Between Tradition and Innovation. Interpretation of the Book of Numbers in Literary and Theological Respect

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Christian Frevel
• Subject Area: Roman Catholic Theology
• Term: from 2017 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 385072438

• Final Report Year: 2022

Final Report Abstract

A recent trend in Hebrew Bible research has been the increasing focus upon the fourth book of Moses, Numbers, as the source of important insights pertaining to the structure and literary development of the Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy) and/or the Hexateuch (Genesis–JoshuThis project sought to further these endeavors from a variety of analytical and methodological angles. The research resulted in several publications. The project developed a new understanding of the book of Numbers in the context of the late redactional and intellectual history of the Pentateuch. The outcomes brought greater attention to the social, theological, and contextual rooting of the book of Numbers in the 5th and 4th century BCE, in which Yahwists (re-)imagined themselves as a collective entity comprising of twelve tribes, united by a common tradition. These Yahwists were not exclusively limited to those dwelling within the borders of Yehûd, but expanded into the Diaspora, not least including those living in Samaria. Key to the outcome was a greater emphasis on the Torah as tradition literature, which entailed an increased focus on rituals, leadership, and political and theological space. Unsurprisingly these emphases found their greatest expression in the book of Numbers, which constitutes the latest book of the Pentateuch. In redactional respect the project addressed the role of the book of Numbers in the emerging Torah and moved forward from a simple model of priestly layers of additions (successive growth model), to a model of increasing textual condensation and “editorial clustering” of innerbiblical amendments, additions, and interpretations. The sequential understanding of redactional order in the book of Numbers is supplemented by an interconnectedness and a relatedness of editorial ideas of completion beyond the idea of a single final redaction.

Publications

• Leadership and Conflict: Modelling the Charisma of Numbers. Debating Authority, 89-114. De Gruyter.
  Frevel, Christian
  
• “Numeri/Das Vierte Buch Mose: Den wahren Geschmack des Wassers erkennt man in der Wüste.” Pages 57–62 in 73 Ouvertüren: Die Buchanfänge der Bibel und ihre Botschaft. Edited by E. Ballhorn et al. Gütersloh: Gütersloher Verlagshaus, 2018.
  Frevel, Christian
  
• “Zum Segen werdende Tora: Narratologische Anstöße zum Verständnis des Buches Numeri.” Pages 131–173 in Perspektiven: Biblische Texte und Narratologie. SBB 75. Edited by I. Müllner and B. Schmitz. Stuttgart: Katholisches Bibelwerk, 2018.
  Frevel, Christian
  
• The Importance of the Book of Numbers in Pentateuchal Research. Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel, 8(3), 203-212.
  Frevel, Christian
  
• The Various Shapes of Moab in the Book of Numbers: Relating Text and Archaeology. Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel, 8(3), 257-286.
  Frevel, Christian
  
• Warum Numeri ins Zentrum der Pentateuchforschung rückt – Aufbruchssignale. Verkündigung und Forschung, 64(1), 50-60.
  Frevel, Christian
  
• Desert Transformations. Mohr Siebeck.
  Frevel, Christian
  
• “Completion, Finalization, Authorization - Why Do the Editing Processes in the Pentateuch Come to an End? – A Conversation with Jean Louis Ska.” Revista Biblica Argentina 82 (2020): 321–348.
  Frevel, Christian
  
• “Traditionsverdichtung – eine Tora im Werden: Einblicke in die gegenwärtige Numeriforschung.” Theologische Literaturzeitung 145,4 (2020): 267–280.
  Frevel, Christian
  
• The Texture of Rituals in the Book of Numbers:. Text and Ritual in the Pentateuch, 188-214. Penn State University Press.
  Frevel, Christian
  
• Tradition of reform as reform of tradition: Some considerations on the relation of religion and reform. Acta Theologica, 32.
  Frevel, C.
  
• “The End of the Book of Numbers: On Pentateuchal Models and Compositional Issues.” PhD diss., Universität Zürich, 2021.
  Davis, Jordan
  
• “Vom Déjà-vu zum Tête-à-Tête. Anmerkungen zum Verhältnis von Numeri und Chronik”, in: edited by L. Maskow/J. Robker. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz 2022.
  Frevel, Christian
  
• „Lasst uns Mose nicht herabsetzen! Anmerkungen zu den Numerihomilien des Origenes.“ Pages 181-199 in „Dein Wort ist meinem Fuß eine Leuchte.“ Edited by G. Braulik/A. Siquans/J.-H. Tück. Freiburg: Herder 2022.
  Frevel, Christian