Meaningful Meetings with Foreigners in the World of the Bible

Essays in Honour of Klaas Spronk on the Occasion of His Retirement

Edited by M.C.A. Korpel Edited by P. Sanders

Book cover: Meaningful Meetings with Foreigners in the World of the Bible

Extent: 480 pages

Publisher: Peeters Publishers

Subjects: Ancient Near East, Biblical Studies

Series: Contributions to Biblical Exegesis & Theology

Series volume number: 119

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(May 2024)

ISBN: 9789042952942

Price: $125.00

In stock

PDF (Published)

(May 2024)

ISBN: 9789042952959

Price: $125.00

Several Bible characters traveled to other regions to sojourn there, either temporarily, or for the rest of their lives. Some of them left their place of birth because of famine, war, or conflicts with relatives, while others were deported. Not only the Bible but also other texts from the ancient Near East call attention to the plight of desperate foreigners and express the obligation to offer them help and asylum. The articles in this volume are devoted to the status of foreigners in ancient Israel and in the ancient Near East, as well as in Early Judaism and in the Early Church, and the influence of these foreigners on those who welcomed them. Special attention is given to contextual Bible reading, an approach that highlights the influence of readers’ opinions on the interpretation of ancient texts, including texts about foreigners.


Several Bible characters travelled to other regions to sojourn there, either temporarily, or for the rest of their lives. Some of them left their place of birth because of famine, war, or conflicts with relatives, while others were deported. Not only the Bible but also other texts from the ancient Near East call attention to the plight of desperate foreigners and express the obligation to offer them help and asylum. The articles in this volume are devoted to the status of foreigners in ancient Israel and in the ancient Near East, as well as in Early Judaism and in the Early Church, and the influence of these foreigners on those who welcomed them. Special attention is given to contextual Bible reading, an approach that highlights the influence of readers’ opinions on the interpretation of ancient texts, including texts about foreigners.

  • Edited by M.C.A. Korpel
  • Edited by P. Sanders