Towards a Theology of Migration: A Survival Perspective from Isaiah 1-12

Esterhuizen, Elizabeth; Groenewald, Alphonso

doi:10.51391/trva.2021.10.06.

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Therefore, making the name-giving, in a sense, the notion that nothingness is everything and in everything, lies nothingness. The name-giving in Isaiah 7 and 8 presents a premigration 19 text full of trauma and collective traumatic experiences which are contained in the symbolic names and embodiment of the children. Using a trauma perspective as well as a pre-migration lens to read the text, an attempt will be made to address the onset and extension of trauma as nothingness and the possibility of hope within the name-giving of the children.…”

Section: B Children's Namesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Tension between Experiences of Nothingness and Hope in the Metaphorical Meaning of the Names of the Children (Isaiah 7-8) from a Perspective of Generational Imprinted Trauma and Resilience

Esterhuizen,

Groenewald

2023

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The texts of Isaiah 7 and 8 are a paragon of metaphorical meanings and signs, especially as they pertain to the name-giving of Isaiah 's sons: Shear-Jashub, Immanuel, and Maher-shalal-hash-baz. This opens a scope of possibilities for Biblical scholars as hardly any research has been done on the implications and corollaries of the three sign names. The significance of children and the function they have within the Hebrew Bible are investigated to give a better understanding of the prophetic utterance of Isaiah. Furthermore, when a perspective of generational imprinted trauma2 is applied to explore and understand the text, an opportunity arises to assess the text within the parameters of pre-migration and the ensuing traumatic experiences. The metaphorical names give us as biblical scholars a glimpse into the possible outcome of fear and threat that is posed by the Syro-Epohraimite coalition and the Assyrian campaign. Within the three sign-names, the pragmatics of individual and collective trauma, healing, and resilience are also underpinned. As the axes sway between hopelessness (nothingness) and hopefulness, the sign-names of the children provide dualistic solutions of either divine punishment or the restitution of a remaining remnant through complete faith and the knowledge that 'God is with us

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Section: B Children's Namesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Tension between Experiences of Nothingness and Hope in the Metaphorical Meaning of the Names of the Children (Isaiah 7-8) from a Perspective of Generational Imprinted Trauma and Resilience

Esterhuizen,

Groenewald

2023

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“…The text of Isaiah 1-12 thus reflects the constant threat of war and chaos which was characteristic of the lives of the Judeans (Esterhuizen and Groenewald 2021a). On the one hand these twelve chapters contain harsh words of judgment for the city and its leaders because of their role in creating an unjust and corrupt society and on the other hand they contain inspiring texts in which a future for the city and its people is imagined beyond the judgment they will experience.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…fact (Smith 2007). The anxiety and tension which the imminent Assyrian invasion will bring to the land and the people indeed would have caused intense pre-migration trauma, as indicated by Esterhuizen and Groenewald (2021a). This becomes evident in 5:30 where images of despair are envisioned as the text describes to the reader the darkness and distress which would have befallen the land and the people when the disaster strikes.…”

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confidence: 99%

A Trauma Reading of Isaiah 1–12 from the “Unity Movement” Perspective

Groenewald

Esterhuizen²

2023

JSEM

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In this contribution we focus firstly on the “unity movement” which has changed the face of Isaianic studies over the last 30 or more years, having been characterised by the Duhmian interpretation of three separate books for nearly 100 years. The unity movement focusses on the book of Isaiah as a literary unity, but it does not deny the historical growth of this literary masterpiece which took place over centuries. Secondly, we give a brief overview of the use of trauma theory as a reading lens in biblical studies and its implication for reading the book of Isaiah in this manner. In the third part we focus on three themes which are important from the perspective of the unity of the book of Isaiah (specifically in Isaiah 1–12 which is the first major subsection within the larger composition of the book of Isaiah). These three themes are important for a trauma reading of the book of Isaiah, as will be indicated in this contribution: the concept of the we-group (remnant), the woe oracles, and the theme of the “day of YHWH // this day.” These themes are briefly dealt with within Isaiah 1–12, although they have major implications for a more detailed study of the book of Isaiah (read as a literary unity) from a trauma theoretical perspective.

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“…This perspective links to Mucci,110 who explains that generational trauma creates a dissociation between history and memory that leads to a painful narrative. 111 In our understanding, generational imprinted trauma holds the emotional memories of suffering without the actual experiences that are part and parcel of the past traumatic event. However, the retelling of the trauma conjures a space of re-experience and re-living for present and future generations.…”

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confidence: 99%

Rereading Isaiah's Vision (Isa 6) through the Lens of Generational Imprinted Trauma and Resilience

Esterhuizen

Groenewald

2023

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In this contribution, the focus will be on the text of Isa 6:1-13 from the perspective of a generational imprinted trauma1 and resilience. This interdisciplinary approach renders a new conversation on Isaiah's vision, not only giving scope to the ensuing traumatic events but also ascertaining hope and resilience that are embedded within the corpus of the chapter. These traumatic events and the possibility of hope expose the vulnerability2 of the prophet and the people of Judah within the complexity of the text. The aim of the contribution is to give an understanding of trauma, collective trauma and the possibility of hope as experienced within the prophet's commission and vision as well as to investigate the impact that collective trauma has on the people. Thus, this article belongs in the domain of the literary and theological interpretation of the book of Isaiah and contributes towards the history of development of the book. The contribution will further aim to give an exegetical explanation of the structure of Isa 6 thereby giving a greater theological understanding of the text when using a lens of trauma and resilience.

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Towards a Theology of Migration: A Survival Perspective from Isaiah 1-12

Cited by 3 publications

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The Tension between Experiences of Nothingness and Hope in the Metaphorical Meaning of the Names of the Children (Isaiah 7-8) from a Perspective of Generational Imprinted Trauma and Resilience

The Tension between Experiences of Nothingness and Hope in the Metaphorical Meaning of the Names of the Children (Isaiah 7-8) from a Perspective of Generational Imprinted Trauma and Resilience

A Trauma Reading of Isaiah 1–12 from the “Unity Movement” Perspective

Rereading Isaiah's Vision (Isa 6) through the Lens of Generational Imprinted Trauma and Resilience

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