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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Main Author: Gary N. Knoppers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Alberta Library 2015-01-01
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
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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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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
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