The Book of the Twelve – Textual and Archaeological Perspectives
International online seminar in cooperation of the Tel Aviv University, Charles University, University of Heidelberg, University of Tübingen, University of Zurich and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.
Poslední úprava: Prudký Martin, prof., Dr. (19.08.2024)
Sylabus - angličtina
International Online Seminar:
The Book of the Twelve – Textual and Archaeological Perspectives (2024/2025)
Seminar Plan
1.
17.10.2024
Subject: Introduction
The Historical Background and Formation of the Book of the Twelve
Chair: Konrad Schmid
Speaker I: Oded Lipschits: From Jeroboam (the Second!) to the Ptolemaic Period: Historical and Archaeological Introduction to the Book of the Twelve
Speaker II: Jakob Wöhrle: Israelite Prophecy and the History and Formation of the Book of the Twelve
Discussion in Rooms on the Questions:
- What is prophecy?
- Why and how are the prophetic books important sources for historical/archaeological research?
- What is the significance of the Book of Twelve?
- Why and how is the Book of Twelve important for historical research?
Biblical Text for Preparation:
- Haggai 1
Bibliography for Reading:
- Williamson, H.G.M., “History and Memory in the Prophets,” in: Sharp, C.J. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Prophets, New York: Oxford University Press, 2016, 132–148.
2.
24.10.2024
Subject: Assyrian Period I: Amos I
The Earthquake of the 8th Century
Chair: Jakob Wöhrle
Speaker I: Konrad Schmid: The Earthquake in the Days of Uzziah and the Development of the Book of Amos
Speaker II: Joe Uziel: The Relationship between Archaeology and Text: The 8th Century BCE Earthquake as a Test Case
Discussion in Rooms on the Questions:
- How were earthquakes interpreted in antiquity? (see e.g. https://books.openedition.org/editionscnrs/28623?lang=de)
- How was the earthquake in the days of Uzziah perceived in Israel and Judah?
- Compare Am 1:1 to the superscriptions of other prophetic books.
Biblical Text for Preparation:
- Amos 1:1; 2:13; 9:1
- Amos 1–2 in general
- Superscriptions to the prophetic books (Isa 1:1 to Mal 1:1)
Bibliography for Reading:
- Austin, S. / Franz, G.W. / Frost, E., “Amos’s Earthquake: An Extraordinary Middle East Seismic Event of 750 BC,” International Geology Review 42 (2000), 657–671.
- Schmid, K., “Prognosis and Postgnosis in Biblical Prophecy,” SJOT 32 (2018), 106–120.
Additional Literature:
- Marco, S. / Agnon, A. / Finkelstein, I. / Ussishkin, D., “Megiddo Earthquakes,” in: Megiddo IV: The 1998–2002 Seasons, vol. 2, Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv University, 569–575.
- Schmid, K., “The Book of Amos,” in: Gertz, J. et al. (ed.), The T&T Clark Handbook of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Literature, Religion, and History of the Old Testament, London / New York: T&T Clark, 2012, 484–492.
3.
31.10.2024
Subject: Assyrian Period II: Amos II
Bethel in the 8th Century
Chair: Oded Lipschits
Speaker I: Filip Čapek: Bethel in the Book of Amos
Speaker II: Aharon Tavger: The Archaeology and Historical-Geography of Bethel
Discussion in Rooms on the Questions:
- Why is Amos critical to Bethel and other sites in the north?
- What does Amos mean by the parable of the basket of ripe fruit?
Biblical Text for Preparation:
- Amos 7:10–8:14
Bibliography for Reading:
- Nadav, N., “In Search of the Temples of YHWH of Samaria and YHWH of Teman,” JANER 17 (2017), 76–95.
- Lipschits, O., “Bethel Revisited,” in: Lipschits, O. et al. (ed.), Rethinking Israel: Studies in the History and Archaeology of Ancient Israel in Honor of Israel Finkelstein, Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2017, 233–246.
- Rainey A. F., “Looking for Bethel: An Exercise in Historical Geography,” in: Gitin, S. et al. (ed.), Confronting the Past: Archaeological and Historical Essays on Ancient Israel in Honor of William G. Dever, Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2006, 269–273.
- Tavger, A., “ʻAnd He Called the Name of that Place Bethel’ (Gen 28:19): Historical-Geography and Archaeology of the Sanctuary of Bethel,” in: Hensel, B. (ed.), The History of the Jacob Cycle (Genesis 25–35): Recent Research on the Compilation, the Redaction, and the Reception of the Biblical Narrative and Its Historical and Cultural Contexts, Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2021, 201–222.
