Judaic Perspectives On Ancient Israel

This volume assembles for the first time a representative statement of Judaic learning on the Old Testament as it is studied today by many of the most important Jewish Bible scholars of the age. A host of internationally known scholars - American, European, and Israeli - here present a variety of rich perspectives on the study and interpretation of the Scriptures revered by both Judaism and Christianity. These studies make clear that no single Jewish school of biblical scholarship exists. Rather there is a Jewish approach, involving appreciation for Hebrew as a living language; the reality of Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel; the continuity of Scripture in the life of Israel, the Jewish people, and the state of Israel; and a complete and healthy adaptation of the critical perspectives of contemporary scholarship. This unique and stimulating volume vividly demonstrates the importance and value of critical scholarly discourse on the Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament) by Jewish scholars for both Christian and Jewish communities.

Encapsulating as it does research that has been undertaken on the sociological, anthropological and political aspects of the history of ancient Israel, this important book is designed to follow in the tradition of works in the series sponsored by The Society for Old Testament Study which began with the publication of The People and the Book in 1925. The World of Ancient Israel is especially concerned to explore in greater depth than comparable studies the areas and degrees of overlap between approaches to the subject of Old Testament research adopted by scholars and students of theology and the social sciences. Increasing numbers of scholars have recognised the valuable insights that can be gained from a cross-disciplinary approach, and it is becoming clear that the early biblical traditions about the formation of the Israelite state must be examined in the light of comparative anthropology if useful historical conclusions are to be drawn from them.

This collection of essays examines the wisdom traditions of the Old Testament from a variety of angles. The slipperiness of the concept of 'wisdom literature', the transmission of 'wise' advice for living, rabbinic and patristic approaches to the Bible's wisdom traditions, and cutting-edge modern perspectives on such Old Testament books as Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes are all to be found here. In the tradition of the renowned previous volumes from the Oxford Old Testament Seminar - King and Messiah in Israel and the Ancient Near East (1998), In Search of Pre-Exilic Israel (2004), Temple and Worship in Biblical Israel (2005), and Prophecy and Prophets in Ancient Israel (2010)-this new volume again brings the scholarship of the Oxford Seminar, here focused on the rich subject of Old Testament wisdom traditions, to an international readership.

This collection continues the study of ancient Judaism. Contents: Text as Interpretation: Paul and Ancient Readings of Paul; Translation and Exegetical Augmentation in the Targums to the Pentateuch; Topic, Rhetoric, Logic: Analysis of a Syllogistic Passage in the Yerushalmi; System or Tradition? The Bavli and Its Sources; and Literary Studies of Aggadic Narrative: A Bibliography. Co-published with Studies in Judaism.

This collection continues the study of ancient Judaism.

STAR - Studies in Theology and Religion, 5 Papers Read at the First Meeting of the European Association for Biblical Studies, Utrecht, 6-9 August 2000 The Persian era in Ancient Israel’s history is an intriguing period. The time span between Cyrus the Great and Alexander the Great was a theatre of shifts and changes. These changes are observable in daily life, in the organisation of society as well as in various religious phenomena. The essays in this volume originate from a seminar about developments and movements in the religion of Israel after the Exile, which was part of the first meeting of the European Association for Biblical Studies (Utrecht, 2000). The essays deal with questions like: How did religion help inhabitants of Yehud to cope with the new reality? How did this new reality influence the (re)formulation of Yahwism? What was the character of the existing Yahwism that was reformulated? Rainer Albertz (PhD Heidelberg, 1972; Habilitation Heidelberg, 1977) is ordinary Professor of Old Testament Studies at the University of Münster (Westfalen, Germany). His most recent book is: Die Exilszeit 6. Jahrhundert v. Chr. (Biblische Enzyklopädie 7), Stuttgart 2001. Bob Becking (PhD Utrecht, 1985) is ordinary Professor of Old Testament studies at Utrecht University. He was co-editor of the Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible, Leiden 1995; 21998. From the contents Rainer Albertz & Bob Becking, Problems and Possibilities: Perspectives on Postexilic Yahwism Rainer Albertz, The Thwarted Restoration Bob Becking, Law as Expression of Religion (Ezra 7-10) Ehud Ben Zvi, What is New in Yehud? Some Considerations Mark J. Boda, Zechariah: Master Mason or Penitential Prophet? Meindert Dijkstra, The Law of Moses: the Memory of Mosaic Religion in and after the Exile William Johnstone, The Revision of Festivals in Exodus 1-24 in the Persian Period and the Preservation of Jewish Identity in the Diaspora Antje Labahn, Antitheocratic Tendencies in Chronicles Herbert Niehr, The Changed Status of the Dead in Yehud Thomas Pola, Form and Meaning in Zechariah 3 Wolter Rose, Messianic Expectations in the Early Postexilic Period Rüdiger Schmitt, Gab es einen Bildersturm nach dem Exil? - Einige Bemerkungen zur Verwendung von Terrakottafigurinen im nachexilischen Israel Zipora Talshir, Synchronic Approaches with Diachronic Consequences in the Study of Parallel Redactions: First Esdras and 2 Chr 35-36; Ezra 1-10; Neh 8 David S. Vanderhooft, New Evidence Pertaining to the Transition from Neo-Babylonian to Achaemenid Administration in Palestine