Legal Exegesis of Scripture in the Works of Josephus: 97 (The Library of Second Temple Studies) - Hardcover

Jeffrey R. Di Leo; Zahi Zalloua

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0567681157 ISBN 13: 9780567681157

Publisher: T&T Clark, 2020

Synopsis

Michael Avioz builds upon his earlier work on Josephus as an exegete, providing a comprehensive study of Josephus’ contribution to the crystallization of the Halakha which focuses on the similarities (and dissimilarities) between his work and the tannaitic sources, as well as contemporary Second Temple sources.

Avioz begins by providing a clear definition of Halakha, and offering an explanation of methodology and sources. He then examines the structure and contents of the Pentateuch in Josephus’ writing, before moving on to more specific coverage of the Decalogue in the work of Josephus and its relation to other laws in the Pentateuch. Further analysis is applied to the laws in the books of Leviticus-Deuteronomy and on laws that appear outside the Pentateuch. Throughout, Avioz makes close comparisons between biblical laws and Josephus’ rewriting of them, in order to consider the reasons behind this rewriting and the origins of the texts that Josephus may have had access to in his exegetical work. Avioz is consequently able to draw clear conclusions about the interpretative traditions that Josephus had access to and worked within, and about how he used them in his writing.

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Michael Avioz is an associate Professor teaching at the department of Bible at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. Dr. Avioz is the author of two books and numerous scholarly articles. In recent years he has been working on Josephus' interpretation of the Hebrew Bible.

Edition details

• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0567681157
• ISBN 13: 9780567681157
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192