Viezel, The Intention of the Torah and the Intention of Its Readers (Magnes Press, in Hebrew)

NEW BOOK FROM MAGNES PRESS:

The Intention of the Torah and the Intention of Its Readers
Episodes of Contention

By: Eran Viezel

Publisher: Magnes Press
Year: 2021
Catalog number: 45-131160
ISBN: 978-965-7790-14-4
Pages: 451
Language: Hebrew
Weight: 800 gr.
Cover: Paperback

Synopsis

The Intention of the Torah and the Intention of Its Readers surveys how traditional Jewish exegesis throughout the ages has coped with the literary and topical difficulties found in the Torah, in the context of the belief in the Torah’s divine source and sanctity. “All problems stem from expectations.” Readers and exegetes of the Torah throughout the ages supposed, and many continue to suppose, that the Torah is perfect and flawless. They expect the Torah to reflect superior and timeless standards of morality, as well as precise and eternal theological principles. They believe that everything written in the Torah is true, essential, and well thought out. The history of Torah scholarship from the end of the Second Temple period until our day can be conceived of as an uninterrupted continuum of challenges which this unique and, frankly, impossible level of expectations has imposed upon its readers and exegetes. These are glorious attempts to bring the Torah nearer the time and place of its devotees and to adapt its meaning to theirs. This book is the first attempt of its kind to examine the history of the enterprise of Torah exegesis from a distance. It contains an examination of dozens of key texts from the end of the Second Temple period, from Talmudic and Midrashic sources, dicta of medieval Sages, and the reflections and research penned by scholars of the Enlightenment (Haskalah) and the modern era. A bird’s eye view blurs the details which differentiate between these texts, enabling us to more easily focus upon the similarities; this point of view also allows us to note the central crossroads of change and development which characterize each period. This is an indispensable book for anyone interested in the changing nature of biblical exegesis over the generations.

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Finkelstein, Essays on Biblical Historiography (Mohr Siebeck)

NEW BOOK FROM MOHR SIEBECK: Israel Finkelstein. Essays on Biblical Historiography: From Jeroboam II to John Hyrcanus I. 2022. IX, 592 pages. Forschungen zum Alten Testament 148. 164,00 € including VAT. cloth ISBN 978-3-16-160853-7.

Published in English.
This volume is a collection of articles and new essays by Israel Finkelstein that offers an outline for reconstructing the evolution of biblical historiography over 700 years, starting with Israel in the early eighth century BCE and ending with the days of the Hasmoneans in the late second century BCE. Special emphasis is given to North Israelite traditions which were committed to writing in the days of Jeroboam II; to the arrival of these traditions in Judah after the takeover of Israel by Assyria; to Judahite ideology of the seventh century BCE; and to the legitimacy needs of the Hasmoneans in the days of John Hyrcanus. The analysis is based on the most recent archaeological discoveries, biblical exegesis and ancient Near Eastern records.

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Laderman, Jewish Art in Late Antiquity (Brill)

NEW BOOK FROM BRILL:

Jewish Art in Late Antiquity

The State of Research in Ancient Jewish Art

Series:
Brill Research Perspectives in Humanities and Social Sciences
Brill Research Perspectives in Religion and the Arts

Author: Dr Shulamit Laderman

Antique Jewish art visualized the idea that the essence of God is beyond the world of forms. In the Bible, the Israelites were commanded to build sanctuaries without cult statues. Following the destruction of the Second Temple, Jews turned to literary and visual aids to fill the void. In this accessible survey, Shulamit Laderman traces the visualizations of the Tabernacle implements, including the seven-branch menorah, the Torah ark, the shofar, the four species, and other motifs associated with the Hebrew Bible and the Jewish calendar. These motifs evolved into iconographic symbols visualized in a range of media, including coins, funerary art, and synagogue decorations in both Israel and the Diaspora. Particular attention is given to important discoveries such as the frescoes of the third-century CE synagogue in Dura-Europos, mosaic floors in synagogues in Galilee, and architectural and carved motifs that decorated burial places.

Copyright Year: 2022

Prices from (excl. VAT): €70.00 / $84.00

E-Book (PDF)
Availability: Published
ISBN: 978-90-04-50958-0
Publication Date: 06 Dec 2021

Paperback
Availability: Published
ISBN: 978-90-04-42857-7
Publication Date: 09 Dec 2021

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More on Sefaria's Jerusalem Talmud

(JERUSALEM) TALMUD WATCH: New online translation by Sefaria may be the Jerusalem Talmud’s ‘Cinderella moment.’ The nonprofit offers free access to Jewish texts, and debuts one of its most ambitious projects yet – an interactive version of a cryptic and oft-overlooked version of the Talmud (DAVID STROMBERG, Times of Israel).

