The Emergence of Judaism: Classical Traditions in Contemporary Perspective

by Christine Hayes

Overview

This brief survey text tells the story of Judaism. Through the lens of modern biblical scholarship, Christine Hayes explores the shifting cultural contexts—the Babylonian exile, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine period, the rise of Christianity—that affected Jewish thought and practice, and laid the groundwork for the Talmudic era and its modern legacy. Thematic chapters explore the evolution of Judaism through its beginnings in biblical monotheism, the Second Temple Period in Palestine, the interaction of Hellenism and Judaism, the spread of rabbinic authority, and the essence of ethno-religious Jewish identity. Biographical sketches of key figures from patriarchs to prophets, and primary selections from the Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Talmud, and others, allow for a greater understanding of an ancient movement, and provide a solid introduction to the origins of one of the world's most influential religions.

The text's chapters integrate key pedagogy, including introductions, study questions, textboxes, photos, maps, suggested readings, and a glossary and timeline.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800697495
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	10/08/2010
Series:	Emergence
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations and Features

Preface

Chronology of Events

Chapter 1 The Emergence of Judaism To 650 C.E.: A Narrative Overview 1

Earliest Beginnings 1

The Emergence of Israel---The Bible and Archaeology 5

The Second Temple Period (539 B.C.E.-70 C.E.) 14

Christianity and the Jews 20

The Babylonian Jewish Community 21

Study Questions 23

Chapter 2 Biblical Israel: Many Voices 25

What Is the Hebrew Bible? 25

Modern Critical Study of the Bible and the Documentary Hypothesis 26

Israelite Religion Versus Biblical Religion 30

Biblical Religion---The Deuteronomic Tradition 31

Biblical Religion---The Priestly Cultic Tradition 35

Conclusion 38

Study Questions 38

Chapter 3 Themes of Biblical Literature 39

The Myths of Biblical Religion in Their Ancient Near Eastern Context 42

Themes of the Patriarchal Stories (Gen 12-50) 49

Themes of the Exodus Story (Exod 1-40) 54

Themes of the Deuteronomistic History 59

Themes of the Prophetic Tradition 62

Themes of the Wisdom Tradition 67

Conclusion 67

Study Questions 71

Chapter 4 From Biblical Israel to Second Temple Judaism 73

The Persian Period 74

Hellenization and the Jews 77

The Rise of Apocalypticism 80

Second Temple Jewish Movements in Judea 82

Conclusion 87

Study Questions 88

Chapter 5 From Second Temple Judaism to Rabbinic Judaism 89

A Rabbinic Myth of Origins 95

The Torah of the Rabbis 102

Conclusion 115

Study Questions 123

Chapter 6 Topics in Rabbinic Judaism 125

Rabbinic Judaism 125

God: Faith, Heresy, and the Shekinah 127

Rabbinic Anthropology 128

The Ethical Life 130

Immortality, Death, and Suffering 131

Redemption and Messianism 132

The Rabbi in Society 133

The Rabbis and Non-Jewish Society 140

Conclusion 142

Study Questions 143

Chapter 7 Judaism Through The Ages 145

Jews under Medieval Islamic Rule 145

Jews in Medieval Christian Europe 146

Modern Jewish Identity---Religion or Ethnos? 150

Major Trends in Modern Jewish Thought 152

Conclusion 153

Study Questions 154

Glossary of Selected Terms 155

Annotated Bibliography 159

Index 179