From Scribes to Scholars: Rabbinic Biblical Exegesis in Light of the Homeric Commentaries

Ancient Homeric scholarship significantly influenced rabbinic biblical commentaries, leading to differences in terminology, hermeneutical techniques, perception of the Bible as a literary product, didactic methods, editorial principles, and aesthetic sensibilities. This influence needs to be re-examined in the study of Midrash and the broader impact of Homeric scholarship on biblical exegesis in Antiquity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 388 pages
Publication date: 18 November 2022
Publisher: JCB Mohr (Paul Siebeck)

Yakir Paz contends that ancient Homeric scholarship exerted a significant influence on the development of rabbinic biblical commentaries and their interpretive methodologies. This influence is evident in the rabbis' terminology, hermeneutical techniques, perception of the Bible as a literary work, didactic approaches, editorial principles, and aesthetic sensibilities. In fact, the impact of Homeric scholarship is the most effective explanation for the significant disparities between earlier biblical commentaries from Palestine, such as those discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the scholastic Halakhic Midrashim (second to third century CE). The findings of the author's study necessitate a re-evaluation of numerous assumptions regarding the emergence of Midrash and a more comprehensive understanding of the profound impact of Homeric scholarship on biblical exegesis in Antiquity.

Yakir Paz argues that ancient Homeric scholarship had a major impact on the formation of rabbinic biblical commentaries and their modes of exegesis. This impact is discernible not only in the terminology and hermeneutical techniques used by the rabbis, but also in their perception of the Bible as a literary product, their didactic methods, editorial principles, and aesthetic sensibilities. In fact, it is the influence of Homeric scholarship that can best explain the drastic differences between earlier biblical commentaries from Palestine, such as those found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the scholastic Halakhic Midrashim (second to third century CE). The results of the author's study call for a re-examination of many assumptions regarding the emergence of Midrash, as well as a broader appreciation of the impact of Homeric scholarship on biblical exegesis in Antiquity.

Weight: 704g
Dimension: 164 x 238 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783161616303