Historiese kritiek en die Ou Testament

Abstract

The issue surrounding the value of the various historicocritical methods of exegesis is dealt with in this article. The various methods (Form criticism, Literary criticism, History of transmission, Redaction history and Tradition history) are explicated and discussed Literary criticism deals with the written sources used for the compilation o f a work. Form criticism is coricemed with the form in which statements have been poured. History of transmission (Uberleferungsgeschichte) looks at the transmission o f a certain section, also within the context of the period in which it was written down. Tradition history looks at the development and the run of specific traditions, such as the exodus from Egypt. Redaction history is concerned with the redaction or editing of a work, until it assumes its final shape. In Ezekiel 29:1-16 there is mention o f a source, viz. the recording of the judgments of the prophet. The original judgement was in the well-known Qinaha metre, which was used especially for laments. Redaction history is of special interest here, because various forms of editing may be distinguished, through which the original prophetic judgment may be placed in a framework which changes the original prophetic judgment from judgment of the Jews to a judgment over Egypt. The investigation thus points to the fact that these methods may be fruitfully applied when adapted to a more conservative view of the Scriptures.