4 Baruch: Paraleipomena Jeremiou (Commentaries on Early Jewish Literature)

Description

This is the first full-scale, verse-by-verse commentary on 4 Baruch. The pseudepigraphon, written in the second century, is in large measure an attempt to address the situation following the destruction of the temple in 70 CE by recounting legends about the first destruction of the temple, the Babylonian captivity, and the return from exile. 4 Bruch is notable for its tale about Jeremiah's companion, Abimelech, who sleeps through the entire exilic period. This tale lies behind the famous Christian legend of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus and is part of the genealogy of Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle." Allison's commentary draws upon an exceptionally broad range of ancient sources in an attempt to clarify 4 Baruch's original setting, compositional history, and meaning. Preface Contents INTRODUCTION I. Greek Texts and Versions II. Title and Genre III. Structure IV. Major Themes and Motifs V. Original Language and Style VI. Jewish or Christian? VII. Scriptural Intertextuality VIII. Extra-Canonical Literary Relationships and Compositional History IX. Date, Place, Sitz im Leben X. Reception History and Modern Scholarship XI. Bibliography COMMENTARY Chapter 1: Prophecy of the Destruction of Jerusalem Chapter 2: Lamentation of Jeremiah and Baruch Chapter 3: The Preservation of the Temple Vessels and Abimelech Chapter 4: Destruction and Exile Chapter 5: Abimelech’s Sleep and the Preservation of the Figs Chapter 6: Baruch’s Letter to Jeremiah Chapter 7: Jeremiah’s Letter to Baruch Chapter 8: The Origin of the Samaritans Chapter 9: Jeremiah’s Vision and Martyrdom List of Abbreviations Index of References Index of Names and Subjects