Hesed, the Seed of the Biblical Story
New Life for Old Testament Theology
About
The Hebrew word hesed is often translated as love, faithfulness, loyalty, or steadfastness of God, but it means so much more. Could hesed be the seed from which the diverse biblical story grows and expands?
Traditionally, Old Testament theology has focused on key themes or a "center" around which to organize the Old Testament. These approaches may help unify the Old Testament, but they also ignore important material and simplify the Old Testament's complexity and diversity. As an alternative to a gravitational center that reduces, Jennifer Matheny's argument emphasizes possibilities as she posits that hesed is the relational seed from which the complex and diverse biblical story grows.
In her accessibly written analysis, Matheny engages theologically with the Torah, Prophets, and Writings to trace hesed's growth through the Old Testament. Through stories, poems, and songs of broken covenants, war, and exile, Matheny also shows how violence and injustice reign when humanity fails to be keepers and doers of Yhwh's hesed, while justice and hope prevail when humanity succeeds.
This fresh, introductory-level approach emphasizes the importance of story, complexity, and diversity--and how we do hesed to others and back to Yhwh.
1. Why Another Old Testament Biblical Theology?
Past Approaches to Old Testament Theology
A New Approach: Hesed as a Seed of the Old Testament
Outline of the Project
Conclusion
2. Hesed in the Old Testament
Attempts to Translate, Define, and Describe Hesed
The Semantic Range of Hesed
Hesed as Best Understood Through Story
3. Hesed in the Torah
Yhwh Is Hesed: Keeper, Sustainer, and Abounding with Hesed
The Divine Name Is Connected to Yhwh's Identity and Is Best Understood Through Story
Yhwh's Hesed Extends Beyond the Covenant
Hesed and the Imago Dei: Earth Keepers and People Keepers
Case Studies: Keepers of Hesed
Conclusion
4. Hesed in the Prophets
Case Studies in the Former Prophets
Judges and Samuel: Households of Hesed
Case Studies in the Latter Prophets
Concluding Thoughts on Hesed in the Prophets
5. Hesed in the Writings
Genre and Unity of Perspective in Diversity
The Role of Hesed in the Writings
Case Studies in the Writings
Conclusion
6. Hesed in the Psalms
The Shape of the Psalter: Structure, Function, and Genre
Hesed in Books I-III: Psalms to Remember Our Story (Psalms 25; 33; 77; 89)
Hesed in Book IV: Psalms as Formation Liturgy in Exile (Psalms 98; 103; 106)
Hesed in Book V: Psalms as Songs of Becoming (Psalms 119; 143)
Conclusion
Conclusion
A Definition for Hesed
Hesed as a Seed (Kern)
Torah
Prophets
Writings
Psalms
A Call to Image Yhwh Through Hesed
Indexes
The Author
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Jennifer M. Matheny
Jennifer M. Matheny (PhD, University of Kent) is associate professor of Christian Scriptures at George W. Truett Seminary, Baylor University, in Waco, Texas. She serves as cochair of the biblical studies unit for the Wesleyan Theological Society. Matheny...
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