| Abstrakt: |
As has long been recognized, Hosea uses the verb רפא to describe YHWHpardoning Israel. This article argues that Hosea expands the meaning of Hebrew רפא from "to heal" to "remitting a punishment. " The Akkadian verb bullutu, like Hebrew רפא, means "heal. " The words were therefore perceived as being equivalent, and part of the wider semantic range of Akkadian bullutu, namely, remitting the punishment of a disloyal subject, was applied to Hebrew רפא. In Hos 5:13; 6:1; 7:1; 11:3 and 14:5, this expansion of the meaning of Hebrew רפא aims to contrast submission to YHWH with subservience to Assyria. The article suggests that in these and other passages, Hosea deliberately subverts Assyrian imperial rhetoric. It also explores similar usages in Isa 6:10 and in Jer 3:22. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
