This study considers the historical, cultural, and literary significance of some of the most important Ancient Near East (ANE) texts that illuminate the Hebrew Bible. Christopher B. Hays provides primary texts from the Ancient Near East with a comparison to literature of the Hebrew Bible to demonstrate how Israel's Scriptures not only draw from these ancient contexts but also reshape them in a unique way.
Hays offers a brief introduction to comparative studies, then lays out examples from various literary genres that shed light on particular biblical texts. Texts about ANE law...
This study considers the historical, cultural, and literary significance of some of the most important Ancient Near East (ANE) texts that illuminat...
Shows how ancient Near Eastern attitudes toward death illumine the Hebrew Bible
Death is one of the major themes of First Isaiah, although it has not generally been recognized as such. In this work Christopher Hays offers fresh interpretations of more than a dozen passages in Isaiah 5-38 in light of ancient beliefs about death. What especially distinguishes Hays's study is its holistic approach, as he brilliantly synthesizes both literary and archaeological evidence, resulting in new insights.
Hays first summarizes what is known about death in the ancient Near...
Shows how ancient Near Eastern attitudes toward death illumine the Hebrew Bible
Death is one of the major themes of First Isaiah, a...
