Leadership in a time of transition : an analogy between post-exilic Judah/Yehud and post-apartheid South Africa
Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Old Testament Society of South Africa
Abstract
There are certain analogies between the post-exilic community in Judah (or Persian Yehud and post-apartheid South Africa. According to the OT two prominent leaders took responsibility for the rebuilding of post-exilic Judah/Yehud: the governor Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua (cf. Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah). Two prominent leaders made a major contribution in post-apartheid South Africa: president Nelson Mandela as political leader and archbishop Desmond Tutu as religious leader. This article will make a comparison between these two different communities and their leaders. The article will briefly discuss the respective leaders and will focus on the following analogies: both communities had an influential political leader and a religious leader; the diarchic model of leadership lasted only a few years in Judah/Yehud and in South Africa; the concept of forgiveness played a significant role in both communities (cf. Zech 3 and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission); there was a temple building process in Judah/Yehud and a process of nation building in South Africa.
Description
CITATION: O'Kennedy, D. F. 2017. Leadership in a time of transition : an analogy between post-exilic Judah/Yehud and post-apartheid South Africa. Old Testament Essays, 30(1):128-150, doi:10.17159/2312-3621/2017/v30n1a8.
The original publication is available at http://www.scielo.org.za
The original publication is available at http://www.scielo.org.za
Keywords
Leadership, Mandela, Nelson, 1918-2013, Tutu, Desmond, Bible. Zechariah -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Citation
O'Kennedy, D. F. 2017. Leadership in a time of transition : an analogy between post-exilic Judah/Yehud and post-apartheid South Africa. Old Testament Essays, 30(1):128-150, doi:10.17159/2312-3621/2017/v30n1a8