earticle

영어

Causes of the Emphasis on ‘Return Migration’ in the Old Testament Joong Ho Chong, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Christian Studies Keimyung University The phenomenon of increasing 'return migrants' worldwide points to the need to give attention to the issue of 'return migration' in discussions regarding the emergence of a multi-cultural society. Korean society has seen a total of 2.5million ‘return migrants’ after World War II, and today we experience not only the return of Korea minorities living in China, but also expect the unification of Korean peninsula to ignite further waves of return migration. We find that the issue of return migration is the essential theme of the Old Testament. The purpose of this paper is to find reasons for the strong emphasis on 'Return Migration' in the Old Testament. The people of Israel in the central mountains who were migrants accepted the Exodus tradition as their story and established their identity by claiming the land as their property. The post-exile community also established their identity as returnees and claimed the land as their property. David and Jeroboam, who established kingdoms, and Moses, who was hero of Israel, were also return migrants. We also know Ezra and Nehemiah were return migrants. Returnee leaders were welcomed for their experience with migration and their understanding of the various situations faced by migrants. Therefore, return migrant leaders were able to unify their society into one community. Return migrants also returned with symbols of God, specifically the Ark or temple vessels. The Ark entered the Jordan River in hand with the Exodus returnees, and the post exile returnees also returned with temple vessels. Another Ark also returned from Philistine. We know that many Israel captives were taken to Philistine following numerous battles. Moreover, famine forced Israelites to leave their home land and go down to Philistine. Thus, it is likely many return migrants from Philistine existed in Israel, among them King David. David, as a return migrant, carried the Ark which returned from Philistine to Jerusalem. Through this process God returned from Philistine and formed the basis of authority and security for a Davidic kingship.

한국어

이 논문은 ‘귀환 이주’가 구약의 핵심적인 주제임을 밝힌다. 저자는 그 이유를 이주자들로 구성된 이스라엘이 귀환 이주자들의 전승인 출애굽 전승에서 자신의 정체성을 확립할 수 있었고 토지에 대한 권리를 주장할 수 있었다는 사실에서 찾는다. 저자는 이 논문에서 이주를 경험한 귀환 이주자들로 구성된 지도자들이 이스라엘의 사회통합을 이끌어내었음을 강조하며, 귀환 이주자들의 주장에 바탕을 이루고 있는 것이 법궤와 성전기구의 귀환 즉 하나님의 귀환임을 제시한다.