The Cambridge Companion to Law in the Hebrew Bible

It explains the nature and content of biblical law, its historical context, and its effect on subsequent movements and literature.

Bruce Wells (Edited by)

9781108493888, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 18 April 2024

408 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.7 cm, 0.74 kg

'This wide-ranging collection provides an admirable entry point for understanding current perceptions of biblical law. … a book to be appreciated and even enjoyed.' David J. Reimer, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

This Companion offers a comprehensive overview of the history, nature, and legacy of biblical law.  Examining the debates that swirl around the nature of biblical law, it explores its historical context, the significance of its rules, and its influence on early Judaism and Christianity. The volume also interrogates key questions: Were the rules intended to function as ancient Israel's statutory law? Is there evidence to indicate that they served a different purpose? What is the relationship between this legal material and other parts of the Hebrew Bible? Most importantly, the book provides an in-depth look at the content of the Torah's laws, with individual essays on substantive, procedural, and ritual law. With contributions from an international team of experts, written specially for this volume, The Cambridge Companion to Law in the Hebrew Bible provides an up-to-date look at scholarship on biblical law and outlines themes and topics for future research.

Introduction Bruce Wells
Part I. The Historical Context of Biblical Law: 1. Law in the ancient Near East Sophie Demare-Lafont
2. Law in the eastern Mediterranean Anselm C. Hagedorn
Part II. The Biblical Legal Collections: 3. The nature of the collections Bruce Wells
4. The origins of the law Sara J. Milstein
5. The narrative context of the collections Simeon Chavel
Part III. The Biblical Laws: 6. Substantive law Sandra Jacobs
7. Procedural law Giovanna R. Czander
8. Ritual law Michael B. Hundley
Part IV. Biblical Law and Other Scriptural Discourses: 9. Law and prophecy Reinhard Achenbach
10. Law and prayer Shalom E. Holtz
11. Law and wisdom Thomas Kruger
Part V. The Legacy of Biblical Law: 12. Biblical law and Dead Sea Scrolls Hannah K. Harrington
13. Biblical law and the New Testament Thomas Kazen
14. Biblical law and rabbinic literature Steven D. Fraade
15. Biblical law and early Christian interpretation Adam Gregerman.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG]