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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| Language: | Afrikaans |
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Old Testament Society of South Africa
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Old Testament Essays |
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| 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 |
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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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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd15b22d8dcb4b6181921e3a7de25a7e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1010-9919 2312-3621 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Old Testament Society of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Old Testament Essays |
| 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 |