I write this with the sense that I am in some way cheating, but if David Pogue can write an entire book via Twitter (in which one of my tweets is quoted) then perhaps I can call upon the greater knowledge and wisdom of the biblioblogging world to aid me in some research.
This SBL I was asked to present a paper for the Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah section on exile and return. We are, of course, meeting in New Orleans which had been our home for 9 years, including the Year of Katrina. The suggestion is that I should reflect on the biblical return from exile and upon the efforts to restore NOLA. My initial thoughts had been to examine the promulgation of the Law (Scripture) as a means of reestablishing order, not so much in terms of civil order but rather in terms of social and spiritual order (stability). As I have ruminated on this I am drawn instead to the celebration of Sukkot described in Neh. 8:13ff. Is it simply being celebrated “as scheduled” (Lev. 23, Deut. 16) or perhaps in keeping with Deut. 31:10ff, making the preceding period of exile an extended “year of remission”?
In other words, I am considering (for the moment at least) that the celebration of Sukkot described in Nehemiah 1We can leave aside questions of historicity for now. may be more than simple fulfillment of the Law. Rather it is intended specifically with the reformation of the community in mind. In that case all of Neh. 7-9 should be read in the context of Deut. 31, making the exile the year of remission and thus a time of purification.
And this is where I ask your help. I am sure there must be sociological (and other) works out there that talk about the reestablishment of ritual as a coping mechanism, but I have no clue where to begin to look for such works. Any bibliographic suggestions? Or comments on my observations above? If this field has already been plowed I will not waste anyone’s time with it, but my reading on this is just beginning.
Any help will be gratefully received (and credited!).
- 1We can leave aside questions of historicity for now.
9 thoughts on “Academic crowd sourcing”
Hi,
you may find something in these 2 articles:
John L. Berquist, “Constructions of Identity in Postcolonial Yehud”, and John Kessler, “Persia’s Loyal Yahwists: Power Identity and Ethnicity in Achaemenid Yehud”, both in O. Lipschits and M. Oeming (eds.), Judah and the Judeans in the Persian Period (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2006), pp. 53-66 and 91-121.
Cheers,
Emanuel
Thanks Emanuel! I just ordered that volume through ILL so I will be sure to check them out.
Dear Chris,
I’m sure you already know, there has been tons of work on chapters 8-10 as a “covenant renewal ceremony.” I think that “covenant renewal” may be close to what you have in mind since it deals with restoring and renewing community. I think it can be connected to the renewal and repopulation and rededication of Jerusalem as a holy city. I wouldn’t connect the list of Neh. 7 with this unit.
I have done some work on these chapters which might be helpful, plus the references to the covenant renewal literature:
A Greek Religious Association in Second Temple Judah? A Comment on Nehemiah 10, Transeuphratène 30 (2005): 77-96.
Btw, Jacob Wright thinks that Nehemiah does not describe the formation of a cultic community, but I’m not sure what he thinks is being described. You would be right writing Wright.
Liz
Excellent Liz! Thanks so much. I realize a lot of work has already been done on this, I am just trying to find a niche here where I could say something useful.
So let me guess…you’re going to talk about how important Mardi Gras 2002 was?
Um…I mean 2006
Well, 2002 was a pretty good Mardi Gras. I think. 🙂 For those interested, pictures of our Mardi Gras 2006 can be found on this very site! Targuman – Mardi Gras Pictures
Hi Chris,
In “Who Came First, Ezra or Nehemiah? The Synchronistic Approach”, HUCA 65 (1994) 1-19, Aaron Demsky argues that not only were Ezra and Nehemiah contemporaries, but that Ezra arrived in the spring of 444 BCE, which by his reconing was a “sabbatical” year, so that the public reading of the Torah described the following Sukkot was exactly a fulfillment of Deut. 31.
Best,
Yigal Levin,
Eve of Sukkot 5770 (not a sabbatical year)
Thanks Yigal. I will give it a look!