At first glance it may seem that the Hebrew prophets offer little resolution on contemporary concerns of inclusivity and defense for persons deemed "other." Bound by their time and culture, the prophets' message seems obscure and irrelevant. However, on closer look, we see that the prophets offer a call to justice for those who are wrongly oppressed and marginalized, those on the fringes of society-the downcast and the disabled. In Prophetic Disability, Sarah Melcher opens our eyes to the prophetic corpus' ongoing theological relevance in the first book-length treatment of disability in the Bible's prophetic literature. Melcher takes a deep exegetical dive into Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve, analyzing passages that mention disability explicitly and those that offer complementary relevance. With careful and detailed exegetical work, she shows us the profound relationship between disability and the sovereignty of God, the latter being the dominant theme shaping all other motifs in the prophets. Influenced by the prominent work in disability studies by Tom Shakespeare's critical realism, she sets forth her own method in conversation with rhetorical and literary criticism. Melcher's engagement with these ancient texts is informed throughout by a respect for the context and circumstances that generated the texts relevant to disability, as well as a sensitivity to the lived experiences of people with disabilities. To that end, Prophetic Disability maintains the central theme from Shakespeare: that labels describe, but do not "constitute," disease. Who we are is a reality beyond our distinct experience with disability and impairment. What emerges from Melcher's analysis are ways in which the theological implications arising from the prophetic corpus might guide us toward more ethical practice in our encounters with disabilities.
Sarah J. Melcher is Professor Emerita of Hebrew Scriptures at Xavier University.
Introduction: Disability and Divine Sovereignty in the Hebrew Prophets 1 "The Hands of All Will Go Limp": The Book of Isaiah 2 "Their Ears Are Closed": The Book of Jeremiah 3 "I Will Cleanse You from All Your Uncleanness": The Book of Ezekiel 4 "Assemble the Lame and Outcast": The Book of the Twelve Conclusion: Prophetic Disability and Theological Ethics
Melcher's exploration of disability and God's sovereignty highlights the complex and multi-faceted use of disability imagery in the prophets. Her work is an important step forward for the larger study of disability and biblical literature. --Kevin Scott, Baylor University "Reading Religion" For those concerned with actively resisting ableist readings of biblical texts, as well as those interested in the historical task of reconstructing ancient Israel's attitudes toward embodiment, Melcher's book will be an invaluable resource for years to come. --JACKIE WYSE-RHODES "The Journal of Religion" "Combining biblical studies and disability studies, and with an eye toward disability and gender justice, Sarah Melcher's readable and provocative Prophetic Disability should grace many desks. With just over one hundred pages (excluding bibliography and notes), it is a short but significant contribution to investigations on disability in the Hebrew Bible." --Kirsty L. Jones "Review of Biblical Literature" This book is valuable for its identification of the limitations within the biblical representations of disabilities. It prompts contemporary readers to engage in theological discussions about disability and divine sovereignty, and to explore meaningful and creative ways to engage contemporary cultures. --Yanjing Qu "Journal for the Study of the Old Testament" In this wise text, Sarah Melcher, who has been at the center of scholarly conversations about the Bible and disability for decades, carefully considers how disability is featured--both productively and problematically--in prophetic literature. With attention to the texts' literary and social-historical contexts and theological convictions, Melcher argues that for the prophets, themes of disability and divine sovereignty are deeply related. -- "Christian Century"
