THE PROHIBITION OF MAKING ANY IMAGE OF GOD IN THE SECOND COMMANDMENT OF THE DECALOGUE IN EXODUS

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Statement of the problem and hypothesis

The concept of ‘aniconism’ holds an important position not only in the legal codes of the Pentateuch (Cf. Ex 20:4; 20:23; 34:17; Lv 19:4; 26:1; Dt 5:8; 27:15), but also in the rest of Old Testament (Cf. Schmidt 1983:78).1 According to the biblical evidence, the aniconic tradition can be considered as one of many distinctive features of Israel’s religion. This feature distinguishes Israelite religion from the religions of her neighbours (Cf. Oswalt 1998:63). The legal, historical and prophetic writings of Israel in the present text, all display a markedly negative attitude towards making any image of God and worshipping God through these images.

Research Methodology

This section presents an outline of the methodology used in this study to analyze the
texts in Exodus 20:2-6, Exodus 32:1-6 and Isaiah 40:18-20. All of them deal with the prohibition of making any image of God in his worship in related with God’s incomparability and the exclusive loyalty of God.

Exodus 20:3 (The first commandment of the Decalogue)

The same is to be applied to the connection between the introduction to the Decalogue in Exodus 20:2 and the first commandment in Exodus 20:3. The first commandment is to be considered in this specific context. The first commandment immediately follows on the statement in the introduction to the Decalogue, requesting undivided loyalty of those who will respond to Yahweh’s gift (Durham 1991:300). As Enns (2000:413) says, this loyalty is not primarily “payback for God’s deliverance; rather, God is worthy of it.” The primary meaning of the first commandment of the Decalogue has to be sought in this context and then the question that “the other gods” includes their images or not has to be considered.

The exegetical consideration of the golden calf episode in Exodus 32:1-6

This study demarcates Exodus 32:1-6, so-called the golden calf episode as a unit of analysis, not all of the chapter (vv. 1-35) because it is enough in showing what is the characteristic of the rebellion as part of covenant breaking in Exodus 32-34 dealing the theme of covenant breaking and covenant renewal.

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Exegetical consideration of Isaiah 40:18-20

Isaiah 40:18-20 is to be read within the context of its macro unit Isaiah 40:12-31. Isaiah 40:18-20 will be analyzed from this perspective against this macro units. It will also analyze other passages in Isaiah 40-55 dealing with God’s incomparability and the prohibition of making any image of God: Isaiah 41:1-7, 44:6-20 and 46:5-7, and the book of Isaiah as a whole.

Isaiah 40:18-20 in the context of its macro unit.

The meaning of Isaiah 40:18-20 is to be found next in the context of Isaiah 40:12-31, then in passages dealing with the proclamation of God’s incomparability and the prohibition of making any image of God passages within Isaiah 40-55: Isaiah 41:1-7, 44:6-20; 46:5-7, and lastly in context of the book of Isaiah as a whole (Cf. Holter 1995:59-60). Thefollowing section will study the three macro units, in which Isaiah 40:18-20 stands from the point of view that it forms a unity, probably written by a single author.138.

CHAPTER 1
1.1 Statement of the problem and hypothesis
1.2 Research Methodology
1.2.1 Exegesis of each passage
1.2.1.1 Exegesis of Exodus 20:2-6
1.2.1.2 Exegesis of Exodus 32:1-6
1.2.1.3 Exegesis of Isaiah 40:18-20
CHAPTER 2. THE PROHIBITION OF MAKING ANY IMAGE OF GOD IN THE SECOND COMMANDMENT OF THE DECALOGUE IN EXODUS 20:4-6
2.1 Exegetical consideration of Exodus 20:2-6 68
2.1.1 The unity of the Sinai Pericope in the present text as the final form
2.1.2 Exodus 20:2 (The introduction to the Decalogue)
2.1.2.1 Exegetical meaning of Exodus 20:2
2.1.2.2 The connection between the introduction to the Decalogue
CHAPTER 3. THE PROHIBITION OF MAKING ANY IMAGE OF GOD IN
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT OF THE DECALOGUE IN EXODUS 32:1-6
3.1 The exegetical consideration of golden calf episode in Exodus 32:1-6 124
3.1.1 Exodus 32:1
3.1.2 Exodus 32:2-4
3.1.3 Exodus 32:5
3.1.4 Exodus 32:6
CHAPTER 4. THE PROHIBITION OF MAKING ANY IMAGE OF GOD IN
THE SECOND COMMADNMENT OF THE DECALOGUE IN ISAIAH 40:18-20
4.1 The exegetical consideration of Isaiah 40:18-20
4.1.1 Exegesis of Isaiah 40:18-20
4.1.1.1 Isaiah 40:18
4.1.1.2 Isaiah 40:19
4.1.1.3 Isaiah 40:20
4.1.1.4 The relationship between Isaiah 40:18 and Isaiah 40:19-20
CHAPTER 5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION