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Author:   Joshua A. Berman (Senior Lecturer in the Department of Hebrew Bible, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Hebrew Bible, Bar-Ilan University)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint:   Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 23.60cm , Height: 3.10cm , Length: 16.00cm
Weight:   0.576kg
ISBN:  

9780190658809

ISBN 10:   0190658800
Pages:   320
Publication Date:   26 October 2017
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
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Table of Contents

Abbreviations Introduction Part I - Inconsistency in Narrative Setting Conflicting Histories Side by Side: 1. Diverging Accounts within the Kadesh Inscriptions of Ramesses II 2. The Exodus Sea Account (Exod 13:17-15:19) in Light of the Kadesh Inscriptions of Ramesses II Disparity in the Sovereign's Recounting of History to His Vassal 3. Divergent Histories between Original and Renewal Treaties in Hittite Diplomatic Literature 4. Retold History in the Book of Deuteronomy in Light of the Hittite Treaty Tradition Part II - Inconsistency in Law 5. The Pivotal Characterization: Ancient Law as Non-Statutory Law 6. The Misapplication of

Reviews

There is much of value in the detailed textual analysis that Berman offers -- Vetus Testamentum I highly recommend this monograph. Berman offers important challenges to the field of pentateuchal studies in particular and biblical studies as a whole. While engaging in this dialogue may not help the field of biblical studies to reach a greater level of consensus, it will certainly make for more thoughtful scholarship. --Brandon Grafius, Review of Biblical Literature [A] a scintillating work that manages to challenge nearly every received canon in Pentateuchal source criticism. --Jerry Hwang, Themelios Berman's book is a helpful foray into the area of 'biblical criticism criticism.' --Rachel Slutsky, Reading Religion Joshua Berman puts forward what may be the most seriousDLand, to many in the field, disturbingDLchallenge in over a century to theories about the composition and dating of biblical texts. Biblical critics will have to reckon with Berman's lucid and detailed investigations of ancient Near Eastern literature if they are to continue using the classic methods of their field. Many scholars will want to disagree with Berman's conclusions, but none can ignore them. --Benjamin D. Sommer, author of Revelation and Authority: Sinai in Jewish Scripture and Tradition, winner of the Goldstein-Goren Prize for Best Book in Jewish Thought Joshua Berman throws down the gauntlet and challenges all critical scholars who have based their research on modern conceptions of literary unity and on the diachronic growth of the Pentateuch. He opens up a new path for the study and unity of the Pentateuchal literature, which will surely lead to much debate and further intensive review. --Shalom M. Paul, Professor Emeritus Bible, Hebrew University In this groundbreaking and provocative new study, Berman demonstrates some of the methodological problems within traditional biblical source criticism, especially how dependence on the scholar's own intuition to identify fissure in a text can yield misleading results. Berman argues that there is need among source critical scholars for a self-awareness of their own aesthetic senses of literary unity, and that cognate ancient Near Eastern literature can provide the necessary controls to diachronic inquiry in the study of the Torah. Through his own analyses of different genres of ancient Near Eastern literature, he illustrates 'a procedure for knocking out at least some errors' and for arriving at more modest and contingent results, ones that can withstand empirical scrutiny in the light of the ancient Near Eastern cultural literary world. --K. Lawson Younger, Jr., Professor of Old Testament, Semitic Languages, and Ancient Near Eastern History, Trinity International University, Divinity School

Joshua Berman puts forward what may be the most seriousand, to many in the field, disturbingchallenge in over a century to theories about the composition and dating of biblical texts. Biblical critics will have to reckon with Berman's lucid and detailed investigations of ancient Near Eastern literature if they are to continue using the classic methods of their field. Many scholars will want to disagree with Berman's conclusions, but none can ignore them. --Benjamin D. Sommer, author of Revelation and Authority: Sinai in Jewish Scripture and Tradition, winner of the Goldstein-Goren Prize for Best Book in Jewish Thought Joshua Berman throws down the gauntlet and challenges all critical scholars who have based their research on modern conceptions of literary unity and on the diachronic growth of the Pentateuch. He opens up a new path for the study and unity of the Pentateuchal literature, which will surely lead to much debate and further intensive review. --Shalom M. Paul, Professor Emeritus Bible, Hebrew University In this groundbreaking and provocative new study, Berman demonstrates some of the methodological problems within traditional biblical source criticism, especially how dependence on the scholar's own intuition to identify fissure in a text can yield misleading results. Berman argues that there is need among source critical scholars for a self-awareness of their own aesthetic senses of literary unity, and that cognate ancient Near Eastern literature can provide the necessary controls to diachronic inquiry in the study of the Torah. Through his own analyses of different genres of ancient Near Eastern literature, he illustrates 'a procedure for knocking out at least some errors' and for arriving at more modest and contingent results, ones that can withstand empirical scrutiny in the light of the ancient Near Eastern cultural literary world. --K. Lawson Younger, Jr., Professor of Old Testament, Semitic Languages, and Ancient Near Eastern History, Trinity International University, Divinity School

Berman's book is a helpful foray into the area of 'biblical criticism criticism.' * Rachel Slutsky, Reading Religion * [A] a scintillating work that manages to challenge nearly every received canon in Pentateuchal source criticism. * Jerry Hwang, Themelios * I highly recommend this monograph. Berman offers important challenges to the field of pentateuchal studies in particular and biblical studies as a whole. While engaging in this dialogue may not help the field of biblical studies to reach a greater level of consensus, it will certainly make for more thoughtful scholarship. * Brandon Grafius, Review of Biblical Literature *

Author Information

Joshua A. Berman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Hebrew Bible at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. He is the author of Created Equal: How the Bible Broke with Ancient Political Thought.

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