The Construction of Judean Diasporic Identity in Ezra–Nehemiah
This essay explores how Ezra–Nehemiah partially inverts the traditional paradigm of exile found in other biblical writings. When one community is formed at some distance from another in antiquity, the derivative community normally appears as a dependent community (or colony). Yet, in Ezra–Nehemiah...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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University of Alberta Library
2015-01-01
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Series: | Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |
Online Access: | https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/29343 |
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author | Gary N. Knoppers |
author_facet | Gary N. Knoppers |
author_sort | Gary N. Knoppers |
collection | DOAJ |
description |
This essay explores how Ezra–Nehemiah partially inverts the traditional paradigm of exile found in other biblical writings. When one community is formed at some distance from another in antiquity, the derivative community normally appears as a dependent community (or colony). Yet, in Ezra–Nehemiah the homeland repeatedly experiences renewal through initiatives undertaken by diaspora Judeans. Particular attention is given to how the vertical alliances forged within the Achaemenid administration by two diaspora leaders—Ezra and Nehemiah—are deployed to benefit Yehud. The commendation of Ezra and Nehemiah raises fascinating issues about developing notions of Judean ethnicity and identity in a world dominated by imperial interests.
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first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:17:55Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-0ecca8a77e07402ba6015bbee717962f |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1203-1542 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:17:55Z |
publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
publisher | University of Alberta Library |
record_format | Article |
series | Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |
spelling | doaj.art-0ecca8a77e07402ba6015bbee717962f2023-03-22T20:23:10ZengUniversity of Alberta LibraryJournal of Hebrew Scriptures1203-15422015-01-011510.5508/jhs.2015.v15.a3The Construction of Judean Diasporic Identity in Ezra–NehemiahGary N. Knoppers0University of Notre Dame This essay explores how Ezra–Nehemiah partially inverts the traditional paradigm of exile found in other biblical writings. When one community is formed at some distance from another in antiquity, the derivative community normally appears as a dependent community (or colony). Yet, in Ezra–Nehemiah the homeland repeatedly experiences renewal through initiatives undertaken by diaspora Judeans. Particular attention is given to how the vertical alliances forged within the Achaemenid administration by two diaspora leaders—Ezra and Nehemiah—are deployed to benefit Yehud. The commendation of Ezra and Nehemiah raises fascinating issues about developing notions of Judean ethnicity and identity in a world dominated by imperial interests. https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/29343 |
spellingShingle | Gary N. Knoppers The Construction of Judean Diasporic Identity in Ezra–Nehemiah Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |
title | The Construction of Judean Diasporic Identity in Ezra–Nehemiah |
title_full | The Construction of Judean Diasporic Identity in Ezra–Nehemiah |
title_fullStr | The Construction of Judean Diasporic Identity in Ezra–Nehemiah |
title_full_unstemmed | The Construction of Judean Diasporic Identity in Ezra–Nehemiah |
title_short | The Construction of Judean Diasporic Identity in Ezra–Nehemiah |
title_sort | construction of judean diasporic identity in ezra nehemiah |
url | https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/29343 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT garynknoppers theconstructionofjudeandiasporicidentityinezranehemiah AT garynknoppers constructionofjudeandiasporicidentityinezranehemiah |