Collections, Codes, and Torah
The Re-characterization of Israel's Written Law
Published on 28. November 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-567-69267-2 (ISBN)
Description
Scholars of biblical law are already widely agreed that ancient Israel did not draft law-texts for legislative purposes. Little attention has yet been given to explaining how and when later Judaism did come to regard Torah as legislative. As a result, the current consensus (that Ezra introduced legislative uses of Torah) is based on assumptions which have been never tested. This study steps into that crucial gap, critiques and challenges the current consensus, and presents an alternative hypothesis.
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Reviews / Votes
"This is a thorough and creative treatment, and the arguments in chs. 4-6, in particular, will command attention from students of the growth of institutionalization in Jewish law" 32.5 (2008) -- B.S. Jackson * Journal for the Study of the Old Testament *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
4 bw illus
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-567-69267-2 (9780567692672)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Michael Lefebvre is a minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church (North America).
Content
Lefebvre
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: Collections, Codes, and Torah....................................................................... 1
The Cuneiform Law-Writings .................................................................................................8
The Athenian Law-Writings ................................................................................................. 17
Methodology and Approach ................................................................................................. 21
2. Written-Law in Ancient Israel............................................................................................ 28
Current Scholarship on Hebrew Law-Writing ............................................................................ 29
Source-Law in the Pentateuchal Judiciary ............................................................................... 36
Proponents of the Legislative Model ...................................................................................... 43
Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 49
3. Written-Law in the Deuteronomic School ........................................................................ 51
Patrick on Deuteronomic Law-Writings ................................................................................... 53
Westbrook on Deuteronomic Law-Writings ............................................................................... 66
Deuteronomic Attitudes toward Law-Writings........................................................................... 79
Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 86
4. Written-Law in Persian-Era Yehud.................................................................................... 87
Law-Book Citations in Ezra-Nehemiah .................................................................................... 92
Law-Book Study in Ezra-Nehemiah........................................................................................119
Conclusions ...................................................................................................................126
5. Written-Law in Hellenistic-Era Judea (I): Ptolemaic Court-Reforms.............................. 133
The Juridical System of Ptolemy II - in Egypt..........................................................................140
The Juridical System of Ptolemy II - in Judea .........................................................................144
The Impact on Native-Law - in Egypt....................................................................................148
The Impact on Native-Law - in Judea ...................................................................................157
Conclusions ...................................................................................................................164
6. Written-Law in Hellenistic-Era Judea (II): The Civilized/Barbarian Polemic................. 166
The Civilized/Barbarian Polemic..........................................................................................167
Diaspora Torah Polemics (the Hellenistic Writers).....................................................................172
Judean Torah Polemics (1 and 2 Maccabees)............................................................................185
Conclusions ...................................................................................................................217
7. Written-Law in Greco-Roman Torah Sects: A Projection............................................... 219
Rabbinic Judaism: The Mishnah ...........................................................................................220
Qumran: Community Rule (1QS) ..........................................................................................225
"Nazarene" Judaism: Matthew's Jesus ..................................................................................228
Conclusions ...................................................................................................................233
8. Conclusion: The Re-characterization of Israel's Written-Law ....................................... 234
Main Project Conclusions...................................................................................................235
Projected Implications / Further Research...............................................................................239
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: Collections, Codes, and Torah....................................................................... 1
The Cuneiform Law-Writings .................................................................................................8
The Athenian Law-Writings ................................................................................................. 17
Methodology and Approach ................................................................................................. 21
2. Written-Law in Ancient Israel............................................................................................ 28
Current Scholarship on Hebrew Law-Writing ............................................................................ 29
Source-Law in the Pentateuchal Judiciary ............................................................................... 36
Proponents of the Legislative Model ...................................................................................... 43
Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 49
3. Written-Law in the Deuteronomic School ........................................................................ 51
Patrick on Deuteronomic Law-Writings ................................................................................... 53
Westbrook on Deuteronomic Law-Writings ............................................................................... 66
Deuteronomic Attitudes toward Law-Writings........................................................................... 79
Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 86
4. Written-Law in Persian-Era Yehud.................................................................................... 87
Law-Book Citations in Ezra-Nehemiah .................................................................................... 92
Law-Book Study in Ezra-Nehemiah........................................................................................119
Conclusions ...................................................................................................................126
5. Written-Law in Hellenistic-Era Judea (I): Ptolemaic Court-Reforms.............................. 133
The Juridical System of Ptolemy II - in Egypt..........................................................................140
The Juridical System of Ptolemy II - in Judea .........................................................................144
The Impact on Native-Law - in Egypt....................................................................................148
The Impact on Native-Law - in Judea ...................................................................................157
Conclusions ...................................................................................................................164
6. Written-Law in Hellenistic-Era Judea (II): The Civilized/Barbarian Polemic................. 166
The Civilized/Barbarian Polemic..........................................................................................167
Diaspora Torah Polemics (the Hellenistic Writers).....................................................................172
Judean Torah Polemics (1 and 2 Maccabees)............................................................................185
Conclusions ...................................................................................................................217
7. Written-Law in Greco-Roman Torah Sects: A Projection............................................... 219
Rabbinic Judaism: The Mishnah ...........................................................................................220
Qumran: Community Rule (1QS) ..........................................................................................225
"Nazarene" Judaism: Matthew's Jesus ..................................................................................228
Conclusions ...................................................................................................................233
8. Conclusion: The Re-characterization of Israel's Written-Law ....................................... 234
Main Project Conclusions...................................................................................................235
Projected Implications / Further Research...............................................................................239