
Daniel Evokes Isaiah
Allusive Characterization of Foreign Rule in the Hebrew-Aramaic Book of Daniel
G. Brooke Lester(Author)
T.& T.Clark Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 22. October 2015
Book
Hardback
248 pages
978-0-567-65857-9 (ISBN)
Description
Lester argues here that the book of Daniel contains a complex but poetically unified narrative. This can be identified through certain narrative qualities, including the allusion to Isaiah throughout, which uniquely contributes to the narrative arc. The narrative begins with the inauguration of foreign rule over Israel, and concludes with that rule's end. Each stage of the book's composition casts that foreign rule in terms ever-more-reminiscent of Isaiah's depiction of Assyria. That enemy is first conscripted by God to punish Israel, but then arrogates punitive authority to itself until ultimately punished in its turn and destroyed. Each apocalypse in the book of Daniel carries forward, in its own way, that allusive characterization.
Lester thus argues that an allusive poetics can be investigated as an intentional rhetorical trope in a work for which the concept of "author" is complex; that a narrative criticism can incorporate a critical understanding of composition history. The "Daniel" resulting from this inquiry depicts Daniel's 2nd-century Jewish reader not as suffering punishment for breaking covenant with God, but as enduring in covenant faithfulness the last days of the "Assyrian" arrogator's violent excesses. This narrative problematizes any simplistic narrative conceptions of biblical Israel as ceaselessly rebellious, lending a unique note to conversations about suffering and theodicy in the Hebrew Bible, and about anti-Judaic habits in Christian reading of the Hebrew Bible.
Lester thus argues that an allusive poetics can be investigated as an intentional rhetorical trope in a work for which the concept of "author" is complex; that a narrative criticism can incorporate a critical understanding of composition history. The "Daniel" resulting from this inquiry depicts Daniel's 2nd-century Jewish reader not as suffering punishment for breaking covenant with God, but as enduring in covenant faithfulness the last days of the "Assyrian" arrogator's violent excesses. This narrative problematizes any simplistic narrative conceptions of biblical Israel as ceaselessly rebellious, lending a unique note to conversations about suffering and theodicy in the Hebrew Bible, and about anti-Judaic habits in Christian reading of the Hebrew Bible.
Reviews / Votes
Lester's work represents a welcome contribution both to scholarship on Daniel and to the study of the reception of scriptural texts in the Second Temple period...those who are interested in the book of Daniel, the reception of Isaiah, or inner-biblical allusion will find this book to be a valuable work. * The Catholic Biblical Quarterly * The detailed analysis and careful judgement make this book a useful resource. (Bloomsbury Translation) * BIBLICA *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
540 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-567-65857-9 (9780567658579)
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
Other editions
Additional editions

G. Brooke Lester
Daniel Evokes Isaiah
Allusive Characterization of Foreign Rule in the Hebrew-Aramaic Book of Daniel
E-Book
11/2015
1st Edition
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€39.99
Available for download
Person
G. Brooke Lester is Assistant Professor in Hebrew Scriptures and Director of Digital Learning at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, USA.
Content
Table of Contents
Abbreviations
Chapter 1. Daniel Evokes Isaiah
Chapter 2. Intertextuality and Allusion in Daniel
Chapter 3. Allusions to Isaiah in the Apocalypses
Chapter 4. Allusions to Isaiah int he Court Legends, with conclusions
Chapter 5. Isaiah and the Rule of the Nations
Chapter 6. Texts and Translations
Bibliography
Index
Abbreviations
Chapter 1. Daniel Evokes Isaiah
Chapter 2. Intertextuality and Allusion in Daniel
Chapter 3. Allusions to Isaiah in the Apocalypses
Chapter 4. Allusions to Isaiah int he Court Legends, with conclusions
Chapter 5. Isaiah and the Rule of the Nations
Chapter 6. Texts and Translations
Bibliography
Index