Bible Review

Baruch Halpern, “The Canine Conundrum of Ashkelon: A Classical Connection?” The Archaeology of Jordan and Beyond: Essays in Honor of James A. Sauer, ed. by Lawrence E. Stager, Joseph A. Greene and Michael D. Coogan (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2000), pp. 133–144.

Billie Jean Collins, “The Puppy in Hittite Ritual,” Journal of Cuneiform Studies 42 (Autumn 1990), pp. 211–226.

Patrick F. Houlihan, “Canines,” in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, vol. 1, ed. Donald B. Redford (Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2001), p. 230. See also Henry G. Fischer, “Hunde,” Lexikon der Ägyptologie, Band III, ed. by Wolfgang Helck and Wolfhart Westendorf (Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1980), pp. 77–81.

See EA 60 and EA 61 in William Moran, The Amarna Letters (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 1992), pp. 133–134.

See the letters numbered 2, 5 and 6 in Dennis Pardee et al., Handbook of Ancient Hebrew Letters, SBL Sources for Biblical Study 15 (Chico, CA: Scholars Press, 1982), pp. 67–114. Letters 12 and 17 may also contain this or similar formulae.

Interestingly enough, David refers to himself with this very title during one of his confrontations with the vindictive King Saul. See 1 Samuel 24:15 (English 24:14).

Ish-bosheth was originally called Ish-baal, a name that later scribes changed to Ish-bosheth, perhaps out of fear that the name Ish-baal would encourage the worship of the Canaanite and Phoenician deity Baal.

The initial “Again” is a clear indication that these verses did not originally belong in their present context, which has nothing to do with prayer. Thus in themselves they have nothing to do with the disciplinary function of the community, which is the theme of the previous verses (Matthew 18:15–18). The saying in Matthew 18:19–20 concerns community prayer in general without any connection to the disciplinary function of the community.

What gave James the authority to act in this way? How could he in effect contradict Jesus? It seems probable that James found a reason in another passage of Q, which dealt with the theme of avoiding anxiety and trusting in Providence (Matthew 6:25–34 = Luke 12:22–31). It advocates having no concern about sustenance or clothing, and concludes with the words, “Seek the kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”