Jeremiah 34:8-22 - a call for the enactment of distributive justice?

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Date
2016
Authors
Terblanche, M. D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State
Abstract
This article seeks to determine whether the author of Jeremiah 34:8-22, in his critique of the events relating to the manumission of Hebrew slaves in 589/588 BCE during Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem, called for the enactment of distributive justice. Since the book of Jeremiah has a very strong intertextual character, the intertextual link between Jeremiah 34:8-22 and Deuteronomy 15:1-18 is explored. When Jeremiah 34:8-22 is read through the lens of Deuteronomy 15:1-18, it is clear that brotherliness does not tolerate debt slavery. By using Deuteronomy 15:1-18 as a supplementary text to Jeremiah 34:8-22, the author inspires visions of a counter-community, in which the debt slaves should be set free and be enabled to make a fresh start.
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Keywords
Jeremiah 34:8-22, Deuteronomy 15:1-18, Intertextuality, Distributive justice
Citation
Terblanche, M.D. (2016). Jeremiah 34:8-22 - a call for the enactment of distributive justice? Acta Theologica, 36(2), 148-161.