Hellenism and the Primary History

The Imprint of Greek Sources in Genesis - 2 Kings
1. Auflage 2023
ISBN: 978-0-367-53133-1
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 216 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 322 g

Reihe: Copenhagen International Seminar

This collection of essays seeks to demonstrate that many biblical authors deliberately used Classical and Hellenistic Greek texts for inspiration when crafting many of the narratives in the Primary History.

Through detailed analysis of the text, Gnuse contends that there are numerous examples of clear influence from late classical and Hellenistic literature. Deconstructing the biblical and Greek works in parallel, he argues that there are too many similarities in basic theme, meaning, and detail, for them to be accounted for by coincidence or shared ancient tropes. Using this evidence, he suggests that although much of the text may originate from the Persian period, large parts of its final form likely date from the Hellenistic era.

With the help of an original introduction and final chapter, Gnuse pulls his essays together into a coherent collection for the first time. The resultant volume offers a valuable resource for anyone working on the dating of the Hebrew Bible, as well as those working on Hellenism in the ancient Levant more broadly.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Gnuse, Robert Karl

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Pädagogik Lehrerausbildung, Unterricht & Didaktik Allgemeine Didaktik
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Alte Geschichte & Archäologie Geschichte der klassischen Antike Griechische Geschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction: An Intellectual Odyssey

1. A Hellenistic First Testament: The Views of Minimalist Scholars

2. Spilt Water: Tales of David in II Sam 23:13-17 and of Alexander the Great in Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 6.26.1-3

3. Abducted Wives: A Hellenistic Narrative in the Book of Judges?

4. From Prison to Prestige: The Hero who helps a King in Jewish and Greek Literature

5. Divine Messengers in Genesis 18-19 and Ovid

6. Greek Connections: Genesis 1-11 and the Poetry of Hesiod

7. Genesis 1-11 and the Greek Historiographers Hecataeus of Miletus and Herodotus of Halicarnassus

8. Heed Your Steeds: Achilles’ Horses and Balaam’s Donkey

9. Samson and Heracles Revisited

10. The Sacrificed Maiden: Iphigenia and Jephthah’s Daughter

11. The Maximalist/Minimalist Debate over Historical Memory in the Primary History of the Old Testament

Über Autor(innen)

Robert Karl Gnuse is the James C. Carter, S.J./Chase Bank Distinguished Professor of the Humanities at Loyola University in New Orleans, where he has taught since 1980. His degrees are from Vanderbilt University (Ph.D., 1980; M.A., 1978) and Christ Seminary in St. Louis (S.T.M., 1975; M.Div., 1974). He is author of 18 books, most recently The Elohist (2017) and Trajectories of Justice (2015).