It has been increasingly evident to specialists that Mesopotamian literature cannot be understood properly without grasping the realities of scribal practice, including education. With his bold proposal that the inscriptions from Kuntillet 'Ajrud reflect the work of students and show the influence of older cuneiform education, Schniedewind advances dramatically the application of this approach to alphabetic writing and biblical literature. As discussion and debate continue, this will be essential reading for years to come.
William M. Schniedewind has been a Professor of Biblical Studies and Northwest Semitic Languages at UCLA for twenty-five years. He has been the Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures and held the Kershaw Endowed Chair of Ancient Eastern Mediterranean Studies. Professor Schniedewind is the author of six books and numerous articles.