Allusive and Elusive: Allusion and the Elihu Speeches of Job 32–37


Book Description

This volume defines allusion then identifies the 23 likely allusions in the Elihu speeches (Job 32–37) to Job 1–31. The allusiveness of the unit is a compositional feature that explains the varied evaluations of Elihu throughout interpretive history.




Job's Body and the Dramatised Comedy of Moralising


Book Description

This book focuses on the expressions used to describe Job's body in pain and on the reactions of his friends to explore the moral and social world reflected in the language and the values that their speeches betray. A key contribution of this monograph is to highlight how the perspective of illness as retribution is powerfully refuted in Job's speeches and, in particular, to show how this is achieved through comedy. Comedy in Job is a powerful weapon used to expose and ridicule the idea of retribution. Rejecting the approach of retrospective diagnosis, this monograph carefully analyses the expression of pain in Job focusing specifically on somatic language used in the deity attack metaphors, in the deity surveillance metaphors and in the language connected to the body and social status. These metaphors are analysed in a comparative way using research from medical anthropology and sociology which focuses on illness narratives and expressions of pain. Job's Body and the Dramatised Comedy of Moralising will be of interest to anyone working on the Book of Job, as well as those with an interest in suffering and pain in the Hebrew Bible more broadly.




Zechariah 9-14


Book Description

It will be argued that Zechariah 9-14 consists of four collections of traditional eschatological hope (9:1-17; 10:3b-12; 12:1-4a, 5, 8-9; and 14:1-13, 14b-21). Of the collections, the first three included hopes vital during the first half of the Persian period. The fourth collection (chapter 14) seems to have arisen later than the other three (though still before the time of Nehemiah) and expressed much more pessimism. These variations were then supplemented by a collection (12:6-7; 12:10-13:6) that is pro-Judean vis-a-vis Jerusalem and by the shepherd materials, which contradict the hopes of the first two collections. This final stage probably arose after the time of Nehemiah, i. e. after the city grew strong enough to raise the ire of Judeans outside the power structure. It is plausible to conclude, therefore, that the redactor of Zechariah 9-14 assembled the four collections and revised them by means of the supplements in 12:6-7, 12:10-13:6 and the shepherd materials.




"Wordplay" in Ancient Near Eastern Texts


Book Description

This book from Scott B. Noegel offers a comparative, in-depth study of "wordplay" in ancient Near Eastern texts. Noegel establishes comprehensive taxonomies for the many kinds of devices that scholars label as wordplay and for their proposed functions. The consistent terminology proposed offers students and scholars of Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Ugaritic, Hebrew, and Aramaic a useful template for documenting and understanding the devices they discover and for comparing them across languages for a rich interdisciplinary dialogue.




A Proverb a Day in Biblical Hebrew


Book Description

Many of the sayings in the biblical book of Proverbs are difficult to read in Hebrew, even for those who know this language well. A Proverb a Day in Biblical Hebrew is designed to help readers of all levels of Hebrew competence meditate on and understand the concise and sometimes enigmatic sayings found in the book of Proverbs. Each verse is presented on one page, which is marked with a day number (from 1 to 365) and a date (January 1 to December 31) so the book can be used as a daily reader or devotional. On each day's page, the verse for the day is divided into two halves, based on the fact that each of the proverbs in the book constitutes a poetic couplet consisting of two parts. After each poetic line, all the words it contains are laid out and glosses are provided. All verbs (including participles) are fully parsed. Finally, at the bottom of the page, an English translation of the verse from two pages earlier is provided. This allows readers who are struggling with the meaning of a given day's proverb, or those who wish to see one possible way it can be rendered, to flip the page and see a translation for it at the bottom of the next two-page spread. In this way, readers can choose to avail themselves of an "answer key" for any of the proverbs when they wish to, but they can also ignore this information (since it is located on the next two-page spread, there is no risk of accidentally seeing it while trying to puzzle through a proverb's meaning). A Proverb a Day in Biblical Hebrew helps readers who have studied Hebrew access the original text of a fascinating and well-loved portion of the Hebrew Bible. It offers readers a simultaneously academic and spiritual experience, walking them slowly and on a regular basis through difficult and enigmatic sayings that invite contemplative reading and sustained reflection.




