The Valediction of Moses
A Proto-Biblical Book
by Idan Dershowitz
Hardback (Published)
(April 2021)
ISBN: 9783161606441
9.53 x 6.46 inches
Price: $143.00
In stock
Moses Wilhelm Shapira’s infamous Deuteronomy fragments – long believed to be forgeries – are authentic ancient manuscripts, and they are of far greater significance than ever imagined. The literary work that these manuscripts preserve – which Idan Dershowitz calls “The Valediction of Moses” or “V” – is not based on the book of Deuteronomy. On the contrary, V is a much earlier version of Deuteronomy. In other words, V is a proto-biblical book, the likes of which has never before been seen. This conclusion is supported by a series of philological analyses, as well as previously unknown archival documents, which undermine the consensus on these manuscripts. An excursus co-authored with Na’ama Pat-El assesses V’s linguistic profile, finding it to be consistent with Iron Age epigraphic Hebrew. V contains early versions of passages whose biblical counterparts reflect substantial post-Priestly updating. Moreover, unlike the canonical narratives of Deuteronomy, this ancient work shows no signs of influence from the Deuteronomic law code. Indeed, V preserves an earlier, and dramatically different, literary structure for the entire work – one that lacks the Deuteronomic law code altogether. These findings have significant consequences for the composition history of the Bible, historical linguistics, the history of religion, paleography, archaeology, and more. The volume includes a full critical edition and English translation of V.
- By (author) Idan Dershowitz
Other Titles in this Series
History and the Hebrew Bible
Studies in Ancient Israelite and Ancient Near Eastern Historiography
Volume 61
Gott in Zion
Geschichte der Zionstheologien im alten Israel mit Schwerpunkten auf den Psalmen und dem Jesajabuch
Volume 181
The Formation of the Hebrew Psalter
The Book of Psalms Between Ancient Versions, Material Transmission and Canonical Exegesis
Volume 151
Hiob – Vom Gottesfurchtigen zum Reprasentanten Israels
Studien zur Buchwerdung des Hiobbuches und zu seinen Quellen
Volume 70
Weisung fur Israel
Studien zu religiosem Lehren und Lernen im Deuteronomium und in seinem Umfeld
Volume 44
Die Geschichtspsalmen
Eine Studie zu den Psalmen 78, 105, 106, 135 und 136 als hermeneutische Schlusseltexte im Psalter
Volume 84
The Poetics of Visuality
Ekphrasis, Material Agency, and the Visual Imagination in Biblical Antiquity
Volume 182
Schriftgelehrtes Murren
Schriftgelehrte Fortschreibungs- und Auslegungsprozesse in den Murrerzahlungen in Exodus und Numeri
Volume 152
Das Hohelied Salomos zwischen Poesie und Erzahlung
Erzahltextanalyse eines poetischen Textes
Volume 72
Die Erzelternerzahlungen im Lichte hofischer Erzahlkunst
Motivkritische Studien zu den Uberlieferungen von Lot, Isaak, Rebekka und Jakob
Volume 161
The Building of the First Temple
A Study in Redactional, Text-Critical and Historical Perspective
Volume 103
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