Construction, coherence, and connotations : studies on the Septuagint, Apocryphal and Cognate literature : papers presented at the Association for the Study of the Septuagint in South Africa International Conference at the Faculty of Theology, North-West

These fourteen selected essays were originally read at the LXXSA international conference: Construction, Coherence and Connotation in Septuagint, Apocryphal and Cognate Literature (28-30 August 2015), hosted by the North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Here, the intention was to apply new critical theory and approaches to the fields of Old Testament Scripture as well as associated Apocryphal and Cognate literature, with a specific focus on the interrelated recurring theme of the Wisdom of the deity and its decryption and reception at various times in history. In this regard, it was felt that this theme and associated source texts had been largely overlooked in recent scholarship. Here the aim was to attract recent research by both leading national as well as international scholars which not only shed new light on Old Testament Apocrypha and so-called Pseudepigraphical literature but which also critically reviewed certain biblical wisdom texts which are foundational for both the Christian as well as Jewish communities. As a consequence, many of the essays deal with the apocryphal Wisdom of Sirach. However, important contributions may also be found apropos Micah, Daniel, Baruch, 2 Maccabees, Tobit, Susanna, Judith, and the works of Josephus Flavius. This collection of essays fills a gap in research on the recurring theme of the Wisdom of the deity, its decryption and reception. South African and international scholars have applied new critiques to the Old Testament and associated Apocryphal and Cognate literature, with a specific focus on Wisdom. The results will be of interest to scholars working with Septuagint and Cognate literature, especially those with a focus on Biblical hermeneutics