The Latter Prophets--Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Book of the Twelve--comprise a fascinating collection of prophetic oracles, narratives, and vision reports from ancient Israel and Judah. Spanning centuries and showing evidence of compositional growth and editorial elaboration over time, these prophetic books offer an unparalleled view into the cultural norms, theological convictions, and political disputes of Israelite communities caught in the maelstrom of militarized conflicts with the empires of ancient Egypt, Babylonia, and Persia. Instructive for scholar and student alike, The Oxford Handbook of the Prophets features wide-ranging discussion of ancient Near Eastern social and cultic contexts; exploration of focused topics such as the persona of the prophet and the problem of violence in prophetic rhetoric; sophisticated historical and literary analysis of key prophetic texts; issues in reception history, from these texts' earliest reinterpretations at Qumran to Christian appropriations in contemporary homiletics; feminist, materialist, and postcolonial readings engaging the insights of influential contemporary theorists; and more. The diversity of interpretive approaches, clarity of presentation, and breadth of expertise represented here will make this Handbook indispensable for research and teaching on the Latter Prophets.
This volume engages the cultural norms and theological convictions of ancient Israel in the shadow of the Egyptian, Babylonian, and Persian empires. Essays explore ancient Near Eastern historical contexts; interpret prophetic narratives and poetry; offer feminist, materialist, and postcolonial readings and more. Indispensable for scholars and students of the prophets.
Skillfully edited This is a substantial and important volume. introducing the academic study of the prophets in all of its complexity is no small task, and Sharp is to be commended on the thoroughness of the volume, along with the accessibility of the essays. The lists of further reading recommended for each essay are very helpful in and of themselves, and the indices will be a boon for those making use of the volume for study and research. With seasoned scholars leading the way, this volume will be a valuable resource for researchers, instructors, and students.
