Phinehan Zeal: A Consideration of James Dunn’s Proposal

Full title
Phinehan Zeal: A Consideration of James Dunn’s Proposal
Research notes

Reader Checked|19/06/2013 SE

Reference type
Author(s)
Ortlund, Dane
Year
2011
Journal / Book Title || Series Title
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha
Volume
20
Number of volumes
0
Issue / Series Volume
4
Pages
299-315
Label
21/11/2011
Abstract

This article considers James Dunn’s understanding of Phinehas’s zeal. Dunn has given special attention to Jewish zeal in his writings, and this study considers specifically his view of Phinehan zeal in Numbers 25, Sirach 45, and 1 Maccabees 2. Dunn argues that the focus of this zeal is its ethnic or nationalistic dimension; it is a zeal for Israel’s set-apartness from the nations (horizontal). Upon a close reading of these three texts, it is concluded that Dunn makes primary what is in fact secondary. The focus of these texts is instead obedience to God through Torah-loyalty (vertical).

Primary Texts: Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha
Composition / Author
Passage
2
Composition / Author
Passage
45