Preaching the Tradition
Homily and Hermeneutics after the Exile

This book compares the 'addresses' in the Books of Chronicles with similar material in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah and in the post-exilic prophets.

Rex Mason (Author)

9780521383042, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 31 August 1990

336 pages
23.7 x 15.8 x 2.3 cm, 0.614 kg

"...[a] challenging, insightful, and suggestive contribution toward the understanding of this formative, if obscure, period of Jewish history." Journal of Biblical Literature

The aim of this study is to examine the speeches given to leading characters in the Books of Chronicles, including those which formed the basis of Gerhard von Rad's book The Levitical Sermon in the Books of Chronicles. These are compared with similar material in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah and in the post-exilic prophets. It is Dr Mason's contention that recurring themes and homiletical devices suggest that these 'addresses' (while not to be classified as 'Sermons') do reveal something of the exegetical and teaching methods employed in the Second Temple period, which are here echoed. By studying the contents and aims of this preaching, the author tries to clarify the process by which pre-exilic Davidic Yahwism became the living faith of the post-exilic community in the challenging circumstances of the Persian and Greek periods through the careful reinterpretation of earlier scriptural material.

List of abbreviations
Introduction
Part I. The 'Addresses' in the Books of Chronicles: 1. Introduction to Part I
2. The addresses in Chronicles
3. Summary of the addresses
Part II. A Comparison of the Themes and Characteristics of the Addresses in the Books of Chronicles with Some Other Post-Exilic Biblical Material: 4. The 'speeches' in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah
5. The book of Haggai
6. Zechariah 1-8
7. The Book of Malachi
8. Conclusion
Notes
Select bibliography
Index of modern authors
Subject index
Index of biblical references.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG]