RT Book T1 How prophecy works: a study of the semantic field of nvyʾ and a close reading of Jeremiah 1:4–19, 23:9–40 and 27:1–28:17 T2 Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments JF Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments A1 Kelly, William L. LA English PP Göttingen PB Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht YR 2020 UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1685368328 AB There is a longstanding scholarly debate on the nature of prophecy in ancient Israel. Until now, no study has based itself on the semantics of the Hebrew lexeme nābîʾ (“prophet”). This investigation by William L. Kelly discusses the nature and function of prophecy in the corpus of the Hebrew book of Jeremiah. It analyses all occurrences of nābîʾ in Jeremiah and performs a close reading of three primary texts, Jeremiah 1.4–19, 23.9–40 and 27.1–28.17. The result is a detailed explanation of how prophecy works, and what it meant to call someone a nābîʾ in ancient Israel. Combining the results of the semantic analysis and close readings, the study reaches conclusions for six main areas of study: (1) the function and nature of prophecy; (2) dreams and visions; (3) being sent; (4) prophets, priests and cult; (5) salvation and doom; and (6) legitimacy and authority. These conclusions explain the conceptual categories related to nābîʾ in the corpus. I then situate these findings in two current debates, one on the definition of nābîʾ and one on cultic prophecy. This study contributes to critical scholarship on prophecy in the ancient world, on the book of Jeremiah, and on prophets in ancient Israel. It is the first major study to analyse nābîʾ based on its semantic associations. It adds to a growing consensus which understands prophecy as a form of divination. Contrary to some trends in Jeremiah scholarship, this work demonstrates the importance of a close reading of the Masoretic (Hebrew) text. This study uses a method of a general nature which can be applied to other texts. Thus there are significant implications for further research on prophecy and prophetic literature. AB Angaben zur beteiligten Person Kelly: William L. Kelly, PhD, Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Richmond. SN 9783666540738 K1 Exegese K1 Biblische Theologie K1 Jeremia (Buch) K1 Semantik K1 Hochschulschrift DO 10.13109/9783666540738