EDITORIAL

Editorial

Hulisani Ramantswana

Unisa

This issue contains six articles. The first article by Bowa deals with the issue of disability, focusing on some texts from the Pentateuch (Lev 19:14; 21:16-34; 22: 17-22; Deut 27:18; 28:28), which, according to Bowa, present contradictory views of disability. Bowa also proceeds to draw lessons for the Zimbabwean context, considering the intersection between poverty and disability.

The next three articles focus on the Psalter. Biwul's article engages in a contextual reading of Ps 73. For Biwul, Ps 73 echoes a lament of the disadvantaged in ancient Israel's society, which resonates with the plight of the oppressed in the Nigerian context. Simango, in his article, engages in what he terms "contextual and canonical reading" of Ps 35. However, Simango's focus is not on the contemporary context but rather on the original context in which the psalm originated and the canonical context in relation to the place of the psalm in the Psalter and its theological function. In his article, Gosse focuses on the intertextual relationships between the prophetic books, Pss 105-106 and 99; 77 and the Balaam story in Num 22-24. In Gosse's view, the intertextual relations point to the editorial activity of the post-exilic period in which focus was shifted from the Davidic kingship to Moses, an intercessory prophet with political functions.

Ferries' article engages in a comparative analysis of Obadiah and Isa 13:2-14:23. Ferries argues that Obadiah intentionally cast Edom as a type of Babylon, which is drawn from Isa 13:2-14:23, and, therefore, Obadiah has to be viewed as an oracle in Isaianic style. Lastly, Martin considers the reception of the book of Judges in the Pentecostal movement. Martin argues that the reception of the Judges in the early Pentecostal movement highlights some of the issues that the movement had to engage with, such as leadership, Spirit empowerment, women in ministry and the connexion between purity and power.

Enjoy reading this issue!

General Editor: Prof Hulisani Ramantswana, Department of Biblical and Ancient Studies, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, UNISA, 0003; Email: ramanh@unisa.ac.za; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6629-9194.