4.
07.11.2024
Subject: Assyrian Period III: Micah
Moresheth-Gath and the Shephelah in 701
Chair: Manfred Oeming
Speaker I: Jakob Wöhrle: Micah’s Moresheth Gath: Insights into the Geographical and the Historical Background of the Book of Micah
Speaker II: Josef Briffa: The Shephelah of Judah and the Impact of the Assyrian Empire
Discussion in Rooms on the Questions:
- What can we say about the identification of Micah’s Moresheth Gath?
- What if the new identification of Moresheth Gath with Azekah was correct?
- What insights about the historical sitution in the Shephalah do we gain from the book of Micah?
- In how far do these insights fit with / contradict / extend / enrich the results of recent archaeological findings?
Biblical Text for Preparation:
- Micah 1:1–16
Bibliography for Reading:
- Lipschits, O. / Wöhrle, J., “Azekah – The Hometown of Micah the Moreshtite,” ZAW 135 (2023), 230–250.
Additional Literature:
- Koch, I., “Settlements and Interactions in the Shephelah during the Late Second through Early First Millennia BCE,” in: Lipschits, O. / Maeir, A.M. (ed.), The Shephelah during the Iron Age: Recent Archaeological Studies, Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2017, 181–207.
5.
14.11.2024
Subject: Babylonian Period I: Zephaniah
Cult Reform According to the Book of Zephaniah
Chair: Josef Briffa
Speaker I: Yigal Levin: Did Zephaniah Inspire, React to, or Have Anything to Do with Josiah’s ‘Cultic Reform’?
Speaker II: Yuval Gadot: Josiah and the Physical Heritage of the Days Menasseh: A Look from Jerusalem
Discussion in Rooms on the Questions:
- Does Zeph 1:4–6 refer to the cult reform of Josiah? If yes, does this proof the historicity of Josiah’s cult reform?
- What can we learn from the book of Zephaniah about the time of Josiah in general?
- How do extra-biblical and archaeological findings fit to the biblical texts?
Biblical Text for Preparation:
Zeph 1 and 2 Kings 22:1–23:30
Bibliography for Reading:
Bibliography for Reading
- Hagedorn, A.C., “When Did Zephaniah Become a Supporter of Josiah’s Reform?” JTS 62 (2011): 453–475.
- Gadot, Y., “Jerusalem, the Reign of Manasseh and the Assyrian World Order,” in: Hagemeyer, F. (ed.), Jerusalem and the Coastal Plain in the Iron Age and Persian Periods: New Studies on Jerusalem’s Relations with the Southern Coastal Plain of Israel/ Palestine (c. 1200–300 BCE) (ORA 46), Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2022: 145–161.
Additional Bibliography
- Hays, C.B., “Isa 24–27 and Zephaniah Amid the Terrors and Hopes of the Seventh Century: An Intertextual Analysis,” in: Bautsch, R.J. / Eck J. / Zapff, B.M. (ed.), Isaiah and the Twelve: Parallels, Similarities and Differences, Berlin: de Gruyter, 2020, 131–155.
- Kahn, D., “The Historical Setting of Zephaniah's Oracles against the Nations (Zeph. 2: 4-15),” in: Galil, G. / Geller M. / Millard A. (ed.), Homeland and Exile: Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies in Honour of Bustenay Oded (VTSup 130), Leiden: Brill, 2009, 439–453.
21.11.2024
SBL-Break!
6.
28.11.2024
Subject: Babylonian Period II: Obadiah
Obadiah and the Downfall of Jerusalem
Chair: Martin Prudky
Speaker I: Anselm Hagedorn: Obadiah’s View of the Babylonian Conquest
Speaker II: Nitsan Shalom: The Archaeology of the Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem
Discussion in Rooms on the Questions:
- Why is Obadiah “necessary” after Jeremias 49 already speaks about Edom?
- Why is Babylon so reluctantly mentioned in the book – especially so as the “Babylonian Conquest” lays a major role in the shaping of the biblical tradition?
Biblical Text for Preparation:
Obadiah
Bibliography for Reading:
- Sweeney, S.K., “Obadiah (Book and Person),” EBR 21:1084–1089.
- Assis, E.A., “Obadiah’s Prophecy against Edom,” in: idem, Identity in Conflict: The Struggle between Esau and Jacob, Edom and Israel (Siphrut 19), Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2016, 141–152.
- Shalom, N., “The Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem as a Symbol? New Archaeological Evidence of the Babylonian Conquest,” HeBAI 12 (2023), 85–107.
