Early Judaism- A Comprehensive Overview

Aseneth).Several authors and texts belong to this group: Demetrius,

Artapanus, theLetter of Aristeas,Aristeas the Exegete, Eupolemus, Pseudo-

Eupolemus, Cleodemus Malchus, Pseudo-Hecataeus, 2 Maccabees, 3 Mac-

cabees, Philo’sIn FlaccumandLegatio ad Gaium,Justus of Tiberius,

Josephus’sJewish WarandJewish Antiquities,andJoseph and Aseneth.The

term “history” has completely different meanings from one text to an-

other. In several cases, history means biblical history, and the work may

not look like history at all to the modern reader, who would classify it ei-

ther as rewritten Bible (a rather anachronistic label) or as midrashic litera-

ture. However, these ancient writers certainly thought that they were writ-

ing history. Moreover, when dealing either with biblical history or with

events more or less contemporaneous with the author, many texts contain

sometimes glaring inaccuracies and frequently describe miracles and in-

terventions by angels, so that the distinction between historiography and

legend is blurred. Obviously, ancient texts should not be judged according

to modern historiographic standards, especially given the variety of genres

represented, from the nearly classical historiography exemplified by

Josephus’sJewish War, to the very creative rewriting of Exodus by

Artapanus, to the highly fictional story told in 3 Maccabees.

Sapiential and Parenetic Works

Sapiential and parenetic literature comprise a second group of texts, to

which the following works belong: Prologue to Ben Sira, Pseudo-Phocylides,

Wisdom of Solomon,Testament of Job,4 Maccabees, and the synagogal ser-

monsOn JonasandOn Samson.Once again, nearly every text belongs to a

specific subgenre, such asgnomic poetry (Pseudo-Phocylides), sermon, tes-

tament, and so on. The Prologue to the Wisdom of Ben Sira, written by Ben

Sira’s grandson, is not a sapiential work in itself but merely introduces the

Greek translation of Ben Sira’s ethical teaching, which closely resembles the

biblical book of Proverbs. The Wisdom of Solomon is also strongly reminis-

cent of Proverbs (especially Proverbs 8) but is much more concerned with

the fate of the righteous after death. 4 Maccabees can be considered both a

diatribe and a panegyric, but it aims at religious edification. The work may

have been delivered orally at some unknown commemorative festival.

Although most Jewish texts written in Greek deal with biblical tradi-

tions, there are very few exegetical works. Demetrius addresses the origin

of the weapons held by the Israelites in the desert (frg. 5); because they de-

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EERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:04:05 PM