Universidad Peruana Unión

Unidad de Posgrado de Teología

IDENTIFYING INNER-BIBLICAL ALLUSIONS:

PSALM 78 AS A TEST CASE - J. M. Leonard

Un Trabajo

Presentado en cumplimiento Parcial

de los requisitos de aprobación de la clase

Exegesis en Hebreo del AT

Por

José Santos Padilla

Octubre 2015
 CRITICAL READING REPORT

Reading 1

IDENTIFYING INNER-BIBLICAL ALLUSIONS:

PSALM 78 AS A TEST CASE

Reading report: 26 pages

Author: Jeffery m. Leonard

Time spent: 30 Min.

Intertextuality and Allusions

Leonard’s work shows that finding a rational to explain the interconnection of the

Bible is not an easy task, regardless the many efforts to demonstrate the linkage existing

in the sacred texts, serious concerns related to methodology have been raised in the recent

times. If the exegetical process is not governed by rules, this approach could detour in a

rabbinical exegesis.

The exegetical community assumes the existing relation in the texts of the Bible,

the questioning arises in demonstrating that evidence. The situation is even more serious

because not every one is a firm believer of the allusions existing in the texts. Leonard

calls attention to Psalm 78 to show how this situation is understood. Some may well state

that the Psalm 78 got its ground in Pentateuchal sources and even others discard any

connection whatsoever.

2
 Leonard’s strong point on this article is related to the allusions in theme, the very

subject of the matter the periscope discusses is plainly accompanied with a linguistic

connection, the linguistic phenomena plays an important role in order to fully understand

the connectivity of the sacred texts.

Shared language, therefore constitute a crucial element in determining the existing

connection in the text. This can be true even when ideology does not second shared

language. Leonard’s own acknowledgement that charting the full roster of inner-biblical

allusions in Psalm 78 lies beyond the scope of this article. This constitutes a very honest

gesture from the author.

The main objective of the author was to argue the crucial importance of the

methodology and the principles that guide the allusion of the text, and he has made use of

the Psalm 78 to make his case as proof of this point to provide some guiding principle in

the connection of the biblical text.

Some scholars are reticent in giving full credit to the intertextuality of the Bible,

they allude to extreme manipulation to the text of the Bible, some make a still profound

critique to detour the Bible study to a more liberal methodology barrowing from the

Historical –critical method.

The assigning of this material was adequate to enlarge my perception on biblical

exegesis and study of Bible in general. I hope to continue receiving more stimulating

readings like this.