Kerygmatyczny charakter symbolicznej czynności zatopienia zwoju w Eufracie – Jr 51, 59-64

Abstract

The article presents one of the symbolic actions performed by Jeremiah (Jr 51, 59-64) who threw the written prophecy against Babylon into the Euphrates. The main object of the article consists in showing how a symbolic act can play a role of an expressive form for the prophetic message. Prophetic acts should be differed from visions, prophetic oracles or parables. Neither have they anything to do with magic. They derive however their roots from magic actions practised in the Israeli cult. The story placed at the end of the oracles against Babylon had a different original place, i.e. it was put formerly between Jr 29; 1 34, 7. The event seems to be authentic and took place in about 594 B.C. Jeremiah sent to Chaldea with Baruch's brother Seraiah a „book” containing oracle against Babylon that was to be read in public and afterwards thrown into the river, symbolizing Babylon's fate due to the Jahwe's word of judgment set in motion. This symbolic act is an expressive mean of consolation directed to the Israelites living in exile in Babylon. The mutual relationship between the sign and its content in the symbolism of the above action is based on the embodiment in which the object used in the action (the roll with the oracle against Babylon and its drowning) represents the idea of the Babylon's destruction. The whole narration proves the efficacy of such an expressive form of message in the prophetic teaching.