Water and Water-Related Phenomena in the Old Testament Wisdom Literature - (Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies) (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Kivatsi Jonathan Kavusa addresses a gap in the field of ecological readings of the Old Testament, exploring the theme of water in the Wisdom books, including the often-ignored deuterocanonical works. Kavusa focuses on both the negative and positive potential of water, drawing in particular on four of the Earth Bible principles: intrinsic worth, interconnectedness, voice, and purpose.

Kavusa begins with a summary of the extant studies and literature reviews on water and water-related motifs in the Old Testament. He then analyses the books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Deutero-canonical wisdom, examining the various references to water as life-giving or life-threatening entities, and expanding upon the themes of water management and sustainability, the intrinsic worth of nature and the unpredicatable, chaotic state of water. This volume concludes with several insights for ecological responsibility and valuable wisdom for an eco-theological perspective, both in Kavusa's African context and with a more universal application.

Review Quotes

"Kavusa has done an important service by bringing these texts to scholarly attention, and exploring their ecological implications. Such studies are vital in our times, and I am confident that Kavusa's book will be a fruitful partner in the conversations going forward." --Vetus Testamentum

"Kavusa's work is to be commended as a valuable starting point to the study of water in the biblical text, as well as a necessary supplement to eco-theological analyses that have often overlooked water and related phenomenon in their studies." --Alexander W. Breitkopf, Biblische Notizen

"A valuable contribution to the field of textual studies on wisdom literature ... A meticulous exploration ... [providing] a commendable foundation for future scholarship in this field. The book is a welcome addition to the ongoing dialogue about the interplay between the Bible, ecology, and the modern world." --Review of Biblical Literature

About the Author