Collections, Codes, and Torah: The Re-characterization of Israel's Written Law

(Paperback)

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Description

Scholars of biblical law are already widely agreed that ancient Israel did not draft law-texts for legislative purposes. Little attention has yet been given to explaining how and when later Judaism did come to regard Torah as legislative. As a result, the current consensus (that Ezra introduced legislative uses of Torah) is based on assumptions which have been never tested. This study steps into that crucial gap, critiques and challenges the current consensus, and presents an alternative hypothesis. .

Reviews

"This is a thorough and creative treatment, and the arguments in chs. 4-6, in particular, will command attention from students of the growth of institutionalization in Jewish law" 32.5 (2008) -- B.S. Jackson * Journal for the Study of the Old Testament *

Author Bio

Michael Lefebvre is a minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church (North America).