An Introduction to the Old Testament Sacred Texts and Imperial Contexts of the Hebrew Bible

by Carr, David M.

• ISBN13: 9781405184670
• ISBN10: 1405184671
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-03-08
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This comprehensive, introductory textbook is unique in exploring the emergence of the Hebrew Bible in the broader context of world history. It particularly focuses on the influence of pre-Roman empires, empowering students with a richer understanding of Old Testament historiography. Provides a historical context for students learning about the development and changing interpretations of biblical texts Examines how these early stories were variously shaped by interaction with the Mesopotamian and Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, and Hellenistic empires Incorporates recent research on the formation of the Pentateuch Reveals how key biblical texts came to be interpreted by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths Includes numerous student-friendly features, such as study questions, review sections, bibliographies, timelines, and illustrations and photos

Author Biography

David M. Carr is Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Professor Carr's book-length publications include From D to Q: A Study of Early Jewish Interpretations of Solomon's Dream at Gibeon (1991); Reading the Fractures of Genesis: Historical and Literary Approaches (1996); The Erotic Word: Sexuality, Spirituality and the Bible (2003); and Writing on the Tablet of the Heart: Origins of  Scripture and Literature (2005).

Table of Contents

List of Figures

List of Maps

List of Boxes

Preface

Acknowledgments

List of Abbreviations

Overview of the Historical Period

Timeline

Prologue: Orientation to Multiple Bibles and Multiple Translations

Studying the Bible in Its Ancient Context

The Emergence of Ancient Israel and Its First Oral Traditions

The Emergence of the Monarchy and Royal and Zion Texts

Echoes of Past Empires in Biblical Wisdom, Love Poetry, Law, and Narrative

Narrative and Prophecy amidst the Rise and Fall of the Northern Kingdom

Micah, Isaiah, and the Southern Prophetic Encounter with Assyria

Torah and History in the Wake of the Assyrian Empire

Prophecy in the Transition from Assyrian to Babylonian Domination

Laments, History, and Prophecies after the Destruction of Jerusalem

The Pentateuch and the Exile

The Torah, the Psalms, and the Persian-Sponsored Rebuilding of Judah

Other Texts Formed in the Crucible of Post-Exilic Rebuilding

Hellenistic Empires and the Formation of the Hebrew Bible

Glossary

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.