So Rachel Reeves has been found out, a lesson for us all. Me especially ,
The Financial Times made an analysis of her book, The Women Who Made Modern Economics, found at least 20 paragraphs that appeared to mirror, or closely resemble, writing from other sources.
It seems that some of the sections appeared to have been taken from entries on Wikipedia, online blogs and an obituary in The Guardian. A spokesman for the shadow chancellor said that there were “inadvertent mistakes” in the book that would be amended in future editions. “We strongly refute the accusation that has been put to us,” a spokesman said.
You may not realise it (that, in fact, is the aim) but I have just lifted the last two paragraphs from yesterday’s Times. The knack is to make some small changes to throw off any plagiarism software and more importantly, to hide my extensive copying and pasting from you!
Actually, if the truth be known, I do this all the time. It just makes life easier, my life that is. And I am taking a funeral in 90 minutes time!
However, my plagiarism is nothing compared to one Old Testament prophet. In fact, for the last month I have been living and breathing Joel. You will find him sandwiched between Hosea and Amos, just three chapters, written mostly in poetry.
The reason is that I have been commissioned by the Bible Reading Fellowship to contribute copy for their New Daylight, for 23 February – 1 March, 2025. It may seem a long time ahead but the deadline is in just five week’s time. You will be relieved to know that I have finished my commentary, between 360 and 390 words for each day plus 380 words for the introduction.
This I have sent to my Hebraist daughter to check and revise. Strangely it’s just like submitting my economics essays to my supervisor and wondering how they will be received. Is it going to be “Brilliant” or “Rubbish” or something in between?
I guess you know little about Joel. You may know that we know nothing about him, apart from the fact that his country had been overrun by a huge swarm of locusts.
“What the cutting locust left,
the swarming locust has eaten.
What the swarming locust left,
the hopping locust has eaten,
and what the hopping locust left,
the destroying locust has eaten.” (Joel 1:4).
But what Joel has in common with Ms Reeves is that he is a committed plagiarist. He alludes to and quotes from the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Obadiah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Zechariah and Malachi, as well as sharing passages we find in Exodus and even Genesis. And not once does he name his source!
The point is that Joel knew his scriptures, what we know today as the Old Testament; he knew them through and through. And this knowledge helped him make sense of the tragedy facing his nation.
He could see that the suffering his people were enduring, not just the locusts but a scorching drought, was due to their disobedience to their LORD; they had not kept their side of the contract or covenant. He spelt the consequence out – they are being punished. This army of short-horned grasshoppers, which he sees as representing something far more sinister and deadly, is being sent by God no less.
However, his understanding of scripture leads him to see that God’s steadfast love and faithfulness is more definitive than his wrath. And so Joel speaks God’s word to his people:
“Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.” (Joel 2:13).
However, upto now Joel is not exceptional as a prophet. You might say typical, run-of-the-mill.
What stands him out from the rest of the Hebrew scriptures is this remarkable prophecy.
“Then afterwards
I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female slaves,
in those days, I will pour out my spirit.”
(Joel 2:28f).
This is the very passage Peter quotes on the day of Pentecost. “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you.” And right away he quotes these verses, and to give the apostle credit he quotes Joel by name. Clearly this apostle is no plagiarist – he identifies his source.
The point is that no Hebrew prophet had made such a promise. Previous prophets, such as Ezekiel and Zechariah, had anticipated this giving of God’s spirit but only to the house of Israel. Now Joel extends this wonderful prophecy to “all flesh.”
Not just men but women too, not just the old and experienced but the young and immature, not just the privileged rich but those who are in slavery, exploited and abandoned. Everyone. No wonder the apostle Peter quotes Joel by name to the crowd at Pentecost: “His prophecy is being fulfilled now!”
For Joel had anticipated the time when God’s spirit, even his breath, is poured out onto every living creature. Not just everyone – as Peter was explaining to the bewildered crowds but to every living, breathing creature. A breath-taking vision for God’s glorious future, but not yet.
It just goes to show when a nation goes through terrible trauma God’s purpose is to reassure. Like Joel we need to take hold of God’s promises which are much bigger than what we could ever hope for or imagine. And he was able to do so because he was so immersed in scripture.
A major prophecy from a minor prophet.