Rebuilding Identity

by Wright, Jacob L.

• ISBN13: 9783110183191
• ISBN10: 3110183196
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-11-30
• Publisher: De Gruyter

Summary

This monograph presents a fresh and detailed treatment of the problems posed by the Nehemiah-Memoir. Starting from the pre-critical interpretations of Ezra-Neh, the study demonstrates that the use of the first-person does not suffice as a criterion for distinguishing between the verba Neemiae and the additions of later authors. The earliest edition of the Memoir isconfined to a building report, which was expanded as early generations of readers developed the implications of Nehemiah's accomplishments for the consolidation and centralization of Judah. The expansions occasioned in turn the composition of the history of the "Restoration" in Ezra-Neh.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
1. Introduction - Spinoza and the Attempt to Isolate Nehemiah's First-Person Account	1	(6)
I. In Susa -1:1-11
Introduction	7	(60)
2. Nehemiah's First Prayer - 1:5-11a	9	(16)
2.1 Introduction	9	(1)
2.2 Diachronic Analysis	10	(4)
2.2.1 The Prayer in the Context of Neh 1-2	10	(2)
2.2.2 Prayers in other Biblical Narratives	12	(2)
2.3 The Function of the Prayer	14	(8)
2.3.1 The Influence of Solomon's Prayer in 1 Kgs 8	14	(3)
2.3.2 The Prayer Between Ezra 1-10 and Neh 2-13	17	(5)
2.4 Conclusions	22	(3)
3. The Origins of Jerusalem's Ruins	25	(20)
3.1 Introduction	25	(1)
3.2 Examination of Neh 1:1-4	25	(6)
3.3 Neh 1-2 and the Artaxerxes-Correspondence	31	(12)
3.3.1 Comparison of the Texts	31	(4)
3.3.2 The Authenticity of the Artaxerxes-Correspondence	35	(4)
3.3.3 The Function of Artaxerxes-Correspondence in the Context of Ezra-Neh	39	(4)
3.4 Conclusions	43	(2)
4. A Prologue to the Amplified Account - 1:1b-4	45	(22)
4.1 Introduction	45	(1)
4.2 The Tensions in Neh 1:1-2:11	46	(11)
4.2.1 The Statement of Nehemiah's Position - 1:11b	46	(3)
4.2.2 The Date in 1:1a	49	(4)
4.2.3 The Introduction to the Account in 1:11b, 2:1ff	53	(4)
4.3 The Reasons for the Composition of 1:lb-4	57	(8)
4.3.1 The Twofold Problem in the Province	57	(5)
4.3.2 The Concern for the Identity of the Judeans	62	(3)
4.4 Conclusions	65	(2)
II. From Susa to Jerusalem
Introduction	67	(122)
5. Artaxerxes' Permission to Build - 2:1-11a	69	(27)
5.1 Introduction	69	(1)
5.2 The Composition of the Account	69	(12)
5.2.1 The Integrity of W. 1-6	70	(3)
5.2.2 The Supplements in VV. 7-10	73	(8)
5.3 The Ramifications of the Analysis for an Historical Reconstruction	81	(12)
5.3.1 The Building Project and Achaemenid Strategic Concerns	81	(5)
5.3.2 The Relationship of Neh 2:1-11a to Ezra 7-8	86	(7)
5.4 Conclusions	93	(3)
6. The Consolidation of the Builders - 2:11b-4:17	96	(33)
6.1 Introduction	96	(1)
6.2 Nehemiah's "Night Ride" - 2:11b-15	96	(9)
6.2.1 Evidence of Editorial Activity	96	(4)
6.2.2 Three Compositional Layers	100	(5)
6.3 The Commencement and Completion of the Wall - 2:16b-3:38	105	(19)
6.3.1 The Address to the Leaders - 2:16b-18	106	(3)
6.3.2 The Priority of the Register of Builders in 3:1-32	109	(1)
6.3.2.1 The Parallels between 2:19f. + 3:1-32 and 7:4-72	112	(1)
6.3.2.2 The Composition of 2:19-20 and 3:33-37	114	(1)
6.3.2.3 The Testimony of 3:1-32 to the Original Brevity of the Building Account	118	(6)
6.4 Conclusions	124	(5)
7. The Intimidation of the Builder - 6:1-19	129	(34)
7.1 Introduction	129	(1)
7.2 The Unity of the Chapter	129	(1)
7.3 The Heading - V.1	130	(3)
7.4 Nehemiah's Correspondence with Sanballat and Geshem	133	(11)
7.4.1 Nehemiah as an Indefatigable Builder - VV. 2-4	134	(4)
7.4.2 The Builder's Royal Prerogatives - VV. 5-9	138	(4)
7.4.3 The Priority and Purpose of VV. 5-9	142	(2)
7.5 The Notice of Completion (VV. 15-16) in the Context of VV. 10-19	144	(16)
7.5.1 Nehemiah's Encounter with Shemaiah - VV. 10-14	145	(5)
