Thursday, July 30, 2020

Donald W. Parry on Biblical Instances symbolic actions as prophetic curses and their interpretation

The following useful table is taken from Donald W. Parry, Preserved in Translation: Hebrew and Other Ancient Literary Forms in the Book of Mormon (Provo/Salt Lake City: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University/Deseret Book, 2020), 76-78:

 

Biblical instances of symbolic actions as prophetic curses

OBJECT OF ACTION

SYMBOLIC ACTION AS CURSE

INTERPRETATION OF THE ACTION

Garment (1 Kgs. 11:29-31)

Ahijah rips a garment into twelve pieces and gives ten pieces to Jeroboam

The united kingdom of Israel will be divided, and Jeroboam will rule over ten of the tribes

Linen girdle (Jer. 13:1-10)

Jeremiah wears a linen girdle and then hides it in the hole of a rock

Judah, which was once whole like the linen girdle, will become rotten like the girdle that was placed in the earth

No marriage or children (Jer. 16:1-12)

Jeremiah is commanded to refrain from marrying, having children, and feasting in a joyous manner

Israel will be destroyed, not enjoy familiar relations, and be unable to mourn for the loss of family life.

Potter’s vessel (Jer. 19)

Jeremiah breaks a vessel in the presence of men near Jerusalem’s east gate

The people will be broken and destroyed

Yoke (Jer. 27-28)

Jeremiah makes yokes, places one around his neck, and sends the remaining yokes to neighboring kings

The kings and kingdoms who do not submit to the governance of Nebuchadnezzar will be destroyed

Book (Jer. 51:58-64)

Jeremiah writes in a book about evil that will come upon Babylon, ties the book to a stone, and throws it into the Euphrates

Evil and destruction will come upon Babylon, which will sink and not rise again

Scroll (Ezek. 2:8-3:6)

Ezekiel eats a scroll

Just as the eaten scroll contains lamentations, mourning, and a woe, so Ezekiel’s prophecies will consist of lamentations, mourning, and woe

Clay tile (Ezek. 4:1-3)

Ezekiel draws a picture of Jerusalem and a siege with mounds and battering rams

Jerusalem will be besieged by an army that will build mounds and use battering rams to break through the wall and take the city captive

Bread, water, and dung (Ezek. 4:-17)

Ezekiel bakes bread with dung in it, eats measured portions of it, and drinks measured portions of water

As a curse because of their sinfulness, Israel will eat defiled bread among the Gentiles, and bread and water will become scarce to Israel

Ezekiel’s belongings (Ezek. 12;1-16)

Ezekiel packs his bags and goes forth from his home

The children of Israel will pack their personal effects and be led away captive to Babylonia

Food and drink (Ezek. 12:17-20)

Ezekiel trembles as he eats and drinks

Israel’s land will be stripped of its produce, and Israel will eat and drink with great trembling because of fear

Ezekiel (Ezek. 21:6-7)

Ezekiel sighs, groans, and beats his breast

Bad news is coming that will cause Israel to fear and to become weak-hearted

Sword (Ezek. 21:8-17)

Ezekiel makes slashing movements with a sword

In every direction that Ezekiel slashes with the sword, the Lord will cause slaughter upon Israel

Wife of Ezekiel (Ezek. 24:15-24)

Ezekiel’s wife dies, and he does not mourn for her

Just as Ezekiel does not mourn the loss of his wife, so the children of Israel will not be permitted to mourn the loss of their loved ones, whom they will lose during wars and tribulations