The Book of Zechariah


Book Description

Over the centuries, the prophetic book of Zechariah has suffered from accusations of obscurity and has frustrated readers seeking to unlock its treasures. This work by Mark Boda provides insightful commentary on Zechariah, with great sensitivity to its historical, literary, and theological dimensions. Including a fresh translation of Zechariah from the original Hebrew, Boda delivers deep and thorough reflection on a too-often-neglected book of the Old Testament.




Genesis: A New Commentary


Book Description

Now available for the first time from renowned author, teacher and scholar Meredith G. Kline is a brief never-before-published commentary, Genesis: A New Commentary. This posthumously published commentary on Genesis was written just after the late scholar finished his magnum opus, Kingdom Prologue, and distills his mature views on the book of Genesis and, indeed, on Scripture as a whole. Following an introduction that addresses the canonical function, literary-thematic framework, theological story, and authorship of Genesis, Kline separates the text into 10 structural divisions, offering insightful interpretation of each. The commentary has been edited by Kline's grandson Jonathan G. Kline and contains a foreword by Michael S. Horton. Genesis: A New Commentary will appeal to students, pastors, and laypeople who, like so many in the Reformed community, have admired or been transformed by Kline's teaching and writings.




Israel and the Assyrians


Book Description

Was Deuteronomy created to be a subversive text based on Assyian treaties? In this new book Crouch focuses on Deuteronomy’s subversive intent, asking what would be required in order for Deuteronomy to successfully subvert either a specific Assyrian source or Assyrian ideology more generally. The book reconsiders the nature of the relationship between Deuteronomy and Assyria, Deuteronomy’s relationship to ancient Near Eastern and biblical treaty and loyalty oath traditions, and the relevance of Deuteronomy’s treaty affinities to discussions of its date. Features: A thorough investigation of the nature and requirements of subversion A focused examination of the context in which Deuteronomy would have functioned An appendix focused on redactional questions related to Deuteronoy 13 and 28




Biblical Aramaic


Book Description

This book, put together by a team of scholars, will help readers master Biblical Aramaic. It includes various word lists not found in the BHS Reader. The book has three basic parts. The first is the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible Gen 31:47; Jer 10:11; Dan 2:4b 7:28; Ezra 4:8 6:8; 7:12 26 as they are presented in the BHS Reader, with a few modifications: (1) the biblical text has been updated to the BHL version, and (2) the grammatical and lexical apparatus includes new material and uses longer, clearer abbreviations. The second (very short) part of the book is a three-page glossary of the words that occur most frequently in Biblical Aramaic. The book s third part comprises about a dozen vocabulary and verb lists (not found in the BHS Reader) that allow readers to review and master Biblical Aramaic vocabulary and grammar. "




Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies


Book Description

The Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies (JBTS) is an academic journal focused on the fields of Bible and Theology from an inter-denominational point of view. The journal is comprised of an editorial board of scholars that represent several academic institutions throughout the world. JBTS is concerned with presenting high-level original scholarship in an approachable way. Academic journals are often written by scholars for other scholars. They are technical in nature, assuming a robust knowledge of the field. There are fewer journals that seek to introduce biblical and theological scholarship that is also accessible to students. JBTS seeks to provide high-level scholarship and research to both scholars and students, which results in original scholarship that is readable and accessible. As an inter-denominational journal JBTS is broadly evangelical. We accept contributions in all theological disciplines from any evangelical perspective. In particular, we encourage articles and book reviews within the fields of Old Testament, New Testament, Biblical Theology, Church History, Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, Philosophical Theology, Philosophy, and Ethics.