Moses, God, and the Dynamics of Intercessory Prayer: A Study of Exodus 32-34 and Numbers 13-14

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Mohr Siebeck, 2004 - 403 pages
Michael Widmer reconsiders the significance of the canonical portrayal of Moses as intercessor in the aftermath of documentary pentateuchal criticism. Paying careful attention to both the diachronic and synchronic dimensions of the text, at the heart of this study is a close reading of Exodus 32-34 and Numbers 13-14 in their final form with particular focus on the nature and theological function of Moses' prayers. These intercessions evoke important theological questions, especially with regard to divine reputation, covenant loyalty, visitation, and mutability.The author's investigation makes evident not only that Moses' prayers embody an important hermeneutical key to biblical theology, but also that Moses sets an important biblical paradigm for authentic prayer. Moreover, Michael Widmer argues that YHWH's fullest revelation of His name is enacted in a specific and concrete situation in the scout narrative (Nu. 13-14). Thus the latter stands as a kind of commentary on Exodus 34:6-7.

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Contents

Prayer as a Hermeneutical Key to Theology
6
11
31
Moses Israels Intercessor Aurelius 1988
43
Moses Intercessions and Theodicy Balentine 1993
49
Hermeneutical Reflections
57
Prose Prayers Context and Theological Function
64
Prophetic Intercession
72
Part II
87
The Covenant Mediator
204
Reason and Purpose
219
Introduction
229
A Historical Critical Reading
236
A Canonical Reading of Numbers 1314
254
Moses Intercessory Prayer and Gods Response
281
Concluding Summary
329
Numbers 1314
339

Faithful Disagreement
94
94
114
1529
123
Engaging God Face to Face
142
The Revelation of Gods Name
169
Prophetic Intercession and Gods Holy Mutability
345
Bibliography
351
Source Index
373
Author Index
395
Copyright

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About the author (2004)

Michael Widmer, Born 1970; 1996 BA. in Theology at London School of Theology; 1998 M.Th. in Old Testament & Hermeneutics at London School of Theology; 2003 Ph.D. in Old Testament at University of Durham; currently working at the University library, Durham England.

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