Hidden Riches: A Sourcebook for the Comparative Study of the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East

by Christopher B. Hays

Overview

This study considers the historical, cultural, and literary significance of some of the most important Ancient Near East (ANE) texts that illuminate the Hebrew Bible. Christopher B. Hays provides primary texts from the Ancient Near East with a comparison to literature of the Hebrew Bible to demonstrate how Israel's Scriptures not only draw from these ancient contexts but also reshape them in a unique way.

Hays offers a brief introduction to comparative studies, then lays out examples from various literary genres that shed light on particular biblical texts. Texts about ANE law collections, treaties, theological histories, prophecies, ritual texts, oracles, prayers, hymns, laments, edicts, and instructions are compared to corresponding literature in the Pentateuch, Prophets, and Writings of the Hebrew Bible. The book includes summaries to help instructors and students identify key points for comparison. By considering the literary and historical context of other literature, students will come away with a better understanding of the historical, literary, and theological depth of the Hebrew Bible.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664237011
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	10/17/2014
Pages:	452
Product dimensions:	9.60(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Christopher B. Hays is D. Wilson Moore Professor of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author of Hidden Riches: A Sourcebook for the Comparative Study of the Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East; The Origins of Isaiah 24–27: Josiah's Festival Scroll for the Fall of Assyria; and Death in the Iron Age II and in First Isaiah, which won the Manfred Lautenschlaeger Award for Theological Promise in 2013. Hays has written the Isaiah commentary in the New Oxford Bible Commentary and translated the book of Isaiah for the Common English Bible. Hays is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Read an Excerpt

"The Scriptures are exceedingly "respiratory": They breathe in the culture of their times, and breathe it back out in a different form. To the reader who learns to breathe the same air—the one who becomes familiar with the context—it is increasingly hard to believe that he or she once read the Bible without it. Reading the Hebrew Scriptures in context is an intoxicating high, like breathing pure oxygen: Everything is clearer and sharper, and the energy is immeasurably higher."—from the introduction

Editorial Reviews

"Hidden Riches is a skillfully curated introduction to comparative study of the Hebrew Bible. Hays provides expertly translated text selections, helpful introductions to each, questions for reflection, and bibliographical suggestions, all of which contribute to a deeper understanding of the Hebrew Bible. Hidden Riches is an ideal textbook for both undergraduate and master's students."
—Jeffrey Stackert, The University of Chicago


"This collection of ancient Near Eastern texts for the study of the Hebrew Bible is wonderful! For each ancient Near Eastern text paired with a biblical text, the author provides a very engaging and helpful discussion followed by thoughtful study questions. Ideal—and most highly recommended—for a semester introduction to the Hebrew Bible."
—Mark S. Smith, Skirball Chair of Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, New York University


"Christopher Hays's work represents an important contribution to the approach known as 'Scripture in context.' The strength of this book is in its organization, as Hays skillfully builds context from a broad range of Near Eastern materials, each placed carefully within the comparative framework of Scripture. As such, it represents an invaluable resource for the study of biblical as well as cognate literature."
—Matthew J. Suriano, The Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Studies, University of Maryland


"This is a most helpful resource for the study of the Bible in its ancient Near Eastern context, since it not only provides the most relevant comparative material, but also critically assesses it and its biblical counterparts. Hays's specialization in both biblical studies and ancient Near Eastern studies has yielded a thorough and reliable tool for students and teachers alike."
—Konrad Schmid, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism, University of Zurich


"In Hidden Riches, Christopher B. Hays provides an erudite yet accessible treatment of many ancient Near Eastern texts, examining each in relation to comparable biblical texts. But far from exhibiting the 'parallelomania' of yesteryear, Hays's comments take a balanced and well-studied approach, serving to introduce readers to important interpretive issues surrounding these texts in contemporary critical scholarship. The author's astute questions for discussion and suggestions for further reading lead both introductory and more advanced students into the broader world of thought in which the Bible took shape, filling a long-standing lacuna in classroom-oriented textbooks."
—Jeremy M. Hutton, University of Wisconsin-Madison

From the Publisher