The Journal of Theological Studies Advance Access originally published online on October 2, 2007
The Journal of Theological Studies 2008 59(1):41-62; doi:10.1093/jts/flm097
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The Aramaic Documents in Ezra Revisited
Christ Church, Oxford
Correspondence: hugh.williamson{at}orinst.ox.ac.uk
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Abstract |
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In recent years there has been a significant shift in scholarly opinion concerning the Aramaic documents included in the book of Ezra; whereas 25 years ago their historical authenticity was widely accepted, more recent studies have claimed that they were fabricated by the biblical author. In the present article, the reasons for this change of opinion are examined, and it is concluded that in most cases the decision about authenticity is taken on the basis of extraneous considerations relating to the composition of the book or the course of history which it purports to relate. The arguments advanced in relation to the documents themselves are the same as those which were common a century ago, and to that extent may be answered in the same way as before. In particular, insufficient attention has been paid to the fact that from a literary point of view it is the documents which determine the shape and wording of the narrative, not vice versa. It is therefore most natural to conclude that they existed already prior to the composition of the book. Only in two areas are there new data to be considered—language and the epistolary form of the documents. An examination of the salient evidence concludes that it is far from univocal and that it cannot, therefore, overthrow the conclusions reached on other grounds.
I am grateful to several colleagues for discussion of the issues raised in this article, not least following presentations at Asbury Seminary and the Washington SBL meeting in November 2006, but most especially for a number of helpful comments in correspondence with R. C. Steiner of Yeshiva University, New York.