Divine Election in the Hebrew Bible
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A new full-length study of the important concept of divine election in the Hebrew Bible is long overdue, and Hagelia’s readable and balanced monograph can be expected to bring the topic back into contemporary conversation.
To citizens of the modern world the idea that someone or something might be especially elected by God seems problematic. If someone is elected, someone else is not elected. Does the God of all people have preferences? The idea that one particular nation should be elected by God is particularly difficult to accept.
Nevertheless, as this study intends to show, divine election is a central theme in the Hebrew Bible, and present in all its main parts. There are central acts of elections and less central acts of election. Abraham is elected as the founder of the people of Israel. Moses is elected as the ancestor of the religious and political people of Israel. David is elected as first of the Davidic kings. The election of these persons represents something more important than the persons themselves.
There are also other significant acts of election in the Hebrew Bible, especially the election of the land of Israel and of the city of Jerusalem. As well, there is the election of individuals such as the prophets. And even the Assyrians, the Babylonians and King Cyrus of Persia are presented as elected by God for special tasks.
A new full-length study of the important concept of divine election in the Hebrew Bible is long overdue, and Hagelia’s readable and balanced monograph can be expected to bring the topic back into contemporary conversation.
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Pieter Dirk Dekker, Journal of Reformed Theology. –
Hagelia’s study is impressive in the scope of the material discussed, and his systematic organization of the material has much to recommend it. The book forms a helpful catalogue of instances of divine election in the Hebrew Bible and successfully highlights the immense diversity of the relevant material. The overview poses serious questions that would benefit from more systematic discussion within the field of biblical theology and beyond. Hopefully, Hagelia’s study will prove able to inform such discussion fruitfully.
David J. Cohen, Australian Biblical Review. –
Hagelia has attempted to cover the breadth of election as a theme in the whole Hebrew Bible while also exploring the concept in some depth. In doing this he has found a balance between tracing the broad narrative of election while frequently pausing to concentrate on the more formative sections in the text. Although more could have been said at times about less obvious characters in the major election narratives, he does do well to trace the development of the election theme, offer some in-depth analysis of relevant key texts, and prompt pause for consideration of this central biblical theme.
David B. Schreiner, Catholic Biblical Quarterly –
Overall, this work will prove useful. As a survey, it properly introduces and frames the discussion in ways that will encourage further study. It also introduces the reader to just how complex and dominant the theme is. All of this will prepare the reader for understanding how this theme is continued in the NT.