MARC BRETTLER - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by MARC BRETTLER

Research paper thumbnail of On the Term »Historical-Critical«

Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, May 27, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of “The False Pen of the Scribes Has Made It into a Lie.” (Jeremiah 8:8)

These Truths We Hold, Dec 31, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Images of YHWH the Warrior in Psalms

Women, war, and metaphor, 1993

Research paper thumbnail of The Tanakh as History

Academic Studies Press eBooks, Mar 29, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of (Divine) Silence Is Golden

Research paper thumbnail of A Conclusion That Became an Introduction

Research paper thumbnail of Special Issue Reading Through the Lens of Gender

Research paper thumbnail of Greenberg, Moshe

Encyclopedia of the Bible Online, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Method in the Application of Biblical Source Material to Historical Writing (with Particular Reference to the Ninth Century bce)

Understanding the History of Ancient Israel, 2007

This essay discusses how biblical texts that may reflect events of the ninth pre-Christian centur... more This essay discusses how biblical texts that may reflect events of the ninth pre-Christian century may be used to reconstruct select ‘real’ events of that century. Using several examples, it reflects on method, namely, the problems that these texts present to the modern historian of ancient Israel. The modern historian of ancient history should approach the texts dealing with the ninth century in the same way he or she would approach earlier or later periods. This essay considers two types of texts: those that explicitly mark themselves as primarily didactic, and those that are marked as symbolic. The texts from the first group are from the Psalms, while Jonah, Job, and Ruth comprise the second group. There may be other sources beyond Kings that need to be considered for reconstructing the history of the ninth century, including Chronicles and the Pentateuch. Different Mesopotamian sources mention kings of Israel and Judah, usually in the context of the offering of tribute.

Research paper thumbnail of Historical Texts in the Hebrew Bible?

Raaflaub/Thinking, Recording, and Writing History in the Ancient World, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of The Original Torah: The Political Intent of the Bible's Writers

The Jewish Quarterly Review, 1999

... LAWRENCE J. KAPLAN AND DAVID SHATZ The Americanization of the Jews EDITED BY ROBERT M. SELTZE... more ... LAWRENCE J. KAPLAN AND DAVID SHATZ The Americanization of the Jews EDITED BY ROBERT M. SELTZER AND NORMAN J. COHEN Russia's First ... First, I want to thank my daughter Deb-orah Lewis Sperling who came home from Temple Israel Religious School one day ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Early Boundaries of Jewish Studies

Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, 2014

Marc Zvi Brettler examines the way the Bible is taught in Introduction to Judaism courses, and su... more Marc Zvi Brettler examines the way the Bible is taught in Introduction to Judaism courses, and suggests that presenting the Bible in its final form as background for the development of Judaism is insufficient. Many aspects of modern Judaism are not scripturally based; moreover, Jewish scripture developed and evolved over time: canon formation was a process. Thus, teaching Judaism as if today's Bible always existed, was always authoritative, and was the only canon that existed is historically inaccurate. Among other advantages, a historical-critical approach assists students in understanding rabbinic texts, which become easier if students realize that the Torah is not a single, unified text, but a polyphonic one. The academic teaching of religion involves, or at least includes, teaching texts in their historical contexts, and each text should be open to all questions. Brettler also argues for the place of the New Testament in Introduction courses.

Research paper thumbnail of My Bible

The Bible and the Believer, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Postscript

The Bible and the Believer, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Rites and Rank: Hierarchy in Biblical Representations of Cult

The Jewish Quarterly Review, 2002

... Copyright  2000 by Princeton University Press Published by Princeton University Press, 41 Wi... more ... Copyright  2000 by Princeton University Press Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 In the ... I am pleased to acknowledge both Douglas Knight and Tikva Fry-mer-Kensky for their critical and constructive feedback during the ...

Research paper thumbnail of John Day. Molech: A God of Human Sacrifice in the Old Testament. University of Cambridge Oriental Publications, 41. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989, ix, 115 pp

Research paper thumbnail of A “Literary Sermon” in Deuteronomy 4

A Wise and Discerning Mind, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Women and Psalms: Toward an understanding of the role of women's prayer in the Israelite cult

Research paper thumbnail of A Jewish approach to Psalm 111

Jewish and Christian approaches to Psalms, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Sensual or Sublime: On Teaching the Song of Songs

Approaches to Teaching the Hebrew Bible as Literature in Translation, 1989

Research paper thumbnail of On the Term »Historical-Critical«

Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, May 27, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of “The False Pen of the Scribes Has Made It into a Lie.” (Jeremiah 8:8)

These Truths We Hold, Dec 31, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Images of YHWH the Warrior in Psalms

Women, war, and metaphor, 1993

Research paper thumbnail of The Tanakh as History

Academic Studies Press eBooks, Mar 29, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of (Divine) Silence Is Golden

