Publications

Publication details [#2378]

Baumann, Gerlinde. 2005. “Er hat mir den Weg mit Quadersteinen vermauert” (Thr 3,9): Ein Vorschlag zur Auslegung einer ungewöhnlichen Metapher In Van Hecke, Pierre. Metaphor in the Hebrew Bible (Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium 187). Leuven, Belgium: Peeters. pp. 139–146. 8 pp.
Publication type
Article in book  
Publication language
German
Place, Publisher
Leuven, Belgium: Peeters

Abstract

Baumann concentrates on the metaphor of the blocked road, and more in particular on the unusual assertion that God blocks the road with hewn stones. She points to the fact that, in real life, hewn stones were too precious to be used in building roadblocks and asks what could be the reason for this metaphor in the present context, the unusual character of which has escaped the attention of most commentators. First of all, Baumann remarks that the beginning of Lam 3 shows a (metaphorical) development from movement to a standstill, of which the wall metaphor in the third strophe of Lam 3 (vv. 7-9) marks the final stage. Secondly, the author points to the ambiguity of the term ~ni 'wall' in the Old Testament, which can point both to protection and to imprisonment. Finally, she explains that the term rrn 'hewn stone' often carries connotations of preciousness. That the aspect of preciousness is also at stake here, is supported by the reference to cupper/bronze in v. 7, another precious material, which, moreover, is also often connected with the temple. Based on these observations, Baumann suggests that the mentioning of rto should be understood as a reference to the destroyed Jerusalem temple and city walls: the stones that once were used to form those protective edifices, are now used as roadblocks. A second connotation could be that the beautiful buildings and walls in Jerusalem have traded their protective purpose for a new function as prison for its inhabitants. Baumann ends with the methodological remark that metaphorical texts often possess several meaning layers - literal, metaphorical, allusion - that deserve due attention if the meaning of the text is to be correctly interpreted. (Pierre Van Hecke)