Narrative as Ideology: Synchronic (Narrative Critical) and Diachronic Readings of Jeremiah 37-38
pp.293-312
Brian Boyle
While synchronic and diachronic readings of Old Testament texts are generally taken as methodologically diverse, there have been recent attempts to explore how the two readings may in fact be complementary. Taking the narrative of Jeremiah’s final audience with Zedekiah in Jeremiah 37-38, this article offers just such a reading of the text. One episode from this narrative, Jer 37:11-16, is taken as an example of a synchronic (narrative critical) reading of the text. An example is then offered of a diachronic reading, drawing on the work of Seitz and Stripp. The article argues that a diachronic reading of this narrative is necessary and complementary to a synchronic reading. The ideological nature of this story of Jeremiah’s imprisonment becomes clearer.
vol12no3article4narrative.pdf
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