Daniel 12:2 and the Threat of Shame

Since at least the post-Nicene period, Dan 12:2 has been cited often as a foundational text for the eschatological conception of hell within the Christian Bible. However, when examined within its original sociological context, this passage can be more accurately understood as reflecting a specific...

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Main Author: Kevin Swartz
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: Old Testament Society of South Africa 2025-01-01
Series:Old Testament Essays
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/670
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author Kevin Swartz
author_facet Kevin Swartz
author_sort Kevin Swartz
collection DOAJ
description Since at least the post-Nicene period, Dan 12:2 has been cited often as a foundational text for the eschatological conception of hell within the Christian Bible. However, when examined within its original sociological context, this passage can be more accurately understood as reflecting a specific threat of shame deeply embedded in the honour-based society of the ancient Mediterranean during the Second Temple Period. The linguistic connection of דראון (“contempt, abhorrence”) to Isaiah, particularly concerning the fear of non-burial and corpse exposure, reinforces this interpretation by emphasising the concept of shame tied to one’s manner of death (Isa 66:24). This study employs a sociological approach to explore the language of “shame and contempt” in Dan 12:2 within its Judaic cultural framework, focusing on burial practices and the associated threat of non-burial. It argues that the author intended to depict an extremely specific and detailed punishment of shame by corpse exposure as a punitive consequence rather than implying a prototype of eternal torment in a place called “hell.”
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language Afrikaans
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Old Testament Society of South Africa
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spelling doaj-art-cd15b22d8dcb4b6181921e3a7de25a7e2025-01-31T07:07:35ZafrOld Testament Society of South AfricaOld Testament Essays1010-99192312-36212025-01-0137310.17159/2312-3621/2024/v37n3a6Daniel 12:2 and the Threat of ShameKevin Swartz0Grand Canyon University Since at least the post-Nicene period, Dan 12:2 has been cited often as a foundational text for the eschatological conception of hell within the Christian Bible. However, when examined within its original sociological context, this passage can be more accurately understood as reflecting a specific threat of shame deeply embedded in the honour-based society of the ancient Mediterranean during the Second Temple Period. The linguistic connection of דראון (“contempt, abhorrence”) to Isaiah, particularly concerning the fear of non-burial and corpse exposure, reinforces this interpretation by emphasising the concept of shame tied to one’s manner of death (Isa 66:24). This study employs a sociological approach to explore the language of “shame and contempt” in Dan 12:2 within its Judaic cultural framework, focusing on burial practices and the associated threat of non-burial. It argues that the author intended to depict an extremely specific and detailed punishment of shame by corpse exposure as a punitive consequence rather than implying a prototype of eternal torment in a place called “hell.” https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/670HellBook of DanielHonor and ShameNon-BurialCorpse ExposureAfterlife
spellingShingle Kevin Swartz
Daniel 12:2 and the Threat of Shame
Old Testament Essays
Hell
Book of Daniel
Honor and Shame
Non-Burial
Corpse Exposure
Afterlife
title Daniel 12:2 and the Threat of Shame
title_full Daniel 12:2 and the Threat of Shame
title_fullStr Daniel 12:2 and the Threat of Shame
title_full_unstemmed Daniel 12:2 and the Threat of Shame
title_short Daniel 12:2 and the Threat of Shame
title_sort daniel 12 2 and the threat of shame
topic Hell
Book of Daniel
Honor and Shame
Non-Burial
Corpse Exposure
Afterlife
url https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/670
work_keys_str_mv AT kevinswartz daniel122andthethreatofshame