The Jerusalem Talmud was not completely forgotten — but its scarcity, as well as its style, made it more difficult to apply. It’s also written in a different Aramaic from the one that became familiar to yeshiva students who pored over the Babylonian Talmud. As Dr. Moshe Simon-Shoshan, a scholar of rabbinic literature and senior lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, explains, the Jerusalem Talmud is shorter, more cryptic, and less edited than the Babylonian Talmud, also known merely as the Bavli. It’s harder to make sense of the text, he adds, and so that people have to be more careful in reading and interpreting the Jerusalem Talmud — or Yerushalmi, as it is also known — especially since the links in the text aren’t as clear.

“I often say,” says Simon-Shoshan, “that you will never complain about the Bavli being unclear after you open the Yerushalmi.”

This article gives a helpful account of what the Talmud Yerushalmi (Palestinian Talmud) is and why it is important.

For more on Sefaria's new online English translation of the Yerushalmi, see here, with lots of background links.

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New information on ancient Hebrew inscribed seals

NORTHWEST SEMITIC EPIGRAPHY: Biblical name, seals shed light on First Temple treasuries. New research published in the Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology offers insights on where the Kingdom of Judah kept its wealth some 2,600 years ago (Rossella Tercatin, Jerusalem Post).

It finally occurred to someone to look at the backs of those inscribed seals. They turn out to bear unexpectedly important information.

For more on the Immer seal, see here, here, and here.

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On Matthew's Magi

'TIS THE SEASON, EPIPHANY EDITION: So Who Were the Magi—AKA the Three Kings—Who Visited Jesus? (Candida Moss, Daily Beast via Yahoo News).

I am bored with the whole magi thing, but I suppose it's good to post on it once a year. According to Matthew 2 some "magi" (magoi) came to Judea to see the "king of the Jews," because they saw "his star in the east." Magos is a Greek spelling of a Persian term for a type of priest. This word, incidentally, is the basis for the English word "magic." They are not called kings, they don't have names, and the text does not say how many there were. People infer there were three because of the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. There are later traditions and books about Matthew's magi which make them kings, assign them names, and claim there were up to twelve of them.

For many PaleoJudaica posts on Matthew's magi, see here and links, plus here and here.

While we're on the subject, past posts on the Star of Bethlehem are here and many links. There are many notions about what it may have been. I think it was a midrash on Numbers 24:17.

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Harper, Paul and Philo on the Politics of the Land, Jerusalem, and Temple (Mohr Siebeck)

NEW BOOK FROM MOHR SIEBECK: John-Paul Harper. Paul and Philo on the Politics of the Land, Jerusalem, and Temple. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2. Reihe 562. 84,00 € including VAT. sewn paper ISBN 978-3-16-160646-5.

Published in English.
In this study, John-Paul Harper critically compares how Paul and Philo rethought the significant Jewish symbols of Land, Jerusalem, and Temple. Drawing particular attention to their political significance, he demonstrates how these symbols offer important insights into how both Paul and Philo conceptualised authority in the local community (Temple), within the wider »people of God« (Jerusalem), and in relation to the Roman Empire (Land). The author argues that, while both conceptualised authority in charismatic terms, Philo's appropriation tended to be more individualistic and focussed on otherworldly realities, whereas Paul's tended to be more communal and focussed on this-worldly realities. Along the way, the author contributes to contemporary discussions of Paul and Philo's Jewish identity, their perspectives on community leadership and order, and their perspectives on the Roman Empire.

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Online Second Temple Judaism Conference (Jan 2022)

THE ENOCH SEMINAR: Studies in Second Temple Judaism: A Global Enterprise. An International Online Conference (January 10-13, 2022).

Chairs: Kelley Coblentz Bautch, Rodney Caruthers, Shayna Sheinfeld, with Gabriele Boccaccini, Amy-Jill Levine, John Collins

Secretary: Joshua Scott

Language: English

The study of Second Temple Jewish history, practice and belief is a global enterprise. The Frankel Institute for Advanced Studies and the Enoch Seminar have invited 44 scholars from across the globe to present their work and engage in a conversation about the present status and the future prospects of the field. Specialists and students in Biblical Studies, Judaic Studies, Classics, and Christian Origins are invited to attend.