Research paper thumbnail of A Conclusion That Became an Introduction

Research paper thumbnail of Special Issue Reading Through the Lens of Gender

Research paper thumbnail of Greenberg, Moshe

Encyclopedia of the Bible Online, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Method in the Application of Biblical Source Material to Historical Writing (with Particular Reference to the Ninth Century bce)

Understanding the History of Ancient Israel, 2007

This essay discusses how biblical texts that may reflect events of the ninth pre-Christian centur... more This essay discusses how biblical texts that may reflect events of the ninth pre-Christian century may be used to reconstruct select ‘real’ events of that century. Using several examples, it reflects on method, namely, the problems that these texts present to the modern historian of ancient Israel. The modern historian of ancient history should approach the texts dealing with the ninth century in the same way he or she would approach earlier or later periods. This essay considers two types of texts: those that explicitly mark themselves as primarily didactic, and those that are marked as symbolic. The texts from the first group are from the Psalms, while Jonah, Job, and Ruth comprise the second group. There may be other sources beyond Kings that need to be considered for reconstructing the history of the ninth century, including Chronicles and the Pentateuch. Different Mesopotamian sources mention kings of Israel and Judah, usually in the context of the offering of tribute.

Research paper thumbnail of Historical Texts in the Hebrew Bible?

Raaflaub/Thinking, Recording, and Writing History in the Ancient World, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of The Original Torah: The Political Intent of the Bible's Writers

The Jewish Quarterly Review, 1999

... LAWRENCE J. KAPLAN AND DAVID SHATZ The Americanization of the Jews EDITED BY ROBERT M. SELTZE... more ... LAWRENCE J. KAPLAN AND DAVID SHATZ The Americanization of the Jews EDITED BY ROBERT M. SELTZER AND NORMAN J. COHEN Russia's First ... First, I want to thank my daughter Deb-orah Lewis Sperling who came home from Temple Israel Religious School one day ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Early Boundaries of Jewish Studies

Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, 2014

Marc Zvi Brettler examines the way the Bible is taught in Introduction to Judaism courses, and su... more Marc Zvi Brettler examines the way the Bible is taught in Introduction to Judaism courses, and suggests that presenting the Bible in its final form as background for the development of Judaism is insufficient. Many aspects of modern Judaism are not scripturally based; moreover, Jewish scripture developed and evolved over time: canon formation was a process. Thus, teaching Judaism as if today's Bible always existed, was always authoritative, and was the only canon that existed is historically inaccurate. Among other advantages, a historical-critical approach assists students in understanding rabbinic texts, which become easier if students realize that the Torah is not a single, unified text, but a polyphonic one. The academic teaching of religion involves, or at least includes, teaching texts in their historical contexts, and each text should be open to all questions. Brettler also argues for the place of the New Testament in Introduction courses.

Research paper thumbnail of My Bible

The Bible and the Believer, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Postscript

The Bible and the Believer, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Rites and Rank: Hierarchy in Biblical Representations of Cult

The Jewish Quarterly Review, 2002

... Copyright  2000 by Princeton University Press Published by Princeton University Press, 41 Wi... more ... Copyright  2000 by Princeton University Press Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 In the ... I am pleased to acknowledge both Douglas Knight and Tikva Fry-mer-Kensky for their critical and constructive feedback during the ...

Research paper thumbnail of John Day. Molech: A God of Human Sacrifice in the Old Testament. University of Cambridge Oriental Publications, 41. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989, ix, 115 pp

Research paper thumbnail of A “Literary Sermon” in Deuteronomy 4

A Wise and Discerning Mind, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Women and Psalms: Toward an understanding of the role of women's prayer in the Israelite cult

Research paper thumbnail of A Jewish approach to Psalm 111

Jewish and Christian approaches to Psalms, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Sensual or Sublime: On Teaching the Song of Songs

Approaches to Teaching the Hebrew Bible as Literature in Translation, 1989

Research paper thumbnail of Resources for the History of Interpretation and Reception History of the Bible Marc Zvi Brettler, with the help of Matthew A. Arakaky

Reception history is an important part of contemporary biblical studies, suggesting how texts hav... more Reception history is an important part of contemporary biblical studies, suggesting how texts have been heard and interpreted over time. Those committed to more traditional historicalcritical scholarship may also find that these interpretations often offer insights into the original meaning of the text. This list, which is not exhaustive, offers some suggestions of sources for seeing how specific books, verses, figures, or motifs are interpreted in the postbiblical period. It doesn't include resources on the Bible in general.

Research paper thumbnail of Resources for the History of Interpretation and Reception History of the Bible Marc Zvi Brettler, with the help of Matthew A. Arakaky

Reception history is an important part of contemporary biblical studies, suggesting how texts hav... more Reception history is an important part of contemporary biblical studies, suggesting how texts have been heard and interpreted over time. Those committed to more traditional historicalcritical scholarship may also find that these interpretations often offer insights into the original meaning of the text. This list, which is not exhaustive, offers some suggestions of sources for seeing how specific books, verses, figures, or motifs are interpreted in the postbiblical period. It doesn't include resources on the Bible in general.