Scriptural Tales Retold
The Inventiveness of Second Temple Jews
1st Edition
Published on 25. July 2024
184 pages
978-0-567-71520-3 (ISBN)
Description
Erich S. Gruen investigates a remarkable phenomenon in religious and literary history: the freedom with which Jewish writers in antiquity retold and recast, sometimes distorted or bypassed, biblical narratives that ostensibly had the status of sacred texts. Gruen asks the question of what prompted such tampering with tales that carried divine authority, and what implications this widespread practice of liberal revising had for attitudes toward the sacrality of the scriptures in general.
Gruen focuses upon writings of the Second Temple period, an era of the deep integration of Jewish history and the Greco-Roman world. Gruen brings to the task the training of a classicist and ancient historian rather than that of a biblical textual critic or a rabbinics scholar, not pursuing the commentaries of the later rabbis with their very different approaches, methods, and goals. As such, Gruen's emphasis rests upon narrative rather than legal matters, the haggadic rather than the halakhic. The former lends itself most readily to the creative instincts of the re-tellers.
Gruen focuses upon writings of the Second Temple period, an era of the deep integration of Jewish history and the Greco-Roman world. Gruen brings to the task the training of a classicist and ancient historian rather than that of a biblical textual critic or a rabbinics scholar, not pursuing the commentaries of the later rabbis with their very different approaches, methods, and goals. As such, Gruen's emphasis rests upon narrative rather than legal matters, the haggadic rather than the halakhic. The former lends itself most readily to the creative instincts of the re-tellers.
More details
Series
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-0-567-71520-3 (9780567715203)
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
Book
approx. 02/2026
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€43.70
Not yet published
Book
08/2024
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€126.28
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Person
Erich S. Gruen is the Gladys Rehard Wood Professor Emeritus of History and Classics at the University of California, Berkeley, USA.
Content
Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
1. The Tower of Babel
2. Abraham in Egypt
3. Sarah and Hager
4.The Aqedah
5.The Testament of Abraham
6. The Rape of Dinah
7. The Conflicting Character of Joseph
8. Tamar and Judah
9. Moses and God
10. Moses in Ethiopia
11. Moses as Universal Figure
12. Balaam and Wayward Prophecy
13. Yael and he Death of Sisera
14. Jephthah and his Daughter
15. Samson as Superhero
16. The Judean Monarchy and Saul
17. Solomon and the Building of the Temple
18. The Travails of Job
19. The Additions to Esther
Conclusion
Index
Abbreviations
Introduction
1. The Tower of Babel
2. Abraham in Egypt
3. Sarah and Hager
4.The Aqedah
5.The Testament of Abraham
6. The Rape of Dinah
7. The Conflicting Character of Joseph
8. Tamar and Judah
9. Moses and God
10. Moses in Ethiopia
11. Moses as Universal Figure
12. Balaam and Wayward Prophecy
13. Yael and he Death of Sisera
14. Jephthah and his Daughter
15. Samson as Superhero
16. The Judean Monarchy and Saul
17. Solomon and the Building of the Temple
18. The Travails of Job
19. The Additions to Esther
Conclusion
Index
