John Davies
This chapter of The Mercy of God in the Old Testament deals with the seven further iterations of Israel’s Compassion Creed, first encountered in its fullest form in Exodus 34:6–7. With only minor variations, the formula is repeated in Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; and Jonah 4:2. The relatively fixed form of the Creed suggests a background in liturgical use, though it is capable of being adapted to a variety of settings and genres, such as praise, petition, and lament. These further references to God’s merciful, gracious, and forgiving nature are found in each major division of the Hebrew canon (Law, Prophets, Writings) with indications of their strategic placement.