Hananel Shapira | The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (original) (raw)

Papers by Hananel Shapira

Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, 2024

By examining Moses’ civic and cultic roles and comparing them to those of kings in the ancient Ne... more By examining Moses’ civic and cultic roles and comparing them to those of kings in the ancient Near East, I demonstrate that Moses, rather than the community or the high priest, holds a pivotal cultic position in P. Although lacking several typical royal attributes, Moses still holds responsibilities that align closely with those of ancient Near Eastern monarchs. He should be considered a de facto royal figure in the context of Priestly literature in its earliest stages, significantly impacting the interpretation of the relationship between religion and state according to P.

Vetus Testamentum, 2024

The article explores the significance of the strange scene in 1 Sam 3 where Samuel confuses the L... more The article explores the significance of the strange scene in 1 Sam 3 where Samuel confuses the Lord with Eli and investigates what message the author intended to convey. The article argues that the narrative of Samuel’s call addresses issues that extend beyond his circumstances. Samuel is a representative of the entire prophetic legacy, and the narrator uses the narrative’s peculiarities to validate the essence of prophecy and the prophetic role. The article also explores the similarities and differences between Samuel’s call narrative and Num 12, which claims that only Moses is a trustworthy prophet. The narrator of Samuel’s call narrative uses Num 12 subversively, lending credibility to his own narrative and reinforcing Samuel’s reliability. Ultimately, the method by which the message was conveyed is inconsequential as long as the prophet received and accurately conveyed the divine message.

Vetus Testamentum, 2023

Through a literary-historical analysis of a specific excerpt (Jer 25:15–29) from the book of Jere... more Through a literary-historical analysis of a specific excerpt (Jer 25:15–29) from the book of Jeremiah, this article argues that the elements present in the Masoretic Text but absent in the Septuagint are likely part of a more original version of the text. This conclusion challenges Stipp’s pre-Masoretic Idiolect theory, which posits that these elements always indicate the general priority of the Septuagint. Instead, this article suggests that Stipp’s theory oversimplifies the nuances of each occurrence, and that each textual unit should be analyzed independently. The origins of Stipp’s pre-Masoretic idiolect might emerge from the cases in which MT’s priority is to be preferred.

Journal of Biblical Literature, 2023

The position of the prescriptive unit regarding the construction of the incense altar (Exod 30:1–... more The position of the prescriptive unit regarding the construction of the incense altar (Exod 30:1–10) has been identified in previous scholarship as problematic. In support of Julius Wellhausen’s diachronic solution to this problem, several additional irregularities in this unit can be adduced, as well as indications in the larger Priestly texts in the Pentateuch that an independent altar for incense was not in use. An explanation for the entire array of irregularities is based on the suggestion that the incense altar was meant to replace another vessel, the menorah. The current command regarding the function of the menorah (Exod 25:37b) raises doubts regarding its originality. Based on other features in the menorah unit (Exod 25:31–38) an alternative, original command designating the menorah for burning incense can be reconstructed. When the incense altar replaced the menorah in that role, the author of its prescriptive unit had to argue in favor of its legitimacy through direct polemics with the menorah’s function, and through
the incorporation of it in the highly esteemed annual ritual of atonement.

Book Reviews by Hananel Shapira

Hebrew Studies 64, 2023

Review Essay of The Consuming Fire: The Complete Priestly Source. From Creation to the Promised ... more Review Essay of
The Consuming Fire: The Complete Priestly Source. From Creation to the Promised Land
by Liane M. Feldman

Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, 2024

By examining Moses’ civic and cultic roles and comparing them to those of kings in the ancient Ne... more By examining Moses’ civic and cultic roles and comparing them to those of kings in the ancient Near East, I demonstrate that Moses, rather than the community or the high priest, holds a pivotal cultic position in P. Although lacking several typical royal attributes, Moses still holds responsibilities that align closely with those of ancient Near Eastern monarchs. He should be considered a de facto royal figure in the context of Priestly literature in its earliest stages, significantly impacting the interpretation of the relationship between religion and state according to P.

Vetus Testamentum, 2024

The article explores the significance of the strange scene in 1 Sam 3 where Samuel confuses the L... more The article explores the significance of the strange scene in 1 Sam 3 where Samuel confuses the Lord with Eli and investigates what message the author intended to convey. The article argues that the narrative of Samuel’s call addresses issues that extend beyond his circumstances. Samuel is a representative of the entire prophetic legacy, and the narrator uses the narrative’s peculiarities to validate the essence of prophecy and the prophetic role. The article also explores the similarities and differences between Samuel’s call narrative and Num 12, which claims that only Moses is a trustworthy prophet. The narrator of Samuel’s call narrative uses Num 12 subversively, lending credibility to his own narrative and reinforcing Samuel’s reliability. Ultimately, the method by which the message was conveyed is inconsequential as long as the prophet received and accurately conveyed the divine message.

Vetus Testamentum, 2023

Through a literary-historical analysis of a specific excerpt (Jer 25:15–29) from the book of Jere... more Through a literary-historical analysis of a specific excerpt (Jer 25:15–29) from the book of Jeremiah, this article argues that the elements present in the Masoretic Text but absent in the Septuagint are likely part of a more original version of the text. This conclusion challenges Stipp’s pre-Masoretic Idiolect theory, which posits that these elements always indicate the general priority of the Septuagint. Instead, this article suggests that Stipp’s theory oversimplifies the nuances of each occurrence, and that each textual unit should be analyzed independently. The origins of Stipp’s pre-Masoretic idiolect might emerge from the cases in which MT’s priority is to be preferred.

Journal of Biblical Literature, 2023

The position of the prescriptive unit regarding the construction of the incense altar (Exod 30:1–... more The position of the prescriptive unit regarding the construction of the incense altar (Exod 30:1–10) has been identified in previous scholarship as problematic. In support of Julius Wellhausen’s diachronic solution to this problem, several additional irregularities in this unit can be adduced, as well as indications in the larger Priestly texts in the Pentateuch that an independent altar for incense was not in use. An explanation for the entire array of irregularities is based on the suggestion that the incense altar was meant to replace another vessel, the menorah. The current command regarding the function of the menorah (Exod 25:37b) raises doubts regarding its originality. Based on other features in the menorah unit (Exod 25:31–38) an alternative, original command designating the menorah for burning incense can be reconstructed. When the incense altar replaced the menorah in that role, the author of its prescriptive unit had to argue in favor of its legitimacy through direct polemics with the menorah’s function, and through
the incorporation of it in the highly esteemed annual ritual of atonement.

Hebrew Studies 64, 2023

Review Essay of The Consuming Fire: The Complete Priestly Source. From Creation to the Promised ... more Review Essay of
The Consuming Fire: The Complete Priestly Source. From Creation to the Promised Land
by Liane M. Feldman