70 Dimensions of Baptism
Lord GOD: "These are the boundaries by which you shall divide the land
for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel"' (Ezek. 47.13). Centu-
ries later the author of the Psalms of Solomon anticipates the coming of the
messianic son of David who will redistribute the twelve tribes on their
respective portions of the land (Pss. Sol. 17.26,28).
Jesus anticipates the day when his twelve apostles will 'sit on twelve
thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel' (Mt. 19.28 = Lk. 22.30). The
restoration of Israel is clearly in view.^43 It is in this light that the Parable of
the Wicked Vineyard Tenants (Mk 12.1-12) should be interpreted. When
Jesus threatens the ruling priests, 'He will come and destroy the tenants,
and give the vineyard to others' (Mk 12.9), he is predicting the removal of
the ruling priests and their replacement either with his own twelve apostles
(as the Q tradition just mentioned suggests) or perhaps with a new and
obedient order of priests. For obvious reasons, identity with the twelve
tribes of Israel was not particularly meaningful for Gentile Christians, but
the theologoumenon remained in vogue among Jewish Christians for some
time (cf. Jas 1.1: 'To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion'; 1 Pet. 1.1: 'To
the exiles of the Dispersion').
Conclusion
The lines of continuity between John and Jesus are numerous, meaningful,
and mutually clarifying. It is reasonable to assume that Jesus' understand-
ing of baptism was essentially the same as John's, that is, that it was an act
of eschatological purification, signifying repentance and re-entry into
God's covenant with Israel.
It is therefore not necessary to decide between the interpretations
offered by Webb and Chilton. It is entirely plausible that John conceived
of his ministry at the Jordan in eschatological and prophetic terms and yet
practiced purificatory ablutions that in themselves do not require prophetic
interpretation. After all, the same Essenes who were prophetic in outlook,
anticipating a great struggle and making preparations for it modeled after
biblical patterns, were also preoccupied with purification and immersion.
Thus, John's presence at the Jordan may have been eschatological and his
activities at other sites where running water was to be found may have
been purificatory only.
- fudging the twelve tribes' should be understood in the sense of administering
the tribes, as did the judges in the book of Judges. See 4Q159 frags. 2-4,1. 3-4: 'And
[.. .te]n men and two priests, and they shall be judged by these twelve.'