By the Irrigation Canals of Babylon Approaches to the Study of the Exile

by Ahn, John J.; Middlemas, Jill

• ISBN13: 9780567202468
• ISBN10: 0567202461
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-01-16
• Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark

Summary

This work assembles some of the finest scholars who have contributed to study and examination of the impact of the exile in biblical literature. Past, present, and future scholars examining the 6th century B.C.E. through historical and archeological (including paleoclimatology), literary, and the social sciences have been assembled. Approximately twelve papers from among the twenty papers presented over the four sessions (parallel to a sizable conference on the exile) will be represented in this volume.

The book will be organized in a traditional history of scholarship manner, i.e., moving from historical to sociological. It should be noted that within each subcategory, there is a forward progressive movement from a traditional starting point (Klein, Olson, Wilson) ending at the progressive or cutting edge (Beck, Ahn). Jill Middlemas will open the volume with and introductory essay. John Ahn will close off the volume by pointing to the field of "forced migration studies" as a way to help better define and demarcate the import of 597, 587, and 582.

Author Biography

Jill Middlemas is Research Associate, Department of Old Testament, Faculty of Theology, at the University of Zurich.

John J. Ahn is Adjunct Professor of Judaism & Religious Studies, St. Edward's University, Austin, TX, USA

Table of Contents

Introduction - Jill Middlemas and John J. Ahn
Part One: Historical Discussions
1. Israel in Exile After Thirty Years - Ralph W. Klein
2. More and Less than a Myth: Reality and Significance of Exile for the Political, Social and Religious History of Judah - Rainer Albertz
3. The City State of Jerusalem in the Neo-Babylonian Empire: Evidence from the Surrounding States - Hans M. Barstad
4. Global Warming and the Babylonian Exile - Bob Becking
Part Two: Literary Discussions
5. The Future of the 'Exile' - Jill Middlemas
6. From Horeb to Nebo: Exile, The Pentateuch, and the Promise of Home in Exodus 2:1-3:6 and Deuteronomy 34:1-12 - Dennis T. Olson
7. Reimagining Exile Through the Lens of the Exodus: Turning Points in Israelite History and Texts - Pamela Barmash
8. "There is No One!": The Redaction of Exile in Jeremiah's Book of Consolation (31:15-22) - Martien A. Halvorson-Taylor
Part Three: Sociological Discussions
9. Forced Migration and the Formation of the Prophetic Literature - Robert R. Wilson
10. Reading Exile Then: Reconsidering the Methodological Debates for Biblical Analysis in Dialogue with Sociological and Literary Analysis - Daniel L. Smith-Christopher
11. "They Never Returned": Were the Babylonians Jewish Settlers Exiles or Pioneers? - Lester L. Grabbe
12. Forced Migrations Guiding the Exile: Demarcating 597, 587, and 582 B.C.E - John J. Ahn