Follow the link for registration information and a provisional schedule.

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Online seminar: "Traditions in the Land"

THE BIBLE PLACES BLOG: JUC Online Seminar Schedule. Todd Bolen draws attention to an upcoming online event. He is one of the presenters.

Jerusalem University College, where I studied biblical geography, history, and archaeology, first as an undergrad and later for a graduate degree, is hosting an online seminar this weekend. “Transitions in the Land” will feature eight speakers discussing a variety of topics. The schedule has now been released; all times are US Eastern.

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A biography of Baruch A. Levine

PROFESSOR LAWRENCE H. SCHIFFMAN: BARUCH A. LEVINE: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY. Professor Schiffman links to a De Gruyter open-access article of his on the career of the late Professor Levine.

Background here and here and links.

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The Victorian archaeology of Jerusalem

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: How 19th Century Western Archaeologists Made Jerusalem a Zionist Dream. The search for biblical treasures starting in the 19th century fundamentally changed the way Westerners, including Jews, saw Jerusalem. The consequences were enormous (Andrew Lawler, Haaretz). HT Rogue Classicism.

Andrew Lawler is the author of the new book, Under Jerusalem, on which more here. I noted a recent article by him on the search for the Ark of the Covenant in the nineteenth century here and another by him on the historical background of the Gaza conflict here.

For more on Sir Charles Warren, see here and links.

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Review of new translation of Eusebius' Church History

ANCIENT JEW REVIEW: Review | The History of the Church: A New Translation (Peter Z. Fraser-Morris).

Jeremy Schott’s translation is a remarkable work of scholarship. The translator manages to convey the idiosyncrasies and ancient conventions of Eusebius’ Greek palpable to English-speaking readers.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

Intestinal parasites among the ancient Jerusalem elite

ARCHAEOPARASITOLOGY: Ancient toilet shows Jerusalem’s rich wallowed in luxury – and discomfort. Sediment samples swiped from 2,700-year-old privy reveal the presence of intestinal worm eggs that would have caused abdominal pain, diarrhea and itching (Stuart Winer, Times of Israel).

I noted the discovery of the ancient toilet a few months ago. Follow the links from there for more Latrine News.

The latrine at Qumran likewise showed a high incidence of intestinal parasites. For more on the parasitology of antiquity and the Middle Ages, see here and here.

Sanitation was not much of a thing until surprisingly recently. As I have said repeatedly, the ancients lived in a world whose casual degradation and brutality is hard for us to imagine.

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Archaeology conversations with Israel Finkelstein

THE AWOL BLOG: Free Content for your Bible and Archaeology Classes from the F. W. Albright Institute. Featuring the Shmunis Family Conversations in the Archaeology and History of Ancient Israel with Israel Finkelstein (interviewed by Matthew J. Adams, Director of the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem).

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

Who copied and who canceled the Apocryphal Acts?

THE APOCRYPHICITY BLOG: What Has Apocrypha to Do with Hagiographa? A Reconsideration of the “Editing” of Apocryphal Acts. The following paper was presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (Tony Burke).

Our field today is increasingly skeptical about what church writers say about the texts we study and about their ability to prevent their transmission. We are also moving away from the pursuit of original forms; informed by new philology, we are learning to embrace the variety of text types reflected in the manuscript evidence.

This is a fascinating, albeit technical, account of the transmission of the big-five Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles (Peter, Paul, Thomas, Andrew, and John).

Cross-file under New Testament Apocrypha Watch.

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Archaeological digs to watch in 2022

PREDICTIONS: 5 archaeological 'digs' to watch in 2022. Live Science makes predictions about what archaeologists will uncover in the new year (Owen Jarus, Live Science).

There are a number of archaeological finds and stories we might hear about in 2022. These include discoveries from Egypt's "lost golden city," new finds from Qumran — the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in nearby caves — as well as finds that may shed light on what life was like 11,000 years ago, when humans started building large ceremonial sites. In this countdown, Live Science makes five archaeology predictions for 2022.

I noted Mr. Jarus's predictions for 2017 here. How do you think he did?

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Egyptian sites in Sohag

PHOTO ESSAY: UNCOVER SOHAG’S COLOURFUL HISTORY THROUGH THESE 7 STUNNING SITES. From ancient necropolises to medieval mosques, Sohag is a unique cultural and spiritual experience that encapsulates the diversity of Egyptian heritage (MENNA SHANAB, Cairo Scene).

