Elusive Scrolls: Could Any Hebrew Literature Have Been Written Prior to the Eighth Century bce?

Two reasons lead many scholars today to think that the Israelites were not able to produce long, literary works during the 10th and 9th centuries bce. First, there is a dearth of Hebrew inscriptions from that time; second, the Israelites did not have the necessary socio-economic resources until the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vetus Testamentum
Main Author: Richelle, Matthieu 1978- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2016
In: Vetus Testamentum
Year: 2016, Volume: 66, Issue: 4, Pages: 556-594
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Israel (Antiquity) / Literalness / Findings / Iron age / Society / Development
IxTheo Classification:HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B Literature literacy epigraphy inscriptions scribes Iron Age iia Hebrew
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:Two reasons lead many scholars today to think that the Israelites were not able to produce long, literary works during the 10th and 9th centuries bce. First, there is a dearth of Hebrew inscriptions from that time; second, the Israelites did not have the necessary socio-economic resources until the 8th century bce. This article critically assesses these two lines of reasoning in light of current research in the epigraphy and archaeology of the Southern Levant. In addition, it provides several elements which indicate that the necessary conditions for the production of long texts were present in Judah/Israel in the early royal period.
ISSN:1568-5330
Contains:In: Vetus Testamentum
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15685330-12341250