Focusing Biblical Studies: The Crucial Nature of the Persian and Hellenistic Periods Essays in Honor of Douglas A. Knight

by Berquist, Jon L.; Hunt, Alice

• ISBN13: 9780567628947
• ISBN10: 0567628949
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-10-04
• Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark

Summary

This volume makes a positive intervention into maximalist/minimalist debates about Israelite historiography by pointing to the events that happened during the Persian and Hellenistic periods. During this historical epoch, traditions about Israel and Judah's founding became fixed as markers of ethnic identity, and much of the canonical Hebrew Bible came into its present form. Concentrating on these events, a clearer historical picture emerges. The entire volume is set within the context of Doug Knight's contributions, which have encouraged a rigorous social-scientific and tradition-historical approach to the Hebrew Bible and ancient Israel in general. Many scholars have pursued how the social scientific method, first used to analyze early monarchic Israel, can shape the understanding of these later historical periods. Knight's methods, teachings, writings, and scholarly interventions have pointed the contributors of this volume to fresh considerations of the Persian and Hellenistic periods. The concluding essay will examine the future directions in which such sociological and historical investigation can go forward.

Table of Contents

IntroductionJon Berquist and Alice Hunt, The Contributions of Douglas A. Knight History and ContextsJack Sasson, Vanderbilt University, Coveting the Second Temple PeriodPhilip Davies, Sheffield University, The Origins of the Kingdom of JudahNeils P. Lemche, Copenhagen University, Shechem RevisitedIsrael Finkelstein, Tel Aviv University, Jerusalem: A Persian CityKen Stone, Chicago Theological Seminary, The Zoological Gaze in Post-Exilic Biblical Literature Julye Bidmead, Chapman University, From New Moon to New Moon: Women's Rituals in the Persian PeriodTexts and HistoryAnnalisa Azzoni, Vanderbilt University, Genesis: Creating CreationKristin Swanson, Luther College, What happens when we read Judges in the Persian Period?Robert R. Wilson, Yale University, The Persian Period and the Shaping of the Prophetic LiteratureDeborah Appler, Moravian Theological Seminary, "'Digging in the Claws.' Daniel 4 and the Predatory Nature of Empire"Cheryl B. Anderson, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Ruth and Esther as Models for the Formation of God's People: Engaging Liberationist Critiques Amy-Jill Levine, Vanderbilt University, "Xenophobia" of Ezra/Nehemiah and Post-Colonial Views of "Jews"Herbert R. Marbury, Vanderbilt University, Nehemiah: Caught Between Court and Cult with Lessons for Church and StateJames Crenshaw, Duke University, Pondering the Passing of Time: Psalm 39 and QohelethNorman Gottwald, Pacific School of Religion, Ecclesiastes of the Hellenistic PeriodJennifer L. Koosed, Albright College, The Chronicler Buries Saul David Penchansky, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul), Sophia and Simon: The Two Poles of Ben Sira's AffectionPeter J. Haas, Case Western Reserve University, Was the Judaism of the Dead Sea Scrolls a Mystery Religion?ConclusionJon Berquist and Alice Hunt, The Future Focus of Biblical Studies: Where Do We Go From Here?