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Discovering Second Temple literature : the scriptures and stories that shaped early Judaism / Malka Z. Simkovich.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: Philadelphia : Jewish Publication Society ; Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press, [2018]Copyright date: ©2018Description: 1 online resource (xxviii, 354 pages)Content type:
Media type:
Carrier type:
ISBN:
  • 9780827614307
  • 0827614306
  • 9780827614284
  • 0827614284
Subject(s): Genre/Form: Additional physical formats: Print version:: Discovering Second Temple literature.DDC classification:
  • 296.09/014 23
LOC classification:
  • BM176 .S516 2018eb
Other classification:
  • online - EBSCO
Online resources:
Contents:
Acknowledgments -- Introduction: in search of the Second Temple era -- Timeline. Part 1 The modern recovery of Second Temple literature : The Cairo genizah -- Manuscripts and monasteries -- The Dead Sea Scrolls. Part 2 Jewish life in the Second Temple period : Jerusalem -- Alexandria -- Antioch. Part 3 The worldviews of Second Temple writers : The wisdom seekers -- The sectarians -- Interpreters of Israelite history -- Josephus Flavius. Part 4 The holy texts of Second Temple Judaism : The codified Bible -- Rewriting the Bible -- The expanded Bible -- Conclusion. Glossary of key names, places, and books -- Notes -- Bibliography -- General index -- Index by passage.
Summary: Xploring the world of the Second Temple period (539 BCE-70 CE), in particular the vastly diverse stories, commentaries, and other documents written by Jews during the last three centuries of this period, the author takes us to Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, to the Jewish sectarians and the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus, to the Cairo genizah, and to the ancient caves that kept the secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls. As she recounts Jewish history during the vibrant, formative era, the author analyzes some of the period's most important works for both familiar and possible meanings. This volume interweaves past and present in four parts. Part 1 tells modern stories of discovery of Second Temple literature. Part 2 describes the Jewish communities that flourished both in the land of Israel and in the Diaspora. Part 3 explores the lives, world-views, and significant writings of Second Temple authors. Part 4 examines how authors of the time introduced novel, rewritten, and expanded versions of Bible stories in hopes of imparting messages to the people.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Online resource; title from PDF title page (EBSCO, viewed September 25, 2018).

Acknowledgments -- Introduction: in search of the Second Temple era -- Timeline. Part 1 The modern recovery of Second Temple literature : The Cairo genizah -- Manuscripts and monasteries -- The Dead Sea Scrolls. Part 2 Jewish life in the Second Temple period : Jerusalem -- Alexandria -- Antioch. Part 3 The worldviews of Second Temple writers : The wisdom seekers -- The sectarians -- Interpreters of Israelite history -- Josephus Flavius. Part 4 The holy texts of Second Temple Judaism : The codified Bible -- Rewriting the Bible -- The expanded Bible -- Conclusion. Glossary of key names, places, and books -- Notes -- Bibliography -- General index -- Index by passage.

Xploring the world of the Second Temple period (539 BCE-70 CE), in particular the vastly diverse stories, commentaries, and other documents written by Jews during the last three centuries of this period, the author takes us to Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, to the Jewish sectarians and the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus, to the Cairo genizah, and to the ancient caves that kept the secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls. As she recounts Jewish history during the vibrant, formative era, the author analyzes some of the period's most important works for both familiar and possible meanings. This volume interweaves past and present in four parts. Part 1 tells modern stories of discovery of Second Temple literature. Part 2 describes the Jewish communities that flourished both in the land of Israel and in the Diaspora. Part 3 explores the lives, world-views, and significant writings of Second Temple authors. Part 4 examines how authors of the time introduced novel, rewritten, and expanded versions of Bible stories in hopes of imparting messages to the people.