I’m a Research Associate in Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) studies at the University of Pretoria, a role I have held since graduating from the same institution. I am an ordained minister of religion. Prior to relocating to North America, the USA and then Canada, I worked in my native Zambia and the South Botswana conference. I have lived in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, USA, and Canada.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)—University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.

Master of Arts (MA), Biblical studies—Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, Canada.

Master of Divinity (MDIV)—Andrews University Theological Seminary, Berrien Springs, MI, USA.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Theology—Andrews University, Solusi Campus, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Research Interests

My research interests are bent on tracking the conceptualization of God from the earliest times in the ancient Near Eastern world through the post-exilic period. I’m particularly intrigued by the conceptualization of God in Persian period Yehud (539-333 BCE), during which time Scripture was rewritten thereby reflecting the monotheistic faith of the ‘literati’ who undertook the role of textual redaction. The rewriting of the biblical text in the post-exilic period is something I wish to explore extensively. The ongoing studies about the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) have equally not escaped my curiosity, especially after attending Trinity Western University which is home to the Dead Sea Scrolls Institute, one of it’s kind in North America. I’m also deeply fascinated by the similarities and comparisons between El-Yahweh, the God worshipped in ancient Israel and Nyambe, the deity once venerated by the Barotse people of Western Zambia, a cultural group to which I belong. Of great interest in both cultures, is the notion in which God was characterized as having a family—consort and offspring.

In my MA and PhD theses, I investigate the doctrine of monotheism in early Israelite religion in light of other ancient Near Eastern traditions. My MA thesis, “Jewish Monotheism: The Exclusivity of Yahweh in Persian Period Yehud” can be accessed through the website of Trinity Western University (TWUSpace). The PhD thesis, “Monotheism and Angelology in Persian Period Yehud” is available on the website of the University of Pretoria (UPSpace).

Favourite Quotes

“If we knew what we are doing, it wouldn’t be called research.” Albert Einstein.”
“Every great and deep difficulty bears in itself its own solution. It forces us to change our thinking in order to find it.”— Niels Bohr
“If we propose to study the history of the religion of ancient Israel, we must be governed by the same postulates that are the basis of modern historical method. Our task must be a historical, not a theological, enterprise.” Frank Moore Cross.
“He who translates a verse literally is a liar, and he who adds to it is a blasphemer.” Rabbi Judah.
“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” Isaac Newton.
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” Albert Einstein.
“The religion of yesterday becomes the superstition of today.” J. A. Montgomery.
“There comes a point in your life when you need to stop reading other peoples’ books and write your own.” Albert Einstein.

Contact & Memberships

Contact

British Columbia, Canada.

Website: http://www.abelsitali.org.

Memberships

American Academy of Religion (AAR)
Society of Biblical Literature (SBL).
Golden Key International Honour Society.