Evans et al. (eds.), Visions and Violence in the Pseudepigrapha (T&T Clark)

NEW BOOK FROM BLOOMSBURY/T&T CLARK:

Visions and Violence in the Pseudepigrapha

Craig A. Evans (Anthology Editor), Brian Leport (Anthology Editor), Paul T. Sloan (Anthology Editor)

Hardback
$115.00 $103.50

Ebook (PDF)
$103.50 $82.80

Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
$103.50 $82.80

Product details

Published Dec 16 2021
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 280
ISBN 9780567703217
Imprint T&T Clark
Dimensions 9 x 6 inches
Series Jewish and Christian Texts
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

Description

The nine essays that make up this volume provide cutting-edge studies of how sacred tradition is given new expression through vision and interpretation. The first four essays focus on the expansion of the sacred tradition primarily through vision. The evolution of the Solomon legacy, from wise king to healer and exorcist, is explored, as well as its contribution to the demonology of the desert fathers, especially as it concerns eroticism and sexual temptation. The varied receptions of the Revelation of the Magi and Shepherd of Hermas are also considered.

The remaining five essays address important questions relating to polemic and violence in the Pseudepigrapha. How does the author of the Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum justify God's alternating judgment and favor? How does Enoch's Animal Apocalypse make use of the Exodus tradition in its expression of deliverance? On what basis can the author of Qumran's War Scroll confidently predict Israel's vindication? And finally, what accounts for the appearance of the tradition of Gehenna, in which the wicked will meet their fiery end?

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The Books of Haggai and Zechariah in their Persian Context

THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY: Visions from the Middle Territory: The Books of Haggai and Zechariah in their Persian Context (Robert L. Foster).

For the author's recent book, The Theology of the Books of Haggai and Zechariah (CUP), see here

For some thoughts on the Book of Zechariah, see here. And there are many other posts on the prophets Haggai and Zechariah and their books in the PaleoJudaica archives.

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

Review of Ramos, Ritual in Deuteronomy

BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Ritual in Deuteronomy: the performance of doom.

Melissa D. Ramos, Ritual in Deuteronomy: the performance of doom. The ancient word. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 2021. Pp. xiv, 170. ISBN 9781138570986 $160.00.

Review by
Lindy Williams, Fuller Seminary. lindy@fuller.edu

... In chapter four she brings her points together, arguing that the connections between the incantation texts, STE, and other evidence makes the late Iron Age the likely date of the background setting of Deut 27–30. While many view the ritual material in Deuteronomy as a late addition that disrupts the narrative, Ramos’ study shows Deut 27 as an integral part of the surrounding legal material. ...

I noted the publication of the book here.

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Biblical Studies Carnival 191

ZWINGLIUS REDIVIVUS: The January Carnival of the Biblical Studies Carnivals: The Most Glorious Carnival from 2022 So Far (Jim West).

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Coin of Emperor Valentinian found in Israel

NUMISMATICS: Israel discovers 1,650-year-old Roman coin with emperor's portrait (Xinua via MSN). The brief article reports that the coin was discovered by school children in the Besor Stream region in Southern Israel.

I am curious why only Xinua seems to have noticed the IAA announcement.

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Is that Mount Ebal amulet inscribed?

NORTHWEST SEMITIC EPIGRAPHY AND ICONOGRAPHY? Last week I noted the report on the late second-millennium lead amulet recently recovered from the stored dust of the Mount Ebal altar excavation. The article claims that grooves inscribed on the amulet resembled the Hebrew letter "alef" (aleph) in roughly the shape of a bull's head (which sounded right for the period) and also a lotus flower.

I lamented the poor quality of the photo and asked for clarification.

Since then, Joseph Lauer has drawn my attention to a blog post by Bryan Windle which includes much better photos of the object. Bryan also links to an article by Zvi Koenigberg in the Jerusalem Report (Jerusalem Post) which gives a more detailed account of the amulet.

If am reading Koenigberg correctly, the inscription on the amulet is on the inside and is only visible on the computer 3-D model which reconstructs the view of the outside and inside. Until we see that reconstruction, it is difficult to evaluate the claim.

I see no clear indication of deliberate markings on the new photo of the still unopened amulet. But they would be visible, if at all, only as an external indentation of marks that are on the inside. So for now I withhold judgment on the claim.

