The Oxford Handbook of the Writings of the Hebrew Bible

Edited by Donn F. Morgan

Oxford Handbooks

Fills a lacuna in biblical interpretation by focusing at length on the context and the reception history of this literary division
Discusses each book with an explicit acknowledgment of its place in the Writings
A valuable guide and resource for those interested in learning of the significance of the Writings not only as individual books but also as a part of a larger scriptural and canonical whole

The Oxford Handbook of the Writings of the Hebrew Bible

Edited by Donn F. Morgan

Description

This Oxford Handbook is a serious resource for the study of the literature of the Writings (Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Esther, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles, Daniel) of the Hebrew Bible, including its context and its scriptural/canonical shape and reception. A first section provides an overview of the post-exilic period in which much of the Writings was written, focusing on history, archeology, and the development of major literary traditions, all of which provide the context for understanding and interpreting this literature. A second section contains creative studies of the books in the Writings, focusing on structure, purpose, and distinctive characteristics of this very diverse literature. A third section looks at the Writings from larger and longer perspectives including the ancient Near East, developing Judaism and Christianity, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, music and the arts, and its canonization and reception by Judaism and Christianity. This handbook has a focus on the special character and shape of the Writings as scripture and canon, including the recurring issues of diversity and difference, dates of canonization, its special relationship to other scripture and canon (Torah, Prophets, New Testament), and its interpretation in religious and non-religious communities.

The Oxford Handbook of the Writings of the Hebrew Bible

Edited by Donn F. Morgan

Oxford Handbooks

Preface
List of Contributors
Abbreviations
1. Studying The Writings As Post-Exilic Literature and Canon Donn F. Morgan
History
2. The Early Post-Exilic Period in the Writings (Cyrus through Ezra-Nehemiah) Lester L. Grabbe
3. The Writings in the Hellenistic and Roman Period Timothy H. Lim
4. Archeology of the Post-Exilic Period and the Writings Benjamin D. Gordon
Institutional and Literary Traditions
5. Cultic Traditions in the Writings: Priests and Levites in the Post-Exilic Period Mark A. Leutcher
6. Wisdom Traditions and the Writings: Sage and Scribe James L. Crenshaw
7. Apocalyptic Visions and Revisions of the End in the Writings Bennie H. Reynolds III
8. Post-Exilic Prose Traditions in the Writings: Novella Writers, Story Tellers, and History Writers Thomas M. Bolin
9. Post-exilic Poetic Traditions in the Writings S.E. Gillingham
Literature

10. Reading Psalms Sapientially in the Writings William P. Brown
11. The Book of Job in the Context of the Writings Katherine J. Dell
12. Reading Proverbs as a Book in the Writings Julius Steinberg
13. Lamentations and Canon: Conversations in the Dark Scott Ellington
14. Ruth: A Reading of Scripture? A. Graeme Auld
15. Esther's Frame within the Writings Timothy J. Stone
16. Qoheleth in the Writings Erhard S. Gerstenberger
17. The Wisdom of Desire in the Song of Songs Carey Walsh
18. Reimagining Community Past and Present in Ezra and Nehemiah Melody D. Knowles
19. Chronicles and the Writings _{John C. Endres}
20. Reading Daniel as Part of the Writings Ralph W. Klein
Later Interpretation
21. Writings in the Dead Sea Scrolls Lawrence H. Schiffman
22. Nascent Judaism: The Writings and the History of Religions John L. Berquist
23. Ancient Near Eastern Religions and the Writings Daniel C. Snell
24. The Divine Human Encounter in the Hebrew Wisdom of the Writings and the Confucian Analects Archie Chi-Chung Lee
25. Moving Texts: The Writings in Western Music and Visual Arts Roger Ferlo
26. The Reception of the Writings and their place in the Biblical Canon Lee Martin McDonald
27. The Canonical Shape and Function of the Writings Timothy J. Stone
28. Aspects of Jewish Reception of the Ketuvim (Writings) Alan Cooper
29. The Writings in the Christian Bible Mark W. Elliott
30. The Writings and Canon: Enduring Issues and Legacy Donn F. Morgan

The Oxford Handbook of the Writings of the Hebrew Bible

Edited by Donn F. Morgan

Oxford Handbooks

Author Information

Edited by Donn F. Morgan, Professor of Old Testament, Emeritus, Church Divinity School of the Pacific

Donn F. Morgan spent his career teaching Old Testament at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, a founding member of the Graduate Theological Union, in Berkeley, California. His special interests included biblical wisdom literature, the Psalms, scripture and canon, the Writings, and the post-exilic period of ancient Israel. In addition to his teaching and research, he held administrative and other positions in theological education. He is the author of six books, including Between Text & Community: The "Writings" in Canonical Interpretation.

Contributors:

A. Graeme Auld
Jon L. Berquist
Thomas M. Bolin
William P. Brown
Alan Cooper
James L. Crenshaw
Katharine J. Dell
Scott Ellington
Mark W. Elliott
John C. Endres
Roger Ferlo
Erhard S. Gerstenberger
Susan E. Gillingham
Benjamin Gordon
Lester L Grabbe
Ralph W. Klein
Melody D. Knowles
Archie C.C. Lee
Mark A. Leuchter
Timothy H. Lim
Lee Martin McDonald
Donn F. Morgan
Bennie H. Reynolds III
Lawrence H. Schiffman
Daniel C. Snell
Julius Steinberg
Timothy J. Stone
Carey Walsh

The Oxford Handbook of the Writings of the Hebrew Bible

Edited by Donn F. Morgan

Oxford Handbooks

Reviews and Awards

"The twenty-eight different scholars contributing to The Oxford Handbook of Writings of the Hebrew Bible bring diverse refreshing perspectives. Each scholar deals with the task at hand to bring to view valuable insights and/or the import of the individual books of the Writings." - Teófilo Correa and Innocent Gwizo, Asia Journal of Theology

"Engaging the Jewish, Christian, and secular perspectives, at varied technical levels, this volume should appeal to a wide audience. Ultimately, this handbook does not disappoint." - CHOICE

"...the present volume is a trove of informative and insightful material that will undoubtedly serve as an important reference tool. The editor and publishers are to be commended for a producing a lucid work of scholarship suitable for a variety of audiences." - David Rothstein, Ariel University, Review of Biblical Literature

"This unusually engaging Handbook takes seriously the canonical construct of 'the writings' with respect to their post-exilic provenance, their diversity, and the inner-biblical hermeneutical implications...an excellent way in to the issues awaiting students of these texts." - Richard S. Briggs, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

"This Oxford Handbook brings together the most recent scholarship on the Writings, making it a useful compendium for readers interested in any or all of these books. More significantly, the essayists present insightful and innovative arguments that force readers toreconsider the overall collection and its place and purpose within the biblical canon." - Megan Fullerton Strollo, Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology