Skip to Main Content

Profiling Jewish Literature in Antiquity: An Inventory, from Second Temple Texts to the Talmuds

Online ISBN:
9780191764981
Print ISBN:
9780199684328
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Book

Profiling Jewish Literature in Antiquity: An Inventory, from Second Temple Texts to the Talmuds

Alexander Samely,
Alexander Samely
Professor of Jewish Thought, School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, University of Manchester
Find on
Philip Alexander (ed.),
Philip Alexander
(ed.)
Professor Emeritus of Post-Biblical Jewish Literature, Manchester University
Find on
Rocco Bernasconi (ed.),
Rocco Bernasconi
(ed.)
Professor Emeritus of Post-Biblical Jewish Literature, Manchester University
Find on
Robert Hayward (ed.)
Robert Hayward
(ed.)
Professor of Hebrew, Department of Theology and Religion, University of Durham
Find on
Published online:
1 January 2014
Published in print:
7 November 2013
Online ISBN:
9780191764981
Print ISBN:
9780199684328
Publisher:
Oxford University Press

Abstract

This book introduces a new system for describing non-biblical ancient Jewish literature. It arises from a fresh empirical investigation into the literary structures of many anonymous and pseudepigraphic sources, including Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha of the Old Testament, the larger Dead Sea Scrolls, Midrash, and the Talmuds. A comprehensive framework of several hundred literary features, based on modern literary studies and text linguistics, allows describing the variety of important text types which characterize ancient Judaism without recourse to vague and superficial genre terms. The features proposed cover all aspects of the ancient Jewish texts, including the self-presentation, perspective, and knowledge horizon assumed by the text; any poetic constitution, narration, thematic discourse, or commentary format; common small forms and small-scale relationships governing neighbouring parts; compilations; dominant subject matter; and similarities to the canonical books of the Hebrew Bible. By treating works of diverse genres and periods by the same conceptual grid, the new framework breaks down artificial barriers to interdisciplinary research and prepares the ground for new large-scale comparative studies. The book introduces and presents the new framework, explains and illustrates every descriptive category with reference to specific ancient Jewish texts, and provides sample profiles of Jubilees, the Temple Scroll, Mishnah, and Genesis Rabbah.

Contents
Close
This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

Sign In or Create an Account

Close

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

View Article Abstract & Purchase Options

For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription.

Close