First published 2001
This collection presents papers from a Harvard University conference examining early biblical interpretation. James Kugel opens with an analysis of ancient biblical sages and their interpretive methods. A. I. Baumgarten explores how literacy shaped debates around scriptural meaning. Gary Anderson examines the symbolic transformation from garments of skin to garments of glory. Menahem Kister contributes two studies, one analyzing Jesus's saying about letting the dead bury their dead, another examining law and morality in Jesus's teachings. Moshe Bernstein maps how Genesis was understood at Qumran. Marc Hirshman traces how later generations received and interpreted Ecclesiastes. The volume concludes with Kugel's examination of biblical interpretation within Qumran prayers and hymns. Together, these essays illuminate how ancient communities approached sacred texts, revealing the diverse methods scholars used to extract meaning from scripture during formative periods of biblical interpretation.
Genres: history, religion, judaism, ancient-history, academic
Vibes: academic, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic-study, literary-analysis
Setting: Harvard University, Qumran
Period: ancient
192 pages · Hardcover · Harvard University Center for Jewish Studies