The relationship between ideology, food (In) security and socio-religious cohesion in the Old Testament with specific reference to Deuteronomy and eighth century prophets

Abstract

In this thesis I show the relationship and interplay between Deuteronomistic ideology, land (which sometimes leads to food security) and cohesion with God and with ‘brothers’ socioreligious cohesion) in Deuteronomy and the eighth century prophets (especially Micah, Amos, Isaiah and Hosea). This research argues that loyalty to the covenant with Yahweh guarantees cohesion/solidarity with Yahweh and with ‘brothers’, as well as “God’s gift of Land” (which sometimes amounts to food security). However, the broken covenant with Yahweh leads to “loss of land” which presents food insecurity, and as a consequence people turn against one another. These three interplaying-themes of ideology, land and cohesion does not follow a set path but rather but they appear in different ways hence in Deuteronomy 8 food security (abundance) leads to “loss of memory about Yahweh”. Yahweh is forgotten! But also food security fosters a relationship with Yahweh (idea of eating to remember Yahweh’s goodness). Deuteronomic texts of feasts, festivals and sharing will be utilized to prove how food (in)security guarantees and/or compromises cohesion with Yahweh and especially ‘brothers’ (Deuteronomy 6,14 and 15). The fertility curses of Deuteronomy 28 will be brought up as proof that the scarcity of food breaks down ideas of sharing and cohesion, hence, parents ate their children in secret without sharing with anyone (Deuteronomy 28:53- 5). Cohesion is compromised due to famine. The relationship between disobedience, food and fertility curses in the eighth century prophets will be explored.