THE PARADOXICAL PRESENCE OF EXODUS 34:6-7 IN THE BOOK OF THE TWELVE

The theologically central “credo” of Exodus 34:6-7 is looked at in the context of the Old Testament in general, and in the Book of the Twelve in particular. The paradoxical nature of the way Exodus 34:6-7 is alluded to in 5 of the books of the Book of the Twelve (Hos 1:6, Joel 2:13, Jon 4:2, Mic 7:18-20 and Nah 1:3a) forms the basis of the argument. The theological issue at stake is the ambiguity and freedom of Yahweh’s forgiveness and presence in the light of the crises of sin and exile. In the process the redactional (dis)unity of the Book of the Twelve is touched upon