Velhice e ancianidade no Pentateuco

Abstract

This Doctoral Thesis investigates the literary work of the Pentateuch considering what it brings in terms of reflection on old age and/or senescence. It starts with the verification of the verbal root which, conjugated in the degree of the Qal, is commonly translated as “be old” or “get on in years” ( זקן .(From this Hebrew root comes out the adjective – “old”, “elder” or “old-aged” ( ןֵ קָז – (and four nouns, translatable as “beard” ( ןָ קָז” ,(advanced age” this from derived words The). זְקֻנִים) “senescence “or” age old “and) זִקְ נָה) “aging), “זֹקֶ ן ) verbal root occurs seventy-one times in the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In addition, sometimes there are mentions of the person's age, and sometimes there are several other expressions – “gray hair” (הָיבֵ ש” ,(blurry eyes” come) – עֲקָרָ ה) woman” infertile “the or) טַ ף) “steps tiny with one the(, “עֵינַיִם( )כהה( together to form the semantic field in relation to the old age and/or senescence. In this way, following the five books of the Pentateuch and watchful to each presentation of the previously mentioned words, this Doctoral Thesis seeks to describe what the Torah, a millenary literary work that forms the first part of the Hebrew Bible brings to reflection and own wisdom about the theme of old age and/or senescence. It is watched that commonly this subject does not receive attention in the field of biblical anthropology. Finally, there is the expectation that the Pentateuch, as a religious literature, can open different horizons when reflecting on the phenomenon of old age, precisely because it takes God into account. In this sense, it is up to the most advanced in age a type of senescence that is characterized by their own skills and functions, indispensable for the kilter of society. In brief, the Pentateuch, as a cultural heritage of humanity and accepted as the Word of God and/or Holy Scripture by Jews and Christians, enriches current dialogues on one of the fundamental issues of humanity and is enthusiastic about its models of faith and behavior