Zechariah 1-8 is a deeply intertextual work which takes up formerly disparate streams of tradition - especially various elements of what it calls 'the former prophets' - and creatively combines these traditions, in applying them to a post-exilic context. This fact means that Zechariah 1-8 is situated in a dual context - the literary context of 'the former prophets', and the historical context of the early post-exilic period. This work seeks to understand Zechariah 1-8 in the light of its dual context. When Zechariah 1-8 is read in this way, a number of otherwise perplexing passages are...
Zechariah 1-8 is a deeply intertextual work which takes up formerly disparate streams of tradition - especially various elements of what it calls '...
At the heart of the Exodus is a recitation of the Decalogue, a "contract" between Yahweh and Israel that inscribes Israel into the fabric of human societies while emphasizing its uniqueness through Yahweh. According to the demands of the Decalogue, manhood entails the avoidance of stealing, killing, and coveting, not to mention apostasy and violation of the Sabbath and other men's property. What, then, would be the essence of womanhood, if different?
Is there an exclusion of women from active participation in the Sinaitic theophany and, consequently, from active sharing of...
At the heart of the Exodus is a recitation of the Decalogue, a "contract" between Yahweh and Israel that inscribes Israel into the fabric of human ...
In the last two decades, there has been a resurgence of interest in the value of the Old Testament for modern ethical questions. John Rogerson is a scholar who has dedicated much of his academic life to probing the possibility of the abiding significance of the Old Testament for moral issues today. This volume brings together for the first time many of his contributions-both published and unpublished-to Old Testament social ethics. This volume can serve both as a general reference work as well as a textbook for classes in Old Testament ethics at seminaries and theological colleges.
In the last two decades, there has been a resurgence of interest in the value of the Old Testament for modern ethical questions. John Rogerson is a sc...
This close synchronic analysis of Exodus 1-2 looks at how the pericope's structure, language, focalization and management of information form its conception and judgement of its events and characters. A coherence of concerns is detectable in Exodus 1-2 with allusions to Genesis and the later chapters of Exodus. One chapter is assigned to each of seven narrative unities and deals in various ways with its narrative problems. The resulting eclectic choice of analytical tools includes the study of Proppian structural functions, repetition, public rhetoric, narrative speeds, order and...
This close synchronic analysis of Exodus 1-2 looks at how the pericope's structure, language, focalization and management of information form its c...
An illuminating examination of the emergence of deuteronomic theology in pre-exilic Judah. Judaean deuteronomism grew as a response to the social unrest of the Assyrian period, channelling popular discontent away from the Davidic monarchy and towards foreign imperialism. The author brings together different strands of current scholarship, studying the economy of monarchical Judah and Israel, and examining the commanding social role of the Davidic monarchy. Lowery also discusses Ahaz and the economic and religious impact of Assyrian imperialism, and concludes with a discussion of the Manasseh...
An illuminating examination of the emergence of deuteronomic theology in pre-exilic Judah. Judaean deuteronomism grew as a response to the social unre...
Six scholars explore the nature of history and historical reconstruction and the place of history within biblical studies. The uncritical use of both text and artifact that continues to dominate histories of Israel and Judah testifies to the need for a wider grassroots awareness of the basic issues involved in doing history as a biblical scholar. A growing number of scholars are questioning the theoretical underpinnings of the main 'schools' of research and are calling for an approach that makes a more critical evaluation of both textual and artifactual material before using it in historical...
Six scholars explore the nature of history and historical reconstruction and the place of history within biblical studies. The uncritical use of both ...
The only consensus that has been reached on Hosea 1-3 is that it is a notoriously 'problematic' text. Sherwood unpicks this rather vague statement by examining the particular complexities of the text and frictions between the text and reader that conspire to produce such a disorientating effect. Four dimensions of the 'problem' are considered: the conflict between text and reader over the 'improper' relationship between Hosea and Gomer; the bizarre prophetic sign-language that conscripts people into a cosmic charade; the text's propensity to subvert its central theses; and the emergent...
The only consensus that has been reached on Hosea 1-3 is that it is a notoriously 'problematic' text. Sherwood unpicks this rather vague statement ...
The first chapter of this unusual and instructive work shows how the study of sound patterns in Old Testament Hebrew poetry is integral to the investigation of bublical poetry. Then several chapters describe and systematize the sound patterns, beginning with simpler examples of assonance and alliteration. The analysis gradually moves on to more complex configurations which link words and phrases, emphasize key words, mark off syntactical and semantic units, and highlight word repetition and word play. A relationship between sound pattern and meaning in each proverb is shown...
The first chapter of this unusual and instructive work shows how the study of sound patterns in Old Testament Hebrew poetry is integral to the inve...
An intriguing and subtle study of five Genesis dreams: Abimelech's (20.1-18), Jacob's (28.10-22; 31.10-13), Laban's (31.24) and Abraham's (15.1-21). Like many of their ancient Near Eastern counterparts, all occur at times of uncertainty, concern status, and emphasize divine involvement in human affairs. At a deeper level, they also address doubts arising from God's promise of land, descendants and a unique role for Israel among the nations. Their particular treatment of relations between Israelites and non-Israelites and of Israel's absence from the land points to the Babylonian Exile as...
An intriguing and subtle study of five Genesis dreams: Abimelech's (20.1-18), Jacob's (28.10-22; 31.10-13), Laban's (31.24) and Abraham's (15.1-21)...
A vigorous imagination is the principal source for many of the abnormalities of fictional characters. Many of the motifs also bear some relation to the rituals and religious symbols embraced by the people among whom they are or were at one time, current. Another important source can be found in symbolism of a religious or social kind. This motif-index is the first to present and analyse this material in biblical narrative and post-biblical literature down to the twelfth century CE; it lists all possible abnormalities, deformities and disabilities, arranged according to the parts of the body...
A vigorous imagination is the principal source for many of the abnormalities of fictional characters. Many of the motifs also bear some relation to th...