Colleen M. Conway - A Contemporary Introduction to the Bible

SECOND EDITION

Colleen M. Conway and David M. Carr

This second edition first published 2021

© 2021, 2010 Colleen M. Conway and David M. Carr

Edition History

John Wiley & Sons Ltd. (1e, 2010)

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress

Paperback ISBN: 9781119637059; ePub ISBN: 9781119636991; ePDF ISBN: 9781119637028.

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Set in 9.5/12pt STIX Two Text by Integra Software Services Pvt. Ltd, Pondicherry, India

1 Cover

2 Title page A CONTEMPORARY INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE SECOND EDITION

3 Copyright

4 LIST OF FIGURES

5 LIST OF MAPS

6 MAIN DISCUSSIONS/OUTLINES OF BIBLICAL BOOKS

7 LIST OF BOXES

8 PREFACE

9 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

10 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

11 OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORICAL PERIOD

12 TIMELINE

13 PROLOGUE: ORIENTATION TO MULTIPLE BIBLES AND MULTIPLE TRANSLATIONS

14 CHAPTER 1: STUDYING THE BIBLE IN ITS ANCIENT CONTEXT(S)Chapter OverviewWhy History Is Important in Studying the BibleThe Geography and Major Characters of the Biblical DramaMajor Periods in the Biblical DramaMultiple Contexts, Multiple MethodsLooking Forward to the Big PictureChapter One ReviewResources For Further StudyAppendix: Israel’s History and Empires

15 CHAPTER 2: THE EMERGENCE OF ANCIENT ISRAEL AND ITS FIRST ORAL TRADITIONSChapter OverviewImagining Early IsraelProblems in Reconstructing Early IsraelTraces of the Most Ancient Israelite Oral Traditions in the BibleThe Oral Background of GenesisFocus Text: The Song of DeborahThe Creation of “Israel” Through Cultural Memory of Resistance to DominationChapter Two ReviewResources for Further Study

16 CHAPTER 3: THE RISE OF WRITING AND ECHOES OF PAST EMPIRES IN MONARCHAL ISRAELChapter OverviewImagining Early Monarchal IsraelThe Rise of the Israelite Monarchy and Resistance to ItInfluence of Ancient Empires on Early Israel’s Monarchy and WritingsEchoes of Near Eastern Royal Theology in the Royal and Zion PsalmsEchoes of Texts from Earlier Empires in Writings Attributed to SolomonFocus Text: The Speech of Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 8Echoes of Texts from Past Empires Elsewhere in the BibleFocus Text: The Garden of Eden Story (Gen 2:4–3:24)ConclusionChapter Three ReviewResources for Further Study

17 CHAPTER 4: NARRATIVE AND PROPHECY AMIDST THE RISE AND FALL OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOMChapter OverviewSetting the Stage: The Rise of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Its TextsAncient Near Eastern ProphecyAmos, a Southern Prophet Preaching Justice and Doom to the NorthHosea, the Northern Prophet, Calling for Israel’s Devotion to Yahweh AloneMicah, a Southern Prophet, Predicting Judgment for Judah and JerusalemIsaiah’s Vision of Hope for Jerusalem/Zion Embedded in the Book of IsaiahThe Use and Reuse of Biblical TraditionsFocus Text: Contrasting Prophetic Visions of Zion’s FutureChapter Four ReviewResources for Further Study

18 CHAPTER 5: TORAH AND OTHER TEXTS WRITTEN IN THE WAKE OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIREChapter OverviewReligious and Textual Reform Amidst the Downfall of AssyriaThe Deuteronomic Torah of Moses and the Phenomenon of HybridityHistorical Texts Infused with the Theology and Values of DeuteronomyJeremiah’s Prophecy of Judgment on ZionFocus Text: Deuteronomy 6:4–9New Scriptures in the Twilight of Judean MonarchyChapter Five ReviewResources for Further Study

19 CHAPTER 6: BIBLE FOR EXILES: PROMISE AND STORY IN THE NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIREChapter OverviewThe Neo-Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem and ExileForced Labor for Exiles Under NebuchadnezzarThe Exilic Editions of Biblical BooksEzekiel’s Move from Judgment to Promise with the Fall of JerusalemHope for Exiles in Second Isaiah (also called “Deutero-Isaiah”)From Promise in the Prophets to Promise in Two Pentateuchal Sources: L and PHistory and FictionFocus Text: Gen 12:1–3Conclusions on (Exilic) Trauma and the BibleChapter Six ReviewResources for Further Study

20 CHAPTER 7: PERSIAN EMPIRE AND THE EMERGENCE OF A TEMPLE-CENTERED JEWISH COMMUNITYChapter OverviewHistory: The Persian-Sponsored Building of a Temple- and Torah-Centered JudaismThe Final Formation of the TorahThe Book of Psalms as a Torah-Centered Collection of More Ancient PsalmsFocus Text: Isa 56:1–8Concluding Reflections on Scriptures in and After the ExileChapter Seven ReviewResources for Further Study