Genesis Rabbah in Text and Context

Edited by Peter Schäfer Edited by Martha Himmelfarb Edited by Sarit Kattan Gribetz Edited by David M. Grossberg

Book cover: Genesis Rabbah in Text and Context

Extent: 297 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Biblical Studies, Religious Studies

Series: Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(December 2016)

ISBN: 9783161547027

6.38 x 9.41 inches

Price: $224.00

In stock

Genesis Rabbah, the earliest rabbinic commentary on the book of Genesis, was composed in Roman Palestine around the fifth century CE and continued to be studied throughout medieval and modern times. In this volume, an international team of scholars explores the literary formation and textual transmission of this work as well as the historical, cultural, religious, and political contexts in which it was composed.


Genesis Rabbah, the earliest rabbinic commentary on Genesis, was composed in Roman Palestine around the 5th century CE. In this volume, an international team of scholars explores the literary formation and textual transmission of this work in late antiquity, and the historical, cultural, religious, and political contexts from which it emerged. The collection aims to advance scholarly conversations about the classical rabbinic corpus; midrash; religions of late antiquity; interactions between Jews, Christians, and others in the Greco-Roman world; and the reception of Genesis Rabbah in medieval and modern times. Contributors: Carol Bakhos, Sarit Kattan Gribetz, David M. Grossberg, Martha Himmelfarb, Marc Hirshman, Laura Lieber, Joshua Levinson, Martin Lockshin, Chaim Milikowsky, Maren Niehoff, Peter Schafer, Michael Sokoloff

Sarit Kattan Gribetz/David M. Grossberg: Introduction: Genesis Rabbah, a Great Beginning - Michael Sokoloff: The Major Manuscripts of Genesis Rabbah - Sarit Kattan Gribetz: Between Narrative and Polemic: The Sabbath in Genesis Rabbah and the Babylonian Talmud - Peter Schäfer: Genesis Rabbah's Enoch - Chaim Milikowsky: Into the Workshop of the Homilist: Comparison of Genesis Rabbah 33:1 and Leviticus Rabbah 27:1 - Martha Himmelfarb: Abraham and the Messianism of Genesis Rabbah - Carol Bakhos: The Family of Abraham in Genesis Rabbah - Maren Niehoff: Origen's Commentary on Genesis as a Key to Genesis Rabbah - Laura Lieber: Stage Mothers: Performing the Matriarchs in Genesis Rabbah and Yannai - Joshua Levinson: Composition and Transmission of the Exegetical Narrative in Genesis Rabbah - David M. Grossberg: On Plane-Trees and the Palatine Hill: Rabbi Yishmael and the Samaritan in Genesis Rabbah and the Later Palestinian Rabbinic Tradition - Martin Lockshin: Peshat in Genesis Rabbah - Marc Hirshman: The Final Chapters of Genesis Rabbah

  • Edited by Peter Schäfer
  • Edited by Martha Himmelfarb
  • Edited by Sarit Kattan Gribetz
  • Edited by David M. Grossberg