7.5.2 The Completion of the Building - VV. 15-16	150	(3)
7.5.3 Tobiah's Correspondence with the Judean Nobility (VV. 17-19) and the Increasing Significance of the Notice of Completion (V. 15)	153	(7)
7.6 Conclusions	160	(3)
8. The Socioeconomic Reforms - 5:1-19	163	(26)
8.1 Introduction	163	(2)
8.2 Comparison of the Reform Accounts in Neh 5 and 13	165	(6)
8.3 Nehemiah as an Ideal Leader - 5:14-19	171	(9)
8.3.1 Introduction	171	(2)
8.3.2 The Date in V. 14	173	(3)
8.3.3 The Portrayal of Nehemiah's Governorship	176	(4)
8.4 Nehemiah's Call for a Cancellation of Debts: VV. 1-13 and 19	180	(6)
8.5 Conclusions	186	(3)
III. Additional Reforms during the Work on the Wall - 13:4-31
Introduction	189	(23)
9. The Cultic Reforms - 13:4-14	191	(21)
9.1. Introduction	191	(1)
9.2 The Eliashib-Tobiah Affair - 13:4-9	191	(13)
9.2.1. The Interpolation of V. 6b	191	(6)
9.2.2 The Original Literary Setting of 13:4-9	197	(5)
9.2.3 The Historicity of Episode	202	(2)
9.3 The Reinstallation of the Levites and Singers - 13:10-14	204	(6)
9.3.1 The Historical Settings	204	(3)
9.3.2 Nehemiah's Levitical Partisanship	207	(3)
9.4. Conclusions	210	(2)
Excursus I: The Composition of Neh 10:1-40	212	(9)
10. The Sabbath-Reforms - 13:15-22	221	(22)
10.1. Introduction	221	(2)
10.2. Synchronic Analysis	223	(1)
10.3. Diachronic Analysis	224	(17)
10.3.1. The Final Redaction	225	(4)
10.3.2. The Affinities of the Final Redaction to Jer 17:19ff	229	(4)
10.3.3 The Earliest Editions	233	(8)
10.4 Conclusions	241	(2)
11. The Marriage-Reforms - 13:23-31	243	(28)
11.1. Introduction	243	(1)
11.2 The Literary Development of 13:23-26 and Ezra 9-10	244	(13)
11.2.1 Analysis of 13:23-26	244	(4)
11.2.2. Comparison with Ezra 9-10	248	(9)
11.3. The Banishment of Eliashib's Descendant - 13:28f	257	(11)
11.3.1 The Notice 13:28f. in its Context	257	(4)
11.3.2 Possible Historical Backgrounds to 13:28f	261	(7)
11.4 Conclusions	268	(3)
IV. The Dedication of the Wall (12:27-13:3) and the Formation of a New Climax (7:1-12:26)
Introduction	271	(2)
12. The Account of the Dedication Ceremonies (12:27ff.) and the Analogy of 7:1-3	273	(22)
12.1 Introduction	273	(1)
12.2 Analysis of the Composition of 12:27-43	273	(15)
12.2.1 The Abrupt Beginning in v. 31	273	(2)
12.2.2 The Continuation of v. 31b in v. 37	275	(1)
12.2.3 The Lists of the Participants in vv. 32-36	276	(4)
12.2.4 The Second TBdah	280	(4)
12.2.5 The Conclusion in v. 43 and the Priority of the Third-Person Narrative in vv. 27 and 43	284	(4)
12.3 The Third-Person Substratum in 7:1-3	288	(4)
12.4 Conclusions	292	(3)
13. The Account of the Dedication Ceremonies and the Growth of Chaps. 7-13	295	(20)
13.1. Introduction	295	(1)
13.2 The Priority of 12:27 vis-i-vis 11:3ff. and 13:10-13, 14b	296	(1)
13.3 The Literary Link between 7:1-3 + 11:1-2	297	(12)
13.3.1 The Enrollment of the Residents of the "New" Jerusalem in 7:4-72	298	(3)
13.3.2 The Priority of Ezra 2	301	(3)
13.3.3 The Connections Between 7:1-3 and 11:1-2	304	(3)
13.3.4 The Late Character of 7:1-3 +11:1-2	307	(2)
13.4 The Analogy of the Temple Dedication in Ezra 6:16-22	309	(4)
13.5 Conclusions	313	(2)
14. The Final Form of the Book in Neh 12:44-13:3 and Neh 8-10	315	(4)
14.1 Introduction 315
14.2 The Youngest Additions to Ezra-Neh-Neh 12:44-13:3 and Neh 8-10	315	(6)
14.2.1 The Paragraphs in 12:44-13:3	315	(2)
14.2.2 The Literary Setting(s) of 8:13-18 and 9:1-10:40	317	(2)
Excursus II: Evidence of Editorial Activity in 8:1-12	319	(21)
14.2.3 The Provenance of 8:1-12	321	(9)
14.2.3.1 The Evidence of 1 Esdras	322	(3)
14.2.3.2 The Transposition-Hypothesis	325	(5)
14.3 Concluding Survey	330	(10)
The Primary Compositional Layers of Neh 1-13 (Table)	340	(1)
Bibliographies	341	(14)
Index of Biblical and Ancient Literature	355	(9)
Index of Modem Authors	364	(4)
Index of Subjects	368