Reading the Locust Plague in the Prophecy of Joel in the Context of African Biblical Hermeneutics and the Decolonial Turn

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The essay will benefit from a structured organization of the African lens with which author is reading the locust plague in Joel.  It'll help to trim down the repetition of African hermeneutical tool purportedly applied in this essay.  The term "Africentricly" was introduced in pg. 6 without explanation of what it means. 

I wonder how author would reconcile and/or carry the reader along  in pgs. 3 and 18 because it is the poor farmers who suffer the locusts plague and not the so called elites. Besides, the locusts plague is an oracle of destruction and not one of benefit. So, how does author engage the hermeneutical tension between the destructive locusts and so called benefits of locusts?  

 

Some minor editing just as any other essay will do. 

Author Response

Review 1: Excellent review. I have taking note of this religiously. I have updated "Africentric" on page 6 to mean/read "African perspective.

pp.3,18, the elites are ironically humiliated as explained there, and through out the study, for  failing in their duties to provide and protect even the poor famers....

 

I am very grateful for your review

 thanks

Reviewer 2 Report

This is a well researched, clearly written, and coherently argued article that makes a relevant contribution to the existing scholarship. I recommend its publication.

 

Issues of content to be considered by the author:

- line 188: the claim that the Bible is "the Word of God" calls for further elucidation. In what sense? Does the author defend the concept of word-by-word inspiration and biblical inerrancy, regardless of translations? Or, does the author opt for the view that the Word of God happens in the community of faith through the process of interpretation and praxis? Or, does the author's view still differ? 

- lines 209-10: I have questions regarding the author's use of the adjectice/suffix "-centric," as in Africentric. This adjective/suffix has come to be attributed with negative connotations, as in Eurocentric (and for good reasons!). In light of this, I am wondering whether it is constructive to coin the term Africentric. Perhaps phrases like "from an African perspective" or "from an African context" might prove more helpful? I am afraid that the insistance on the continued use of various "-centric" views might reinforce the scenario of competing and mutually incompatible positions.

- line 341, note 47: rather than "scholars," I think it is more appropriate to refer to the people listed here as authors, writers or novelists.

Author Response

Excellent review, of which I am grateful. I have taken the input and suggestions religiously.

-Word of God" in this paper-- i s that, which became flesh and dwelt among us ( John 1:14), timeless(Isa 40:8), which happens in a community of faith through the process of faith interpretation and praxis......

i have also taken note of that, "context of Africa", " from an African context"

note 47, taken note of that 'authors, writers and novelists'

 thanks you very much, Excellent reviews

Grateful

 

Reviewer 3 Report

This is an important piece that not only approaches a biblical text (Joel 1:2-20; 2:24; 3:18) from an "Africentric" perspective, but argues the need for African Biblical Hermeneutics and its real world practical applications.  Moreover, the work acknowledges veteran and emerging African biblical scholars, and by so doing corrects a serious oversight in the biblical studies guild.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Line 40 should be revised to read "...their own experiences which excluded African experiences."

In footnote 3, the word "exclusiveness" should be replaced by the word "exclusion."

Line 200: the word "anticipatorily" should be replaced by the word "anticipatively."

Are lines 234-239 a direct quote of J.A. Hanson?  If so, they should either be in block format or enclosed in quotation marks.

Line 271: Given the Latin roots of the term "denigration," it is ironic to use this word in a study that critiques the use of colonizing language. I recommend using the term "derogation" instead. 

Line 282: I think the author meant to write Joel 1:2-20, not Joel 2:2-20.

Author Response

Response to Review 3

 Excellent review. I am very grateful. All the suggestions are well taken care of- on lines

40, footnotes 3, lines 234-239, 271 and 282.

 thanks

Reviewer 4 Report

This is a very interesting and well written paper. I particularly like the way our bring a new perspective to the prophecy of Joel, which as you rightly point out Africans will not be getting from western scholarship.

My only comment is that as Africans we need to be more critical with African traditions and practices, instead of romanticisng and idealizing them in our quest to transform African society.  

Author Response

Thank you very much for you review-- 4

Well taken care of

 blessings