It is commonly accepted in various disciplines and contexts that history writing often (if not always!) contribute to the process of identity (re)formation. Using the past in order to find a renewed identity in new (socio-political and socio-religious) circumstances, is something that we also witness in Hebrew Bible historiographies. The so-called Deuteronomistic History, as well as the works of Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah, are often read from the perspective of a community trying to find a new identity in changed circumstances.
In the Historical Books section at the 2008 Auckland SBL International Meeting, this perspective was investigated further. The papers presented included theoretical reflections on the relationship between historiography and identity (re)formation, as well as illustrations from Hebrew Bible historiographies (of the Exilic and Second Temple periods). These papers, together with a few responses to the papers, are offered here to a wider scholarly audience.
Contributors include Jon Berquist, Mark Brett, Louis Jonker, Mark Leuchter, Christine Mitchell, Klaas Spronk, Gerrie Snyman, Ray Person, Armin Siedlecki, and Jacob Wright.
It is commonly accepted in various disciplines and contexts that history writing often (if not always!) contribute to the process of identity (re)formation. Using the past in order to find a renewed identity in new (socio-political and socio-religious) circumstances, is something that we also witness in Hebrew Bible historiographies. The so-called Deuteronomistic History, as well as the works of Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah, are often read from the perspective of a community trying to find a new identity in changed circumstances.
In the Historical Books section at the 2008 Auckland SBL International Meeting, this perspective was investigated further. The papers presented included theoretical reflections on the relationship between historiography and identity (re)formation, as well as illustrations from Hebrew Bible historiographies (of the Exilic and Second Temple periods). These papers, together with a few responses to the papers, are offered here to a wider scholarly audience.
Contributors include Jon Berquist, Mark Brett, Louis Jonker, Mark Leuchter, Christine Mitchell, Klaas Spronk, Gerrie Snyman, Ray Person, Armin Siedlecki, and Jacob Wright.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Contributors
INTRODUCTION 1
PART I: DELIBERATIONS
IDENTITIES AND EMPIRE. HISTORIOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS FOR THE
DEUTERONOMISTIC HISTORY IN THE PERSIAN PERIOD
Jon L. Berquist
THE BOOK OF JUDGES AS A LATE CONSTRUCT
Klaas Spronk
NATIONAL IDENTITY AS COMMENTARY AND AS METACOMMENTARY
Mark G. Brett
COMING TO TERMS WITH EZRA'S MANY IDENTITIES IN EZRA-NEHEMIAH
Mark Leuchter
DAVID'S OFFICIALS ACCORDING TO THE CHRONICLER (1 CHR 23-27): A
REFLECTION OF SECOND TEMPLE SELF-CATEGORIZATION?
Louis C. Jonker
"IDENTITY (RE)FORMATION AS THE HISTORICAL CIRCUMSTANCES
REQUIRED"
Raymond F. Person, Jr.
"PERSIAN PERIOD STUDIES HAVE COME OF AGE"
Armin Siedlecki
IDENTITY, POWER AND THE WORLD OF ANCIENT (BIBLICAL) TEXT
PRODUCTION
Gerrie Snyman
"CONTINUING THESE CONVERSATIONS"
Jacob L. Wright
Includes theoretical reflections on the relationship between historiography and identity (re)formation, and illustrations from Hebrew Bible historiographies (of the Exilic and Second Temple periods).
Includes theoretical reflections on the relationship between historiography and identity (re)formation, and illustrations from Hebrew Bible historiographies (of the Exilic and Second Temple periods).
Louis Jonker is Associate Professor in the Department of Old and New Testament, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
An engaging and diverse set of essays tackling difficult issues of
ethnicity, nationality, and power in early Second Temple times.
--Gerald N. Knoppers, Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Classics and
Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Religious Studies, and Jewish
Studies, Penn State University
I enjoyed reading this thoughtful and thought-provoking volume. It
brings to the forefront numerous issues that deserve much attention
among those interested in questions of ancient Israelite
historiography, social memory, identity formation during the
Persian and Hellenistic period . The variety of approaches
exemplified in the volume enhances its usefulness and invites
further reflection. Highly recommended. --Ehud Ben Zvi, History and
Classics, University of Alberta
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