Prophetic critique and land dispossession : the significance of spatial awareness for the interpretation of I Kings 21

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The dissertation is an answer to the question: How should the story of Naboth's land (IKings 21) be theologically understood by a Khoi who is dispossessed of his/her land andkept on the periphery?The ftrst chapter consists of the hypothesis, the theological assumption of the research, asummary of existing research on the story of Naboth's land and the point of view fromwhich a Khoi looks and listens to the story. The place, from which the story would belooked and listened to, the methodology, is followed by a list of concepts used in theresearch.The second chapter is an exposition of the hermeneutical position of the Khoi in thetheological debate regarding land as a living space for humankind. Opinions from outside(European) and opinions from inside (Khoi) the living space of the Khoi are placed incontrast with one another to illustrate the divide between landed and landless people onthe land.Against the European negation of their knowledge of God, the Khoi put their knowledgeof God as their Supreme Being, Father and Ruler who has his abode in the clouds butwho is always and everywhere powerfully present for the sake of humankind. Against thenegation of their human dignity, the Khoi put the dignity of human beings as thecreations of God. Against the violent invasion of their land, the Khoi put their viewpointthat human beings should live in peaceful coexistence with neighbours in their physicalliving space. Against those who violate their spatial identity, the Khoi affirms theiridentity as Khoi on the periphery of their land under foreign occupation. Against thosewho deny them a cultural living space, the Khoi establish their right on a cultural livingspace and their right to think and be heard in their mother tongue.The third chapter is a contribution to the theological debate regarding the story of theland of Naboth from the perspective of a dispossessed Khoi. The personal identities ofindividuals and of groups are discussed according to their relationships with fellowhuman beings with whom they had to share their living space. The identity of the city of lezreel as a physical and cultural living space is discussed in accordance with theattachments of Naboth and Ahab to it. Upon this discussion follows an exposition of landas communal possession (Naboth's living space) and land as private property (Ahab'sliving space). The purchase and the dispossession of ancestral land by Ahab to demoteNaboth's family to the status of dependent subjects are identified as acts of violence. Thedispossession of ancestral land caused Naboth and Elijah to protest against the violationof the spatial order because of God.The fourth chapter contains an exegesis of the story of the dispossession of the land ofNaboth from the perspective of a dispossessed Khoi. The moral of the Khoi stories of theancestral figure Heitsi Eibib determines the understanding of the story of thedispossession ofNaboth's land by Ahab.Chapter five is an exposition of the significance of the Khoi perspective for thetheological understanding of the story of Naboth's land.Chapter six is a summary of the dissertation and shows other possibilities to furtherdevelop the theological debate regarding the dispossession ofNaboth's land.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University