| This dissertation pursues a close reading of the literary structure of Joshua 5:2--15 to identify its narrative strategy and to propose a potential rhetorical effect upon its implied reader. The discussion focuses on how the way the story is told persuades the reader to respond. This synchronic study considers the arrangement of the passage's individual episodes and how they interrelate, how they relate to the broader context in Joshua, and to what effect.;A review of relevant literature highlights the modern history of both diachronic and synchronic study of this text and identifies the trajectory of research to which this study relates. The methodology employed in this study is multi-layered, and the conclusions rest on the successive results of exegetical, literary, and rhetorical inquiry. Four key text-critical matters are considered, followed by a discourse analysis of the macrosyntactical structure using tools of clausal analysis refined by Roy Heller. This analysis provides support for delimiting the sections of the passage into three episodes.;An exegetical examination of each episode reveals three ceremonies that point to the same reality: Yahweh had faithfully delivered the land to Israel---even before a battle was fought for its "conquest." Literary study shows that these parallel episodes are a narrative unity framed by the surrounding context. These then create a narrative frame around the middle episode (5:10--12), which has its own center. The strategy draws attention to this central focal point, a picture of Yahweh's superabundance and a reminder of what Israel once had in hand not because of military might but because of Yahweh's covenant faithfulness.;The questions of how the narrative depiction of these ceremonies serves the reader rhetorically, how Israel's own obedience contributes to the effect, and how an implied reader of this material might be identified are explored in terms of the element of persuasion. An elegant narrative strategy is present that creates a powerful and persuasive focal point for ancient Israelite readers to summon them to covenant obedience by trusting in Yahweh who faithfully delivered what Israel needed only to claim by faith. |
