The Priestly Blessing in Inscription and Scripture
The Early History of Numbers 6:24-26
Jeremy D. Smoak
Reviews and Awards
"Smoak's carefully constructed and well-presented monograph leaves us with much to think about and with an impressive set of plausible explanations for numerous, intriguing problems." -- Stefan C. Reif (University of Cambridge), Biblische Notizen Biblical Notes Vol.176
"In his new study on this important topic, Jeremy Smoak has done a masterful job of bringing together and carefully considering all the relevant texts-both in and outside the Bible-that bear on this issue, as well as giving a comprehensive, prudent, and completely up-to-date evaluation and assessment of all the relevant scholarly analyses on the relationship of the Numbers passage to the Ketef Hinnom and other similar texts. Smoak's book thus lays an essential foundation for all further discussion on this topic and will thus prove invaluable to all who would focus on further study of this prayer and how it functioned in ancient times." --Bruce Zuckerman, Professor of Religion and Linguistics, University of Southern California
"Smoak's book is a fresh approach to the interpretation of the Priestly Blessing in the Book of Numbers, especially in the light of the significance of the amulets from Ketef Hinnom. Smoak draws on some of the other contemporaneous extra-biblical inscriptions for unique insight into the background of the Priestly Blessing. Smoak carefully examines the intricacies of the wording of the blessing, and presents an original analysis of its function. I highly recommend this book." --Judith Hadley, Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible and Archaeology in the Theology and Religious Studies Dept., Villanova University
"Alone among biblical texts, the Priestly Blessing is the only one for which direct evidence survives from ancient Judah, and Smoak richly illuminates its life context in the numerous amulets from this period. In addition to being the single best resource on a prayer central to the Hebrew Bible and Jewish identity, this book is also a compelling argument for using inscriptions as primary sources to reorient our view of an ancient world usually seen through a biblical lens." --Seth L. Sanders, Associate Professor of Religion, Trinity College
"...The Priestly Blessing in Inscription & Scripture is still invaluable for studies on Numbers and ancient Israelite religion... The Priestly Blessing in Inscription & Scripture by Jeremy Smoak must be addressed, and perhaps purchased, for solid methodology and excellently evidenced and fresh conclusions." --The Biblical Review