Resistance to Empire and Militarization - Reclaiming the Sacred - Jude Lal Fernando
13. Counter-imperialistic Features in Biblical Israel
Resistance to Empire and Militarization - Reclaiming the Sacred - Jude Lal Fernando
Youngseop Lim [+]
Trinity College Dublin (PhD candidate)
Description
Considering the characteristics of biblical Israel, Palestine may currently be closer to biblical Israel than to present-day Israel. Christians have believed that present-day Israel’s use of armed force against the Palestinians and in occupying the land can be justified on biblical grounds. However, since the twentieth century, biblical criticism has begun to set forth a counterargument to the above biblical basis. The early Israel community consisted of the vulnerable so-called “Hebrew”, who had diverse racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, theories of military conquest during the settlement in Canaan were found to be uncertain through subsequent excavations and studies. Rather, archaeological research shows that Israel settled in the land of Canaan peacefully. Above all, we should note that biblical Israel, from its formation, had features distinct from the empires surrounding them. As in 1 Sam. 8 and 12, the biblical writer criticized the strong military-based monarchy, and the hierarchical society, as being contradictory to the ideal of the Exodus. This chapter pushes the reader to assess the features of biblical Israel and the features of empire in relation to the modern state of Israel. Who represents the biblical Israel? Is it the modern state of Israel or is it the Palestinians who are engaged in a struggle for liberation? Who embodies the empire today?