This study investigates ant hi theses in the Book of Ma 1 a chi on the
level of syntax, style and content with the purpose of identifying
them and of determining their influence on the message of each
pericope in the book.
For the purpose of this investigation, an antithesis is defined as
follows: when at least two issues and/or elements and/or concepts
and/or persons and/or groups of persons are contrasted with each
other on the level of syntax, style and content, an antithesis is
formed.
Relevant literature on the Book of Malachi yields sporadic and
incidental references to contrasts and antitheses which are featured
throughout the book. As far as can be ascertained, the occurence of
antitheses has not yet been investigated systematically and
thoroughly.
A text-immanent investigation of the Book of Malachi has been made
on the basis of the following steps with the purpose of identifying
antitheses in a well founded manner. The different pericopes in the
book have been demarcated by means of certain syntactical criteria
whereupon the text of the book was subjected to a text-criti ca 1
investigation. A number of text critical alterations were made. A
structural analysis of the different pericopes in the book has been
done, the Gattung of each pericope determined and in relevant cases
an investigation made of issues concerning tradition criticism and redaction critisicm. On the basis thereof the antitheses occurring
in the different pericopes of the book have been identified. The
message of each peri cope has a 1 so been determined in the 1 i ght of
the identified antitheses.
At a syntactical level the occurrence of antitheses in the Book of
Ma 1 a chi is confirmed by anti thet i ca 1 word coup 1 es (such as
love:hate; blessing:curse; good:evil), the occurrence of the
antithetical waw, change of pronouns etc.
Stylistically the book yields.. a surprising number of chiasmi, a
chiasmus being a stylistic technique which tends to emphasise
opposites.
The Gattung of all the pericopes in the book (with the exception of
the last) has been identified as a Disputationswort. The background
of the Gattung potrays a dispute or discussion between two parties.
The author has thus used this particular Gattung to convey his
message by means of antitheses.
Tradition materia 1 found in the book a 1 so serves to support the
antithetical structuring of pericopes in the book.
In some cases where redactional additions to the book have been
identified, the occurrence of antitheses as a prominant phenomenon
in the Book of Malachi has been confirmed.
The function of the antitheses in the book is mainly that of
emphasis.
Although there is no developing train of thought in the sequence of
the various pericopes in the book, a cohesion nevertheless exits
which binds it together as a unity.
On the 1 eve 1 of syntax, style and content the occurrence of an
antithetical contraposition of persons, issues and concepts as a
typical and prominent feature of the Book of Malachi, is confirmed.
Hierdie studie ondersoek antiteses in die boek Maleagi met die doel
om die antiteses op sintaktiese, stilistiese en inhoudelike vlak te
identifiseer en om die invloed van die antiteses op die boodskap van
elke perikoop in die boek, te bepaal.
Vir die doel van hierdie ondersoek word ~ antitese soos volg
omskryf: wanneer minstens twee sake en/of elemente en/of begrippe
en/of persone en/of groepe van persone teenoor mekaar gestel word op
sintaktiese en/of stilistiese en/of inhoudelike vlak in ~ perikoop
of perikope in die boek Maleagi, is dit ~ antitese.
In die relevante 1 iteratuur wat handel oor die boek Maleagi word
daar terloopse en sporadiese verwysings gevind na, wat genoem word,
teenstell ings, kontraste en antiteses wat deurlopend in die boek
voorkom. Sover vasgestel kon word, is die _voorkoms van antiteses in
die boek nag nie sistematies en volledig o~dersoek nie.
Aan die hand van die volgende stappe is 'n teksimmanente ondersoek
gedoen na die boek Maleagi met die doe1 om die antiteses verantwoord
te i dentifi seer: Met behu1 p van bepaa 1 de si ntakti ese kriteri a is
die verskillende perikope van mekaar afgebaken waarna die teks van
die boek Ma 1 eagi tekskri ties ondersoek is en enke 1 e tekskriti ese
wysigings aangebring is. 'n Struktuurana1ise van die opbou van die
verskil1ende perikope in die boek is gedoen, die Gattung van e1ke
perikoop is bepaa1 en in re1evante gevalle is 'n tradisiekritiese en
~ redaksiekritiese ondersoek oak gedoen. Hieruit is die antiteses
wat in die verskil1ende perikope van die boek voorkom geidentifiseer en aangetoon. Die boodskap van elke perikoop in die lig van die
geidentifiseerde antiteses is ook bepaal.
Op sintaktiese vlak word die voorkoms van antiteses in die boek
Maleagi bevestig deur antitetiese woordpare (liefde:haat;
seen:vloek; goed:kwaad), die voorkoms van die antitetiese waw,
persoonswisseling ens.
Stilisties gesproke lewer die boek onder andere~ opvallende aantal
chiasmes op. 'n Chiasme is 'n stilistiese tegniek wat neig om
teenoorgestelde pole te beklemtoon.
Die Gattung van al die perikope in die boek (met die uitsondering
van die laaste perikoop) is geidentifiseer as die Gattung van die
Di sputati onswort. Die Gattung het 'n di spuut of di skussi e tussen
twee partye as agtergrond. Die Gattung van die boek staan dus in
diens van die outeur om deur middel van antiteses sy boodskap tuis
te bring.
Tradisiemateriaal wat in die boek aangetref word, dien ook die
antitetiese opbou van perikope in die boek.
In enkele gevalle waar redaksionele byvoegings tot die boek
geidentifiseer is, het dit die voorkoms van antiteses as prominente
verskynsel in die boek Maleagi bevestig.
Die funksie van antiteses in die boek is hoofsaaklik die van
beklemtoning.
Alhoewel daar geen ontwikkelende gedagtelyn in die opeenvolging van
die verskillende perikope in die boek is nie, is daar tog~ kohesie
tussen die verskillende perikope wat die boek saam bind tot 'n
eenheid.
Op sintaktiese, stilistiese en inhoudelike vlak word die voorkoms
van 'n antitetiese teenoormekaarstelling van persone, sake en
begrippe as tipiese en prominente kenmerk van die boek Maleagi,
bevestig.
