Böcker i Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Studies-serien

Despite the resurgence of scholarly interest in the Book of Tobit in recent years, an important aspect of this deuterocanonical book has been largely overlooked. Within it, there is an instruction manual for an effective way of being and living in exile, namely the wisdom instructions in Tobit 4. With glances at Tobit 12 and Tobit 14 where the wisdom instructions are repeated in shorter form, this monograph discusses the function of the wisdom discourse in the literary design of the narrative. Moreover, it examines how the wisdom instructions of Tobit demonstrate the vital role of the sapiential tradition in forming and maintaining Jewish identity in the Diaspora. Contextualizing the wisdom instructions not only within the narrative but also within the realities of Second Temple Judaism, it is argued that the author of Tobit saw the validity and employed the resources of the Jewish wisdom tradition in reinterpreting some of the traditional claims of covenant faith.Using the Sinaiticus as the textual basis of study, it shows that the lengthy wisdom lecture of Tobit displays an inner logic that structures the collection of seemingly unrelated sayings. The instructions reinterpret a major deuteronomic concern to remember the Lord always. For Tobit, the practice of righteousness, the practice of wise behavior, and the practice of prayer realize and concretize such remembrance. Addressed to those in the Dispersion, Tobit's wisdom instructions are meant to foster and shape a distinct ethos of truth, righteousness and mercy.

The present volume contains papers delivered at the International Conference on the Deuterocanonical Books, held at the Sapientia College of Theology, Budapest, Hungary, 14-16 May, 2009. The contributions explore various aspects of the Book of Judith: its textual versions, historical background, theological ideas and literary afterlife.

The impact of earlier works to the literature of early Judaism is an intensively researched topic in contemporary scholarship. This book is based on an international conference held at the Sapientia College of Theology in Budapest, May 18-21, 2010.

Presents selected papers read at the first meeting of the Society for Jewish and Biblical Studies in Central Europe, in Piliscsaba, Hungary, 1-2 February, 2009. This title features the papers that investigate various aspects of the concept 'Stranger' in Jewish tradition, from the Hebrew Bible to Mediaeval Jewish thought.

Contains papers that were presented at the International Conference on the Deuterocanonical Books (Papa, Hungary).

Ben Sira lived in an era when Hellenistic influences continued to spread in Palestine. The supreme political power was in the hands of foreign rulers. Under these circumstances it is no wonder that Ben Sira discusses the position of foreign nations in several passages. The tone varies due to the given context. This study demonstrates that Ben Sira's relationship to foreign nations is best defined as "e;balanced"e;, as his attitude is neither thoroughly hostile nor that of uncritically embracing Gentiles. On the basis of certain passages, one can get the impression that even the foreigners could be recipients of the Torah. On the other hand, some nations were regarded by earlier biblical authors as archenemies of Israel, and these anti-elect people caused also Ben Sira's anger to be provoked. Ben Sira was deeply rooted in Judaism but this did not prevent him from being open toward foreign influences as far as they were compatible with his religious and cultural heritage.

Old Testament texts frequently offer a theological view of history. This is very evident in the "Books of Chronicles" and in the final section of "Ben Sira". This book aims to recreate a national identity centered on temple piety. It also includes chapters that consider the portrayal of Israelite kings like David, Hezekiah, and Josiah.

Jewish anthropological beliefs during the Hellenistic-Roman period are an important but previously neglected area of biblical exegesis and Jewish studies. Thus, the volume provides an exemplary foundation for further research on ancient Jewish anthropology.

Although in Second Temple literature we find a variety of songs concerned with the future of Jerusalem, little attempt has been made to analyse these comparatively as a generic group. In this study, three songshave been selected on the basis of their similarity in style, ideas and their apparent original composition in Hebrew.The texts have been subjected to a literary analysis both individually and then comparatively.

This volume addresses two pivotal questions surrounding the composition of 1Maccabees. It sets out to discern the place and function of the torah within the community described by the book. However, before addressing the main problem, the author must first determine the composition history of the text. Given that the former orthodoxy of a unitary authorship seems to be breaking down, and no consensus has taken its place, a literary critical investigation occupies a necessary and lengthy portion of the work. Once a recommendation for the book's composition history is reached, attitudes toward the inherited Judean tradition are described in each of the strata discovered. The resulting study reveals a wide variety of opinions on the Judean traditions and their function in society. This contributes to the current trend in scholarship of the Hellenistic period questioning the dichotomy between Judaism and Hellenism by demonstrating the different attitudes within even one text.

Features a collection of essays that offer an analysis of central texts in Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic relating to emotions within literary prayers. This title contributes to a scientific understanding of early Rabbinic and Christian ideas.

Jewish anthropological beliefs during the Hellenistic-Roman period are an important but previously neglected area of biblical exegesis and Jewish studies. This volume brings together 20 essays related to the subject of sin and death, with special emphasis on integrating material from neighboring cultures.

Features South African and international scholars who have applied new critiques to the Old Testament and associated Apocryphal and Cognate literature, with a specific focus on Wisdom. This is a collection of essays that fills a gap in research on the recurring theme of the Wisdom of the deity, its decryption and reception.

Comprises a collection of essays from an international team of scholars who specialise in Old Testament pseudepigrapha. In this book, topics covered include: historical issues, literary structure, intertextual relationships between Baruch and the OT, reception history, and modern translation challenges.

Als Festgabe für den Salzburger Alttestamentler Friedrich V. Reiterer zur Vollendung des 65. Lebensjahres, dessen Forschung biblischer Weisheitsliteratur vor allem dem Buch Ben Sira gewidmet ist, überreichen Kollegen und Schüler einen Strauß von Untersuchungen, die die Interessengebiete des Jubilars beleuchten: Neben Ben Sira wird die Rolle der Weisheit in weiteren spätbiblischen Schriften, in zwischen- und neutestamentlichen Texten untersucht. Die einzelnen exegetisch-theologisch-philogischen Beiträge des Bandes stehen unter dem Motto "Kommt zu mir ... sättigt euch an meinen Früchten" (Sir 24,19).