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 [mfn]We can leave aside questions of historicity for now.[/mfn] 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!).
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!