Episode 89: The Anti-Eschatological Elijah with David DeJong

David DeJong discusses his research on the reception history of the Hebrew Bible, particularly focusing on the Day of Adonai and the role of Elijah in eschatological thought. He introduces the concept of the 'anti-eschatological Elijah,' arguing that this figure serves to defer the Day of the Lord by establishing prerequisites for its arrival. The discussion also explores the diverse messianic expectations in Second Temple Judaism, the interpretive role of scribes, and the differences between the Hebrew text and the Septuagint. DeJong emphasizes the dynamic interplay between sociological and scriptural interpretations in ancient Judaism and early Christianity, particularly regarding the delay of eschatological expectations. Books and authors mentioned or recommended in this episode include The Reformation: A History, Seconding Sinai: The Development of Mosaic Discourse in Second Temple Judaism, Paul D Hanson, Otto Plöger, John J Collins, Anathea Portier-Young, James C VanderKam, James F McGrath, Joel Marcus, Rivka Nir, Jeremy Ott, Jocelyn McWhirter, Wolf Hall, Patrick Rothfuss, and Brandon Sanderson.