DISSERTAZIONI DI DOTTORATO
2024-2025

KIM Seung-Ae

The Golden Calf Motif in the Primary History.

Mod.: Prof. R.P. MARKL Dominik

In the Hebrew Bible, various symbols vividly depict the dimensions and consequences of sin. Among them, the golden calf narrative in Exodus 32 exemplifies the sin of idolatry, wherein the Israelites abandon their devotion to God in favor of worshiping an idol, thus directly transgressing His commandments. Moreover, this golden calf is repeatedly referenced throughout Israel’s historiography, as in Deut 9:7–10:11, 1 Kgs 12:25-33, and 2 Kgs 17:7-23. Therefore, as a literary motif, the golden calf can be understood not merely as an expositor of a singular theme, but within the broader framework of the Hebrew Bible, it generates multiple layers of intertextual connections.

This study investigates the four golden calf narratives within the Masoretic Text, analyzing how the golden calf motif interrelates and unifies these distinct narratives. Despite their differing historiographical contexts, it explores how these texts converge into a cohesive narrative. Additionally, it examines the extent to which the motif’s development contributes to theological interpretation within the broader context of Israel’s historiography.

     The argument of this study unfolds across seven chapters. The first chapter introduces the research issue, the preliminary questions, and the methodology of the study. Chapters 2–5 provide a narrative analysis of the golden calf episodes. In Exodus 32, referenced twice, the narrative is structured in three phases: the making of the calf, divine wrath and Moses’ two intercessions, and the breaking of the calf and the covenant tablets. Deut 9:7–10:11, while omitting the making of the calf, centers on Moses’ mediation and the destruction of sin, highlighting both physical eradication and divine forgiveness. In 1 Kgs 12:25-33, the calf, one of three objects crafted by Jeroboam, symbolizes both his transgression and the people’s sin. Finally, in 2 Kgs 17:7-23, the golden calf is presented as one of many sins, yet is emphasized in vv. 21-23 as a key factor in the fall of the Northern Kingdom. Chapters 6 and 7 analyze the intertextuality of the four texts through syntagmatic and paradigmatic axis. The golden calf motif, along with shared lexical elements, creates a dynamic dialogue between the texts, such as the exodus formula (Exod 32:4; 1 Kgs 12:28), the provocation formula (Deut 9:18; 2 Kgs 17:17), and the term “great sin” (Exod 32:21, 30, 31; 2 Kgs 17:21). These connections reveal that the golden calf functions not only as a symbol of idolatry but also as a critique of failed leadership and a Deuteronomistic etiology for exile. Moreover, the paradigm shifts in how the golden calf motif is portrayed across these texts reflect a literary progression toward monotheism, ultimately uniting the four narratives within the broader framework of Israel’s Primary History.