Missions Methods and Principles
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 57, No. 1 – Fall 2014
Managing Editor: Terry L. Wilder
By Aaron J. Koller. Washington, D.C.: The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2012. xxii + 356 pages. Paperback, $32.00.
This is a monograph of the author’s dissertation at Yeshiva University where he is now a faculty member. The core of the book is a semantic discussion of several terms found for cutting in the Hebrew Bible (e.g. blade, axe, saw, sword, etc.). The author concludes with his model of the lexicalized words into a linguistic system. The book consists of an introductory and concluding chapter with six chapters discussing various groupings of working tools.
Chapter 1 introduces the author’s methodology. He is studying the conceptual world of cutting tools by using the semantic field approach. He defines a semantic field as a group of words that are “supposed to map a section of the lexicon corresponding to some part of the real world” (15). He notes the paradigm shift in lexical study of Biblical Hebrew that is now incorporating “more methodologically- oriented” approaches.
Chapters 2 to 6 contain the core research of the project. Each chapter focuses on a specific domain of cutting tools in ancient Israel. The topics are: “Vocabulary of Woodworking” (Chapter 2), “Agricultural Tools” (Chapter 3), “Masonry” (Chapter 4), “The Semantic Field of Herev1” (Chapter 5), and “Razors and Scribes Knives” (Chapter 6). Each chapter provides a lexicon of the various words and a discussion of these terms. Koller uses the biblical text as his basis, but also notes lacuna. For example, in the discussion of woodworking, he notes that there are not specific texts that deal with the process of woodworking, but that these terms come up in various texts as secondary discussions. While the biblical text mentions woodworking tools, not all are mentioned, such as the chisel. In addition, he discusses the etymology of the word, a history of its usage, and comparative analysis with other Semitic and ancient languages. Evidence from the ancient Near East and archaeological data is also presented.
Chapter 7 addresses a unique word used once in the Bible (Gen 49:5) that is usually translated as “sword.” Koller provides a table of various translations and their merits. He concludes that, of the various theories, two of the etymologies are correct representing two histories of the use of the term. He proposes that the original term referred to a scalpel or blade used for circumcision and later became the generic term blade or its common translation of sword.
The conclusion provides the semantic field of “blades” in Biblical Hebrew. He concludes that there are two types of tools (single-axis and double axis). Within these two main types you have blades, as well as specific blades for various types of cutting (e.g. animate and inanimate objects, etc.).
Koller provides an excellent study on the definitions and use of cutting tools in ancient Israel. While most biblical scholars and historians (archaeologists) tend to focus on the function of the artifact as it is described in the text, Koller shows that there are more complex meanings based on other variables. Archaeologists tend to develop typologies based on functional analysis such as knife, ax, sword, etc. Koller points out that Biblical Hebrew also defines artifacts based on other variables such as the context of their use. In this particular study, variables include circumcision, ritual, and whether one is using the blade to cut crops or wood.
One of the problems with the work is the lack of a theoretical base or discussion introducing the reader to the study of semantic fields. The value is that this work is a great help for linguistic analysis and Bible translation of the Old Testament. Koller introduces the reader to the contextual world of language noting that words do not have a solely functional meaning.
The monograph freely uses original language (e.g. Hebrew, Greek, Arabic) limiting its audience to the scholar and student who can use the original biblical texts. Nevertheless, the author does use transliterations and translations that the reader can easily follow the argumentation. He provides a bibliography (that includes articles in modern Hebrew) as well as indices for texts (biblical, Mishnah, DSS), words discussed, modern authors, as well as subjects.
- Original is in Hebrew, transliteration by reviewer. ↩︎
