The Finger of the Scribe: How Scribes Learned to Write the Bible

Author:   William M. Schniedewind (Professor of Biblical Studies and Northwest Semitic Languages, Professor of Biblical Studies and Northwest Semitic Languages, UCLA)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press Inc
ISBN:  

9780190052461


Pages:   248
Publication Date:   28 November 2019
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Our Price $75.95 Quantity:  
Add to Cart

Share |

The Finger of the Scribe: How Scribes Learned to Write the Bible


Add your own review!

Overview

Full Product Details

Author:   William M. Schniedewind (Professor of Biblical Studies and Northwest Semitic Languages, Professor of Biblical Studies and Northwest Semitic Languages, UCLA)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint:   Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 15.70cm , Height: 2.30cm , Length: 23.60cm
Weight:   0.499kg
ISBN:  

9780190052461


ISBN 10:   0190052465
Pages:   248
Publication Date:   28 November 2019
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Reviews

It has been increasingly evident to specialists that Mesopotamian literature cannot be understood properly without grasping the realities of scribal practice, including education. With his bold proposal that the inscriptions from Kuntillet 'Ajrud reflect the work of students and show the influence of older cuneiform education, Schniedewind advances dramatically the application of this approach to alphabetic writing and biblical literature. As discussion and debate continue, this will be essential reading for years to come. * Daniel E. Fleming, Ethel and Irving A. Edelman Professor of Hebraic and Judaic Studies, New York University * Bill Schniedewind brilliantly lays out the evidence of early Israelite scribal literacy in this clearly-written book. Basing his research in the archaeological record, Schniedewind gives the reader a glimpse of the ancient Israelite educational system: how Hebrew scribes were trained, the Mesopotamian and cuneiform pedigrees of these training methods, and how these shaped the Bible we have today. This book is essential for those studying the origins of the Bible. * Robert R. Cargill, Editor of Biblical Archaeology Review and Associate Professor of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Iowa * The Finger of the Scribe is an exciting, original proposal about how ancient ancient Israelite scribes learned their craft. Schniedewind argues that a number of well-known inscriptions actually represent different stages of training in Hebrew literacy. Moreover, he presents a persuasive case that Hebrew and earlier forms of alphabetic education were modeled on educational patterns developed in Mesopotamia and practiced in Canaan up through the Late Bronze Age. * David M. Carr, author of Writing on the Tablet of the Heart: Origins of Scripture and Literature *


Throughout the book...he delights his readers with new insights and interpretations of his own. -- Karel van der Toorn, University of Amsterdam, H-Judias Schniedewind presents an intriguing and well-documented case. The book offers a helpful corrective for those who maintain a late date for the biblical material due to a supposed lack of literacy in an early period. -- Center for Biblical Studies Overall, The Finger of the Scribe is a helpful development in how we understand ancient Israelite scribal curriculum and its origin...a valuable contribution to the history of ancient Israel, a necessary starting point for any scholar interested in ancient Israelite scribalism. -- The Biblical Review The Finger of the Scribe is an exciting, original proposal about how ancient ancient Israelite scribes learned their craft. Schniedewind argues that a number of well-known inscriptions actually represent different stages of training in Hebrew literacy. Moreover, he presents a persuasive case that Hebrew and earlier forms of alphabetic education were modeled on educational patterns developed in Mesopotamia and practiced in Canaan up through the Late Bronze Age. -- David M. Carr , author of Writing on the Tablet of the Heart: Origins of Scripture and Literature Bill Schniedewind brilliantly lays out the evidence of early Israelite scribal literacy in this clearly-written book. Basing his research in the archaeological record, Schniedewind gives the reader a glimpse of the ancient Israelite educational system: how Hebrew scribes were trained, the Mesopotamian and cuneiform pedigrees of these training methods, and how these shaped the Bible we have today. This book is essential for those studying the origins of the Bible. -- Robert R. Cargill , Editor of Biblical Archaeology Review and Associate Professor of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Iowa It has been increasingly evident to specialists that Mesopotamian literature cannot be understood properly without grasping the realities of scribal practice, including education. With his bold proposal that the inscriptions from Kuntillet 'Ajrud reflect the work of students and show the influence of older cuneiform education, Schniedewind advances dramatically the application of this approach to alphabetic writing and biblical literature. As discussion and debate continue, this will be essential reading for years to come. -- Daniel E. Fleming, Ethel and Irving A. Edelman Professor of Hebraic and Judaic Studies, New York University


"""Throughout the book...he delights his readers with new insights and interpretations of his own."" -- Karel van der Toorn, University of Amsterdam, H-Judias ""Schniedewind presents an intriguing and well-documented case. The book offers a helpful corrective for those who maintain a late date for the biblical material due to a supposed lack of literacy in an early period."" -- Center for Biblical Studies ""Overall, The Finger of the Scribe is a helpful development in how we understand ancient Israelite scribal curriculum and its origin...a valuable contribution to the history of ancient Israel, a necessary starting point for any scholar interested in ancient Israelite scribalism."" -- The Biblical Review ""The Finger of the Scribe is an exciting, original proposal about how ancient ancient Israelite scribes learned their craft. Schniedewind argues that a number of well-known inscriptions actually represent different stages of training in Hebrew literacy. Moreover, he presents a persuasive case that Hebrew and earlier forms of alphabetic education were modeled on educational patterns developed in Mesopotamia and practiced in Canaan up through the Late Bronze Age."" -- David M. Carr , author of Writing on the Tablet of the Heart: Origins of Scripture and Literature ""Bill Schniedewind brilliantly lays out the evidence of early Israelite scribal literacy in this clearly-written book. Basing his research in the archaeological record, Schniedewind gives the reader a glimpse of the ancient Israelite educational system: how Hebrew scribes were trained, the Mesopotamian and cuneiform pedigrees of these training methods, and how these shaped the Bible we have today. This book is essential for those studying the origins of the Bible."" -- Robert R. Cargill , Editor of Biblical Archaeology Review and Associate Professor of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Iowa ""It has been increasingly evident to specialists that Mesopotamian literature cannot be understood properly without grasping the realities of scribal practice, including education. With his bold proposal that the inscriptions from Kuntillet 'Ajrud reflect the work of students and show the influence of older cuneiform education, Schniedewind advances dramatically the application of this approach to alphabetic writing and biblical literature. As discussion and debate continue, this will be essential reading for years to come."" -- Daniel E. Fleming, Ethel and Irving A. Edelman Professor of Hebraic and Judaic Studies, New York University"


Author Information

William M. Schniedewind has been a Professor of Biblical Studies and Northwest Semitic Languages at UCLA for twenty-five years. He has been the Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures and held the Kershaw Endowed Chair of Ancient Eastern Mediterranean Studies. Professor Schniedewind is the author of six books and numerous articles.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions
Latest Reading Guide

lgn

al

Shopping Cart
Your cart is empty
Shopping cart
Mailing List