Water and Water-Related Phenomena in the Old Testament Wisdom Literature: An Eco-Theological Exploration

(Paperback)

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Kivatsi Jonathan Kavusa addresses a gap in the field of ecological readings of the Old Testament, exploring the theme of water in the Wisdom books, including the often-ignored deuterocanonical works. Kavusa focuses on both the negative and positive potential of water, drawing in particular on four of the Earth Bible principles: intrinsic worth, interconnectedness, voice, and purpose. Kavusa begins with a summary of the extant studies and literature reviews on water and water-related motifs in the Old Testament. He then analyses the books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Deutero-canonical wisdom, examining the various references to water as life-giving or life-threatening entities, and expanding upon the themes of water management and sustainability, the intrinsic worth of nature and the unpredicatable, chaotic state of water. This volume concludes with several insights for ecological responsibility and valuable wisdom for an eco-theological perspective, both in Kavusas African context and with a more universal application.

Reviews

Kavusa has done an important service by bringing these texts to scholarly attention, and exploring their ecological implications. Such studies are vital in our times, and I am confident that Kavusas book will be a fruitful partner in the conversations going forward. * Vetus Testamentum *

Author Bio

Kivatsi Jonathan Kavusa is Associate Professor of Old Testament at the Universit Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs, Democratic Republic of Congo.