Ancient Jewish Magic
A History

A broad history of ancient Jewish magic from the Second Temple to the rabbinic period.

Gideon Bohak (Author)

9780521874571, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 3 April 2008

494 pages, 15 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 3.2 cm, 0.89 kg

'A pioneering work to be commended for its attention both to detail and the broader picture.' International Review of Biblical Studies

Gideon Bohak gives a pioneering account of the broad history of ancient Jewish magic, from the Second Temple to the rabbinic period. It is based both on ancient magicians' own compositions and products in Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek, and on the descriptions and prescriptions of non-magicians, to reconstruct a historical picture that is as balanced and nuanced as possible. The main focus is on the cultural make-up of ancient Jewish magic, and special attention is paid to the processes of cross-cultural contacts and borrowings between Jews and non-Jews, as well as to inner-Jewish creativity. Other major issues explored include the place of magic within Jewish society, contemporary Jewish attitudes to magic, and the identity of its practitioners. Throughout, the book seeks to explain the methodological underpinnings of all sound research in this demanding field, and to highlight areas where further research is likely to prove fruitful.

List of figures
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Jewish magic: a contradiction in terms?
2. Jewish magic in the Second Temple period
3. Jewish magic in late antiquity - the 'insider' evidence
4. Non-Jewish elements in late antique Jewish magic
5. How 'Jewish' was ancient Jewish magic?
6. Magic and magicians in rabbinic literature
Epilogue
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Ancient religions & mythologies [HRKP], Judaism: mysticism [HRJX], Judaism [HRJ], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]