YHWH contre Marduk

La creation dans le Deutero-Isaie (Is 40-55)

by E. Bellavance

Book cover: YHWH contre Marduk

Extent: 207 pages

Publisher: Peeters Publishers

Subjects: Biblical Studies, Religious Studies

Series: Terra Nova

Series volume number: 6

Language: French

Paperback (Published)

(December 2019)

ISBN: 9789042938298

Price: $60.00

In stock

PDF (Published)

(December 2019)

ISBN: 9789042938304

Price: $75.00

The theme of the creation of the world, i.e., of the heavens, the earth, and humanity, is of paramount importance in understanding the argument and rhetoric set forth by Deutero-Isaiah (Is 4055). For this prophet, it is a question of convincing the Judean exiles that their God was indeed at work and that he was therefore responsible for the fall of Babylon (539 BC) and their liberation. The stakes were immense: who, YHWH or Marduk, the head of the Babylonian pantheon, had called, guided, and helped the Persian king Cyrus in his conquest of Babylon? This study, inspired by postcolonial approaches, in depth analyzes the Isaian texts where the theme of the creation of the world is addressed, and shows that they set up a counter-narrative to the official version of the conquest of Babylon, the Cyrus Cylinder.


Le theme de la creation du monde, c’est-a-dire des cieux, de la terre et de l’humanite, est d’une importance capitale pour bien saisir l’argumentaire et la rhetorique mis en place par le Deutero-Isaie (Is 40-55). Pour ce prophete, il s’agit de convaincre les exiles judeens que leur Dieu etait bel et bien a l’oeuvre et qu’il etait donc responsable de la chute de Babylone (539 av. J.-C.) et de leur liberation. L’enjeu etait immense: qui, de YHWH ou de Marduk, chef du pantheon babylonien, avait appele, guide et aide le roi perse Cyrus dans sa conquete de Babylone? Cette etude, inspiree des approches postcoloniales, analyse de maniere approfondie les textes isaiens o- le theme de la creation du monde est aborde, et demontre qu’ils mettent en place un contre-discours prenant le contrepied de la version officielle de la conquete de Babylone, le Cylindre de Cyrus – jusque dans ses arguments.

  • By (author) E Bellavance