Steeped in Pharaonic traditions and Coptic heritage, Sohag played a pivotal role in the development of Egypt’s cultural and religious identity with a handful of historical sites to show for it. The seldom-visited governorate hugs Upper Egypt’s stretch of the Nile and is located about 470 kilometres from Cairo. From Pharaonic-inspired monasteries and medieval mosques to ancient necropolises and lavishly decorated temples, Sohag is a unique cultural and spiritual experience that encapsulates the diversity of Egyptian heritage.

Athribis (Atribis) has just been in the news for the cache of 13,000 inscribed ostraca discovered there. (There is another Athribis in Lower Egypt, north of Cairo, which makes matters confusing.) For more on the White Monastery, of crucial importance for the transmission of ancient manuscripts in Egypt, see here and links. Last year there was an exhibition on the city of Akhmin (Akhmim) at the Berlin State Museum. Ahkmim was the site of the discovery of an important Greek manuscript containing material from the Book of 1 Enoch, the Gospel of Peter, and the Apocalyse of Peter. For still more on Ahkmim, follow the link

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Studia Orientalia 9.2 (2021)

BIBLIOGRAPHIA IRANICA: Identity and Empire in the Ancient Near East.

The latest issue of Studia Orientalia Electronica (Vol. 9 No. 2) is dedicated to the theme, “Identity and Empire in the Ancient Near East.” It conveys, inter alia, three articles that fall into the scope of ancient Iranian history and culture:

There are also articles on the Idrimi inscription from Alalakh, religion at ancient Ugarit, and the Chaldean kings of Babylon.

Studia Orientalia is an open-access journal.

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Biblical Studies Carnival 190

READING ACTS: Biblical Studies Carnival 190 for December 2021 (Phil Long).

Phil links to the first ever Biblical Studies Carnival at the Ebla Logs in March of 2005. It turns out that the first link in that carnival was to PaleoJudaica. Good times. Thanks for the reminder, Phil.

By the way, Norman Golb passed away in December of 2020, not 2021.

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Royse Festschrift (Brill)

NEW BOOK FROM BRILL:

Ancient Texts, Papyri, and Manuscripts

Studies in Honor of James R. Royse

Series: New Testament Tools, Studies and Documents, Volume: 64

Volume Editors: Alan Taylor Farnes, Scott D. Mackie, and David Runia

This volume honors Prof. James R. Royse on the occasion of his seventy-fifth birthday and celebrates his scholarly achievement in the fields of New Testament textual criticism and Philonic studies. An introductory section contains a biographical notice on the honoratus and a complete list of his scholarly publications. Part one contains nine articles on New Testament textual criticism, focusing on methodological issues, difficult passages and various textual witnesses. Part two presents eight studies on the thought, writings, textual record, and reception of Philo of Alexandria. This wide-ranging collection of articles will introduce the reader to new findings in the scholarly fields to which Prof. Royse continues to make such an outstanding contribution.

Copyright Year: 2021

Prices from (excl. VAT): €139.00$ / 167.00 Hardback

Hardback
Availability: Published
ISBN: 978-90-04-46557-2
Publication Date: 02 Dec 2021

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Paulsen-Reed, The Apocalypse of Abraham ... (Brill)

NEW BOOK FROM BRILL:

The Apocalypse of Abraham in Its Ancient and Medieval Contexts

Series: The Brill Reference Library of Judaism, Volume: 69

Author: Amy Paulsen-Reed

The Apocalypse of Abraham is a pseudepigraphal work that narrates Abraham’s rejection of idol worship and his subsequent ascent to heaven, where he is shown eschatological secrets through angelic mediation. This fascinating text was only preserved in Old Church Slavonic and must be studied as both a medieval Christian and an ancient Jewish text. This monograph addresses the following questions: -Why were medieval Slavs translating and reading Jewish pseudepigrapha? -How much, if at all, did they emend or edit the Apocalypse of Abraham? -When in antiquity was it most likely written? -What were its ancient Jewish social and theological contexts?

Prices from (excl. VAT): €108.00 / $130.00

Copyright Year: 2022

E-Book (PDF)
Availability: Published
ISBN: 978-90-04-43062-4
Publication Date: 22 Nov 2021

Hardback
Availability: Published
ISBN: 978-90-04-43061-7
Publication Date: 25 Nov 2021

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