“Shazer: An Etymological Proposal in Narrative Context”

I’m pleased to announced a new article from Matthew L. Bowen in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship:

“Shazer: An Etymological Proposal in Narrative Context”

Abstract: In 1 Nephi 16:13–14, Nephi mentions the name Shazer as a toponym the Lehite clan bestowed on a site in western Arabia “four days” journey south-southeast of the valley of Laman. The Lehites used this site as a base camp for a major hunting expedition. A footnote to the first mention of the name Shazer in the 1981 and 2013 Latter-day Saint editions of the Book of Mormon has virtually enshrined “twisting, intertwining” as the presumed meaning of this toponym. However, the structure of Nephi’s text in 1 Nephi 16:12–13 suggests that the name Shazer serves as the bracketing for a chiastic description of the Lehites’ hunting expedition from the site. This chiasm recommends hunting as a possible starting point for seeking a more precise etymology for Shazer, one related to food supply. Consequently, I briefly argue for Shazer as a Semitic word (possibly also a loanword from an Old Arabic dialect) and a close cognate with both Hismaic šaṣar (“young gazelle,” plural šaṣr) and Arabic šaṣara (a type of “gazelle”).

Incidentally, Professor Bowen will be speaking (“Laman and Nephi as Key-Words: An Etymological, Narratological, and Rhetorical Approach to Understanding Lamanites and Nephites as Religious, Political, and Cultural Descriptors”) at the 7-9 August 2019 FairMormon conference in Provo, Utah.  You should be there to hear him.  Or, at least, you should listen to his presentation via live streaming.

***

And, just in case anybody out there is even faintly interested:

In the Fall, I’m scheduled to teach a course on the Qur’an in English (MESA 320 [TTh 9:30-10:45 AM), “Introduction to the Humanities of Islam” (IHUM 242 [TTh 12:05-1:20 PM]), and “Introduction to the Religion of Islam” (MESA [Middle East Studies Arabic] 250; TTh 4:00-5:15 PM).

I’m also listed as available for directing individual students who enroll in Arabic 490R (Independent Readings), although nobody is enrolled in it thus far.

I want to put in a plug for these courses, as I think that they’re relevant to a wide range of careers that students might be working toward.  Anybody today who wants to go into international fields, or to work for the FBI, or to seek political office, would be well served by having at least a nodding acquaintance with Islam and the Qur’an.  Moreover, many BYU graduates will eventually work in companies alongside Muslim employees, and will live in neighborhoods alongside Muslim families.  As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they may well be called to work in interfaith activities or on interfaith committees.