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EV3251 THE BOOK OF EZRA-NEHEMIAH (A.Y. 2025/2026)
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Accademic Unit
Biblical Faculty
Description
The understanding of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah has changed fundamentally in the last three to five decades.
Zunz established 1832 the thesis which ever since was considered an undisputed fact that Ezra-Nehemiah was a continuation of Chronicles, thus forming part of “the Chronicler’s History”. In 1968 Sarah Japhet contested the unity of Chr and Ezr-Neh which remains disputed to this date.
Until recently, the book of Ezra-Nehemiah was essentially regarded as a (of course stylised) historical account of Judah in the Persian period (539-333 BC). However, literary studies in recent decades (supported by archaeological findings) have led more and more exegetes to see in the book a theological literary composition from the Greek period for the Greek period, a story that is set in the Persian Empire but historically deals with questions and problems of the Hellenistic era.
We therefore read the book not as a historical account, but as a literary work (using earlier traditions) and analyse its theology - always in comparison with the alternative version 1Esdras (LXX). And we read it as a work in its own right.
Objectives
The course aims to enable students to literarily analyse Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek narrative texts using the tools of narratology and to compare their theological concepts. As the book of Ezra-Nehemiah is mostly written in Hebrew, but in Ezr 4-6 (and partly 7) also in Aramaic, a reasonable knowledge of Aramaic is required in addition to a good knowledge of Hebrew. Since the alternative version of 1Esdras is written in very elegant Greek, a command of this language is also necessary.
Method
Class lectures with the possibility of discussions.
Evaluation
The exam will be a written exam lasting 120 minutes. It will consist of the translation and interpretation of a passage from Ezra-Nehemiah and can be written in English, German, Italian, Spanish, French and Latin.
Information
- Semester: 2° Semestre
- ECTS: 5
Teachers
Dieter BÖHLER
Lesson schedule/Room
Lessons schedule not available
Assigned Texts: Ezra-Nehemiah (Hebr.-Aram.), 1Esdras (Greek), Flavius Josephus, Ant. Iud. XI 1-183
Bibliography
Mandatory:
Böhler, D., 1 Esdras (IEKAT; Stuttgart 2015), Einleitung 13-21 = Engl. 1 Esdras (IECOT; Stuttgart 2016), Introduction 13-21).
Commentaries:
Blenkinsopp, J. , Ezra-Nehemiah (OTL; London 1988).
Grabbe , L., Ezra-Nehemiah (Abingdon 1998).
Gunneweg , A., Esra (KAT; Gütersloh 1985)
Id., Nehemia (KAT; Gütersloh 1987).
Hieke , T., Die Bücher Esra und Nehemia (NSKAT; Stuttgart 2005).
Williamson , H.G.M., Ezra, Nehemiah (WBC 16; Waco 1985).
Monographs and Articles
Becking , B., Ezra, Nehemiah, and the construction of early Jewish identity (FAT 80; Tübingen 2011).
Böhler , D., Die heilige Stadt in Esdras A und Esra-Nehemia (OBO 158; Fribourg 1997).
Id., «Literarischer Machtkampf. Drei Ausgaben des Esrabuches im Streit um das wahre Israel und um die Legitimation von Herrschaft», in Juda und Jerusalem in der Seleukidenzeit (edd. U. Dahmen – J. Schnocks ) (BBB 159; Göttingen 2010) 125-145.
Carr , D., The Formation of the Hebrew Bible (Oxford 2011).
Finkelstein , I., Hasmonean realities behind Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles. Archeological and Historical Perspectives (Atlanta GA 2018).
Heckl , R., Neuanfang und Kontinuität in Jerusalem (FAT 104; Tübingen 2016).
Grätz , S., Das Edikt des Artaxerxes. Eine Untersuchung zum religionspolitischen und historischen Umfeld von Esra 7,12-26 (BZAW 337; Berlin 2004).
Japhet , S., «The Supposed Common Authorship of Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah Investigated Anew», VT 18 (1968) 303-371.
Schwiderski , D., Handbuch des nordwestsemitischen Briefformulars. Ein Beitrag zur Echtheitsfrage der aramäischen Briefe des Esrabuches (BZAW 295; Berlin 2000).
Ska , J.-L., Our Fathers Have Told Us. Introduction to the analysis of Hebrew narratives (Rome 1990).
Talshir , Z., 1 Esdras. A Text Critical Commentary (SCS 50; Atlanta GA 2001).