Journal of Hebrew Scriptures

I am glad to announce the publication of three new articles in the Journal of Hebrew Scriptures (http://www.jhsonline.org/index.html).


1. Alex ANDRASON, "An Optative Indicative? A Real Factual Past? Toward A Cognitive-Typological Approach to the Precative Qatal"

Abstract: This article approaches the problem of the precative qatal in Biblical Hebrew from a cognitive and typological perspective. In keeping with the cognitive understanding of "meaning," the article (re-)construes a plausible chaining procedure that relates the precative qatal to the prevailing indicative (perfect, perfective and past) domain of the gram. This chaining represents a typologically plausible scenario for rationalizing, on both conceptual and diachronic levels, the "spread" that can be observed from the central point of the network (the Proto-Semitic resultative proper sense) to the different values available in Biblical Hebrew. In this way, the article relates the two, superficially contradictory, semantic spheres (i.e., the perfect-perfective-past indicative and the precative), and advances a holistic-synchronic definition of the total semantic potential of the gram.


To access the article directly please go to

http://www.jhsonline.org/Articles/article_184.pdf


2. Rivka NIR, " 'It Is Not Right For a Man Who Worships God to Repay His Neighbor Evil for Evil': Christian Ethics in Joseph and Aseneth (Chapters 22–29)"

Abstract: This article argues for the Christian provenance of chapters 22–29 of Joseph and Aseneth. In particular, the article interprets these chapters as promoting the adoption of Christian ethics toward enemies as a means for obtaining salvation in the Church, which is personified by Aseneth. Framing this notion is the recurring formula, "It is not right for a man who worships God to . . ." This repetitive pattern draws the whole book into a coherent literary and ideological unit, and highlights the key principles of Christian ethics that it intends to convey.


To access the article directly please go to

http://www.jhsonline.org/Articles/article_185.pdf


3. James WATTS, "Scripturalization and the Aaronide Dynasties"

Abstract: Priests claiming descent from Aaron controlled the high priesthood of temples in Jerusalem and on Mount Gerizim in the Second Temple period. These Aaronides were in a position to influence religious developments in this period, especially the scripturalization of the Torah. The priests' dynastic claims were probably a significant factor in the elevation of the Pentateuch to scriptural status. This claim can be tested by correlating what little we know about the Aaronide dynasties with what little we know about the scripturalization of two different portions of the Hebrew Bible, the Pentateuch and Ezra–Nehemiah.


To access the article directly please go to

http://www.jhsonline.org/Articles/article_186.pdf



Also, I am glad to announce the publication of several new reviews in JHS:

1. Anderson, Bradford A., Brotherhood and Inheritance: A Canonical Reading of the Esau and Edom Traditions(LHBOTS, 556; New York/London: T & T Clark, 2011). (Reviewed by Juan Manuel Tebes).

2. Ben Zvi, Ehud and Diana V. Edelman (eds.), The Production of Prophecy: Constructing Prophecy and Prophets in Yehud (London/Oakville, CT: Equinox, 2009). (Reviewed by Michael H. Floyd).

3. Charlesworth, James H. et al.(eds.), Temple Scroll and Related Documents, Vol. 7 of The Dead Sea Scrolls: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Texts with English Translations (The Princeton Theological Seminary Dead Sea Scrolls Project; Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2011). (Reviewed by Robert C. Kashow).

4. Dever, William G., The Lives of Ordinary People in Ancient Israel: Where Archaeology and the Bible Intersect(Grand Rapids/Cambridge, UK: Eerdmans, 2012). (John L. McLaughlin).

5. Edelman, Diana V., Philip R. Davies, Christophe Nihan, and Thomas Römer, Opening the Books of Moses(BibleWorld; Sheffield: Equinox, 2012). (Reviewed by Jeffrey G. Audirsch).

6. Heacock, Anthony, Jonathan Loved David: Manly Love in the Bible and the Hermeneutics of Sex(The Bible in the Modern World, 22; Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix, 2011). (Reviewed by Jonathan Y. Rowe).

7. Human, Dirk J. (ed.), Psalmody and Poetry in Old Testament Ethics (LHBOTS, 572; New York: T & T Clark, 2012). (Reviewed by Andrew Sloane).

8. Johnson, Willa M., The Holy Seed Has been Defiled: The Interethnic Marriage Dilemma in Ezra 9–10(HBM, 33; Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix, 2011). (Reviewed by Lisbeth S. Fried).

9. Kiel, Micah D., The "Whole Truth": Rethinking Retribution in the Book of Tobit (Library of Second Temple Studies, 82; London: T & T Clark, 2012). (Reviewed by Francis M. Macatangay).

10. Kim, Dong-Hyuk, Early Biblical Hebrew, Late Biblical Hebrew, and Linguistic Variability: A Sociolinguistic Evaluation of the Linguistic Dating of Biblical Texts(VTSup, 156; Leiden: Brill, 2013). (Reviewed by Robert Rezetko).

11. Kim, Koowon, Incubation as a Type-Scene in the ʾAqhatu, Kirta, and Hannah Stories: A Form-Critical and Narratological Study of KTU 1.14 I–1.15 III, 1.17 I–II, and 1 Samuel 1:1–2:11(VTSup, 145; Leiden: Brill, 2011). (Reviewed by Stephen C. Russell).

12. Mathews, Danny, Royal Motifs in the Pentateuchal Portrayal of Moses (LHBOTS, 571; New York: T & T Clark, 2012). (Reviewed by David B. Schreiner).

13. Matlock, Michael D., Discovering the Traditions of Prose Prayers in Early Jewish Literature (Library of Second Temple Studies, 81; New York/London: T & T Clark, 2012). (Reviewed by Rodney Werline).

14. Oosting, Reinoud, The Role of Zion/Jerusalem in Isaiah 40–55: A Corpus-Linguistic Approach (SSN, 59; Leiden: Brill, 2013). (Reviewed by Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer).

15. Thelle, Rannfrid. I., Approaches to the Chosen Place: Accessing a Biblical Concept (LHBOTS, 564; London: T & T Clark, 2012). (Reviewed by J. Gordon McConville).

16. Tuell, Steven, Ezekiel(NIBC, 15; Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2009). (D. Nathan Phinney).


To access the reviews directly please go to

http://www.jhsonline.org/reviews_vol.html