about the nations in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel originate in the ancient Laments. Ultimately, they were preserved because of their relevance to the Year of Jubilee, with its origins in the New Year Festival; this study illuminates their intention. In Mythology and Lament, John Geyer shows the oracles belong to the sphere of worship, making a theological (mythological) statement, not a political one. Relating to current debates about the historicity of the Hebrew Bible, Geyer also provides a theological context to questions of conflict of nations and environmental debates.

• Contents:
• Preface;
• Part I Introductory:
• What are the oracles about the nations about?;
• Form and structure of the oracles about the nations.
• Part II The Myths:
• Isaiah 14.4–23;
• Ezekiel 27 and the cosmic ship;
• Ezekiel 31 and the cosmic tree.
• Part III Yahweh:
• The day of Yahweh;
• The Yahweh passages.
• Part IV Myth and Lament:
• Sumerian lamentations;
• The lament passages in ON-IJE.
• Part V Sample Text Analysis:
• About Moab.
• Part VI Conclusions and Implications:
• Lament and myth and liturgy.
• Bibliography;
• Indexes.