7.
05.12.2024
Subject: Persian Period I: Haggai-Zechariah I
The Rebuilding of the Second Temple
Chair: Jakob Wöhrle
Speaker I: Jan Rückl: Conflicting Discourses of Temple Reconstruction in Haggai, Zechariah and Other Biblical Texts
Speaker II: Yiftah Shalev: “Jerusalem Shall be Inhabited as Towns without Walls” – New Evidence of Persian Period Jerusalem
Discussion in Rooms on the Questions:
- What are the main differences between the accounts of the Second Temple reconstruction in various biblical texts (Haggai-Zechariah, Ezra, 1 Esdras)?
- How to explain these differences? Is it possible to harmonize the different accounts into a unified picture and is it appropriate to harmonize them?
- What is the difference between the biblical description of the city and the archaeological finds?
Biblical Text for Preparation:
- Haggai 1–2
Bibliography for Reading:
Shalev Y. / Bocher E. / Roth H. / Sandhaus R. / Shalom N. / Gadot Y., “New evidence on the Nature and Location of Jerusalem during the Early Hellenistic Period,” in: Berlin, A. / Kosmin, P.J. (ed.), The Middle Maccabees: Archaeology, History and the Rise of the Hasmonean Kingdom (ABS 28), Atlanta: SBL Press, 17–36.
- Rückl, J., “The Leadership of the Judean Community according to the Book of Haggai,” in: Pyschny, K. / Schulz, S. (ed.), Transforming Authority: Concepts of Leadership in Prophetic and Chronistic Literature (BZAW 518), Berlin: de Gruyter, 2021, 59–84.
Additional Literature:
Lipschits, O., “Jerusalem as a Symbol and in Reality”, HeBAI 12 (2023), 69–84.
8.
12.12.2024
Subject: Persian Period II: Haggai-Zechariah II
Drought in Haggai-Zechariah and in Archaeology
Chair: Filip Capek
Speaker I: Jan Rückl and Oded Lipschits: “A Drought on the Land and the Hills”: The Persian Period Dry climate between Literary Imagery and Historical Geography
Speaker II: Dafna Langgut: Dry Climate during the Babylonian and the Early Phase of the Persian Periods and its Impact on Settlement Patterns in the Southern Levant
Discussion in Rooms on the Questions:
- How can archaeology be useful in the study of biblical prophetic texts? Can environmental archaeology be used to interpret or even date biblical texts?
- To what extent can the figurative language of prophetic texts be used to reconstruct historical reality? How - specifically - can Haggai's description of the miserable situation in Judah be used to reconstruct the situation in the last third of the 6th century BCE?
- What reasons led to the change in the southern borders of Judah/Yehud between the 8th–7th centuries on the one hand and the 4th–3rd centuries BCE on the other? How to evaluate the impact of various phenomena on historical processes?
Biblical Text for Preparation:
Hag 1:1–15; 2:10–19
Bibliography for Reading:
- Langgut, D. / Lipschits, O. “Dry Climate during the Early Persian Period and its Impact on the Establishment of Idumea,” Transeu 49 (2017), 135–162.
9.
19.12.2024
Subject: Persian Period III: Second Zechariah
Second Zechariah and the Political Situation in the Hellenistic Period
Chair: Oded Lipschits
Speaker I: Hervé Gonzalez: Losing Territorial Control in Early-Hellenistic Times: Territory and Power in Zechariah 9–14
Speaker II: Débora Sandhaus and Igor Kreimerman: From Crisis to Recovery: The Influence of Warfare and
Administrative Reforms on Settlement Patterns from the
Late Persian Period to Ptolemy II in the Land of Israel
Discussion in Rooms on the Questions:
- What can we learn from Second Zechariah about
the political situation of the early Hellenistic period?
- What is the historical background of the judgement
oracels against various places Zech 9:1–8?
- Which extra-biblical and archaeological data can be connected
with Deutero-Zechariah?
Biblical Text for Preparation:
Zechariah 9–10
Bibliography for Reading:
Kreimerman I. / Sandhaus, D., “Political Trends as Reflected in the Material Culture: A New Look at the Transition between the Persian and Early Hellenistic Periods,” in: Honigman, S. / Nihan, C. / Lipschits, O. (ed.), Times of Transition: Judea in the Early Hellenistic Period (MOSAICS 1), Pennsylvania: Eisenbrauns, 2012, 120–131.
Poslední úprava: Prudký Martin, prof., Dr. (19.08.2024)
