Ezra the Scribe: The Development of Ezra 7-10 and Nehemia 8 (Beihefte Zur Zeitschrift Für die Alttestamentliche Wissensch) (English and Hebrew Edition)

This monograph investigates the literary development of Ezra 7-10 and Neh 8. With a detailed literary critical analysis, the investigation shows that the text was produced in several successive editorial phases for at least two centuries. Thus the final text cannot be used for historical purposes. The oldest text emerged as a short narrative, entirely written in the third person. It describes how a Torah scribe (Schriftgelehrter) called Ezra came from Babylon to Jerusalem to reinstate the written Torah. In the later editorial phases, Ezra's role was transformed from a scribe to a priest who brought cultic vessels to the Temple. The editorial development reveals that the text was originally influenced by Deuteronomy and the (Deutero)nomistic theology. Later, it came under priestly and Levitical influence. 1. Introduction -- 2. Ezra 7-8 -- 3. Ezra 9-10 -- 4. Neh 8 -- 5. Neh 9-10 -- Late Fortschreibung Of The Ezra Material -- 6. Neh 13 -- 7. Development Of The Ezra Material -- 8. Ezra Material And The Torah -- 9. Summary -- App. A. Main Editorial Phases -- App. B. Literary Strata Of The Ezra Material -- App. C. Reconstructed Text Of The Ezra Source -- App. D. Editorial Phases Of The Em In Translation. Juha Pakkala. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [310]-328) And Indexes.