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5 - The Violence of Arrogant Speech
from Part II - Violence and Moral Speech
Matthew J. Lynch, Regent College, Vancouver
Book:

Portraying Violence in the Hebrew Bible

Published online:

06 May 2020

Print publication:

30 April 2020, pp 120-144
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Summary

Chapter 5 explores the violence of arrogant speech. If scheming was considered a hidden form of verbal violence, gloating and taunting are its public forms. I focus first on ways that enemies join themselves to – and thus become complicit in – acts of violence through gloating. Edom is an example. Edom joined in the Babylonian violence against Judah and was held liable. When describing violent acts, biblical writers also tend to fixate on the taunts that accompany them. They are the verbal dimension of public acts of violence. In taunting, the enemy brings another into a state of reproach and seeks recognition for that act of verbal violence. In turn, that verbal expression of violence plays an important role in characterizing the moral affront of the boastfully violent against the protective prerogatives of Yhwh, and against his rightful claims to power.