If you want to know what to look for, look at the drawing of the Izbet Sarta abecedary by Frank Moore Cross in this Bible History Daily post. You may need to expand the drawing for a clear view. The Izbet Sarta inscription contains multiple copies of the Canaanite alphabet from around the same time period as the altar on Mount Ebal.

Look on the far left side of the first and last lines. That letter is an aleph. It was originally a drawing of an "ox" head (aleph means "ox" in Canaanite/Hebrew). The stance of the letter varies, but it looks a bit like a rounded capital letter "A" lying on its side. Turn the "A" until it is upside down and you can see the stylized head with the two horns sticking out.

That is what I would expect to see on the inside of the Mount Ebal amulet if there is a letter aleph there. Again, I await more information.

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

A Roman-era (?) site uncovered in Gaza

CHANCE DISCOVERY: Gaza bulldozers uncover ancient Roman-era burial site; some antiquities carted off. Reports say locals have been plundering site in recent weeks; archeologists say find likely points to a nearby Roman temple or a Byzantine church (AP and Times of Israel).

For the reopening of that late-antique church in Gaza as a museum by Hamas, see here.

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

More on the 13K 18K ostraca from Athribis, Egypt

EGYTPTIAN EPIGRAPHY: More than 18,000 pot sherds document life in ancient Egypt (University of Tübingen/PhysOrg).

Egyptologists have recovered more than 18,000 inscribed sherds in ancient Athribis—the remains of vessels and jars that served as writing material some 2,000 years ago. The sherds, known as ostraca, document lists of names, purchases of food and everyday objects, and even writing from a school, including lines written by pupils as a punishment. It is very rare to find such a large volume of ostraca. They were recovered during excavations led by Professor Christian Leitz of the Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Studies (IANES) at the University of Tübingen in cooperation with Mohamed Abdelbadia and his team from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

[...]

I noted an early report of the discovery here. At that point there were only (!) 13,000 inscribed ostraca. This article has a lot of new information on their contents.

For more on the site of Athribis (Atribis), see here.

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

Ganzel, Ezekiel's Visionary Temple in Babylonian Context (De Gruyter)

NEW BOOK FROM DE GRUYTER:

Ezekiel's Visionary Temple in Babylonian Context

Tova Ganzel

Volume 539 in the series Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110740844

PDF & EPUB £79.00
Hardcover £79.00

eBook
Published: September 7, 2021
ISBN: 9783110740844

Hardcover
Published: September 7, 2021
ISBN: 9783110740677

About this book

Ezekiel's Visionary Temple in Babylonian Context examines evidence from Babylonian sources to better understand Ezekiel's vision of the future temple as it appears in chapters 40–48. Tova Ganzel argues that Neo-Babylonian temples provide a meaningful backdrop against which many unique features of Ezekiel's vision can and should be interpreted. In pointing to the similarities between Neo-Babylonian temples and the description in the book of Ezekiel, Ganzel demonstrates how these temples served as a context for the prophet's visions and describes the extent to which these similarities provide a further basis for broader research of the connections between Babylonia and the Bible. Ultimately, she argues the extent to which the book of Ezekiel models its temple on those of the Babylonians. Thus, this book suggests a comprehensive picture of the book of Ezekiel’s worldview and to contextualize its visionary temple by comparing its vision to the actual temples surrounding the Judeans in exile.

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

Leipziger, Lesepraktiken im antiken Judentum (De Gruyter, open access)

NEW OPEN-ACCESS BOOK IN GERMAN FROM DE GRUYTER:

Lesepraktiken im antiken Judentum
Rezeptionsakte, Materialität und Schriftgebrauch
Reading Practices in Ancient Judaism. Acts of reception, materiality and use of writing

Jonas Leipziger

Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Volume 34 in the series Materiale Textkulturen
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110732764

Hardcover £91.00

eBook
Published: September 20, 2021
ISBN: 9783110732764

Hardcover
Published: September 20, 2021
ISBN: 9783110737622

About this book

Open Access

Practices of reading form an important center of synagogal worship as well as Jewish scholarship. The monograph reconstructs the development of ritual reading practices in ancient Judaism based on the triad of acts of reception, materiality, and scriptural use. In this context, Greek-speaking Judaism and its reception of the Greek Bible are given greater attention than before.

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