The Place of Court Tales in the Hebrew Bible and Early Jewish LiteratureForm, Development, and Function
Andrew Knight-Messenger (Author)
Hardback
$120.00$108.00Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
$108.00$86.40Ebook (PDF)
$108.00$86.40Product details
Published May 14 2026
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Pages 240
ISBN 9781666980936 Imprint T&T Clark
Illustrations 12 tables
Dimensions 9 x 6 inches
Series The Library of Second Temple Studies
Publisher Bloomsbury PublishingDescription
A groundbreaking reassessment of the Jewish court tale, a genre that shaped Second Temple literature and theology. Andrew D. Knight-Messenger brings fresh insight to narratives featuring Jewish figures navigating foreign royal courts, from Daniel and Esther to lesser-known stories preserved in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Far from being historical curiosities, these tales emerge as literary and theological responses to exile, exploring themes of divine sovereignty, identity, and restoration.
Knight-Messenger demonstrates how court tales challenge traditional views of exile as punishment, reframing it as a setting for divine action and renewal. His analysis uncovers links to apocalyptic motifs and the development of Jewish eschatology, situating these narratives within broader currents of ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean traditions.
Combining close literary reading with historical context, this volume traces the rise, evolution, and decline of the genre, offering comparative insights and revealing its enduring significance for understanding Jewish thought in the Second Temple period.
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