Abstract
This paper is closely related to the paper ‘The Judean Identity Does not Exist’ in this volume. After concluding that paper, the author came across two modern debates in which the contextual interpretation of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah plays a prominent role. Not surprisingly both debates took place in societies that had undergone considerable changes in recent years: South Africa when it was discarding the Apartheid regime (1992-1994), and Hong Kong after the transition to becoming (once more) a part of the People’s Republic of China (1997).
This paper investigates how Ezra and Nehemiah were read against these backgrounds, and how this contextual reading influenced the understanding of the texts, for example, on issues like the inclusion and exclusion of ethnical groups. Some striking examples of innovative exegesis are presented along with examples of exegesis that, on closer inspection, do justice neither to the text nor to the context. The reason for the latter is often that the biblical texts are not read carefully enough, and that, without due sociological analysis, the reader’s context is too easily identified with the situation assumed to be found in the texts.
On the basis of these examples, some suggestions are made for more fruitful ways of using the context as a heuristic perspective.
This paper investigates how Ezra and Nehemiah were read against these backgrounds, and how this contextual reading influenced the understanding of the texts, for example, on issues like the inclusion and exclusion of ethnical groups. Some striking examples of innovative exegesis are presented along with examples of exegesis that, on closer inspection, do justice neither to the text nor to the context. The reason for the latter is often that the biblical texts are not read carefully enough, and that, without due sociological analysis, the reader’s context is too easily identified with the situation assumed to be found in the texts.
On the basis of these examples, some suggestions are made for more fruitful ways of using the context as a heuristic perspective.
| Translated title of the contribution | Ezra and Nehemiah Read Contextually: A Forgotten Page |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Article number | 13 |
| Pages (from-to) | 135-142 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Amsterdamse Cahiers voor Exegese van de Bijbel en Zijn Tradities |
| Volume | 34 |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Volume title: Ezra en Nehemia. - ISBN 978-94-92526-62-5.Keywords
- Old Testament Exegesis
- Contextual biblical interpretation
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
