Rebuilding Identity: The Nehemiah-Memoir and its Earliest Readers

Description

This monograph presents a fresh and detailed treatment of the problems posed by the Nehemiah-Memoir. Starting from the pre-critical interpretations of Ezra-Neh, the study demonstrates that the use of the first-person does not suffice as a criterion for distinguishing between the verba Neemiae and the additions of later authors. The earliest edition of the Memoir is confined to a building report, which was expanded as early generations of readers developed the implications of Nehemiah's accomplishments for the consolidation and centralization of Judah. The expansions occasioned in turn the composition of the history of the "Restoration" in Ezra-Neh. Foreword 1. Introduction – Spinoza and the Attempt to Isolate Nehemiah’s First-Person Account I. In Susa – 1:1–11 Introduction 2. Nehemiah’s First Prayer – 1:5–1 la 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Diachronic Analysis 2.3 The Function of the Prayer 2.4 Conclusions 3. The Origins of Jerusalem’s Ruins 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Examination of Neh 1:1–4 3.3 Neh 1–2 and the Artaxerxes-Correspondence 3.4 Conclusions 4. A Prologue to the Amplified Account – 1:1b–4 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Tensions in Neh 1:1–2:11 4.3 The Reasons for the Composition of 1:1b–4 4.4 Conclusions II. From Susa to Jerusalem Introduction 5. Artaxerxes’ Permission to Build – 2:1–11a 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The Composition of the Account 5.3 The Ramifications of the Analysis for an Historical Reconstruction 5.4 Conclusions 6. The Consolidation of the Builders – 2:11b–4:17 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Nehemiah’s “Night Ride” – 2:11b–15 6.3 The Commencement and Completion of the Wall – 2:16b–3:38 6.4 Conclusions 7. The Intimidation of the Builder – 6:1–19 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The Unity of the Chapter 7.3 The Heading – V. 1 7.4 Nehemiah’s Correspondence with Sanballat and Geshem 7.5 The Notice of Completion (VV. 15–16) in the Context of VV. 10–19 7.6 Conclusions 8. The Socioeconomic Reforms – 5:1–19 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Comparison of the Reform Accounts in Neh 5 and 13 8.3 Nehemiah as an Ideal Leader – 5:14–19 8.4 Nehemiah’s Call for a Cancellation of Debts: VV. 1–13 and 19 8.5 Conclusions III. Additional Reforms during the Work on the Wall – 13:4–31 Introduction 9. The Cultic Reforms – 13:4–14 9.1. Introduction 9.2 The Eliashib-Tobiah Affair – 13:4–9 9.3 The Reinstallation of the Levites and Singers – 13:10–14 9.4. Conclusions Excursus I: The Composition of Neh 10:1–40 10. The Sabbath-Reforms – 13:15–22 10.1. Introduction 10.2. Synchronic Analysis 10.3. Diachronic Analysis 10.4 Conclusions 11. The Marriage-Reforms – 13:23–31 11.1. Introduction 11.2 The Literary Development of 13:23–26 and Ezra 9–10 11.3. The Banishment of Eliashib’s Descendant – 13:28f. 11.4 Conclusions IV. The Dedication of the Wall (12:27–13:3) and the Formation of a New Climax (7:1–12:26) Introduction 12. The Account of the Dedication Ceremonies (12:27ff.) and the Analogy of 7:1–3 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Analysis of the Composition of 12:27–43 12.3 The Third-Person Substratum in 7:1–3 12.4 Conclusions 13. The Account of the Dedication Ceremonies and the Growth of Chaps. 7–13 13.1. Introduction 13.2 The Priority of 12:27 vis-à-vis 11:3ff. and 13:10–13, 14b 13.3 The Literary Link between 7:1–3* + 11:1–2 13.4 The Analogy of the Temple Dedication in Ezra 6:16–22 13.5 Conclusions 14. The Final Form of the Book in Neh 12:44–13:3 and Neh 8–10 14.1 Introduction 14.2 The Youngest Additions to Ezra-Neh – Neh 12:44–13:3 and Neh 8–10 14.3 Concluding Survey The Primary Compositional Layers of Neh 1–13 (Table) Bibliographies Index of Biblical and Ancient Literature Index of Modern Authors Index of Subjects